How is a Meeting different from a Presentation?

This is an important discussion: what is the difference between a “presentation” and a “meeting.”

A presentation asks for nothing from the audience. Whether they are in the room or online, the audience is expected to pay attention and learn, but they are not expected to contribute thoughts or help make decisions. Presentations are usually one-way.

A meeting expects the audience to be engaged and to contribute their ideas.

Membership Meetings

The best example of this is a meeting of an organization where the leadership presents agenda items, solicits feedback, then asks the group to make a final, possibly binding decision.

The challenge here is to give everyone – either online or in person – enough technology to hear everything, the opportunity to speak up, and enough video to check out body language.

Our support proved invaluable when the President of one organization participated from their hotel room (Ohio?) when they were on a business trip.

Storytime: HOA/COA Board Meetings

Here in Florida, association meetings must be open to the members, even though the members do not have a vote at Board Meetings. Our first HOA meeting had some interesting dynamics:

• Some Directors were here in Florida and attended the meeting in person
• Some Directors were out of the country (Canada) but needed to be part of the meeting
  • The Directors needed to discuss the business at hand, and to vote as necessary
• Some members were in the room
• Some members joined the meeting over the Internet
  • Members did not vote, but they could observe and hear all the business being discussed. They could also address the Directors at a time on the agenda set aside for that.

However, many HOAs/COAs have annual membership meetings where all the members (owners) are expected to engage, contribute, and vote!

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