How do you feel about reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of a meeting?
It might be more fitting at more formal association meetings and less fitting at social meetings.
Is it a good transition between a social meeting and the business meeting?
If it does not work as the transition -- is there another transition to quiet the general conversation -- or does the president just keep saying "Hello? Hello? Can I have your attention? We're ready to start the meeting!" I think this approach works better for presidents who have strong, booming voices, but could possible work with the use of a good microphone.
I'm interested in your ideas. Thanks for sharing.
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I'm neutral. Give it a try and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteI have never been as a professional meeting where the Pledge of Allegiance has occurred. I don't doubt the patriotism of our members, but wonder if it may be perceived as a call to patriotism. Feels like grammar school, rather than a professional meeting.
ReplyDeleteI like your ideas and I'm all for some patriotism. I think our country has lost a lot by not doing such things.
ReplyDeleteInteresting comments. Thanks for sharing. I guess at the AADE National meetings, it is really only on day one that the Pledge is led -- with the color guard military bringing in the flags -- it just happens to be one of my favorite parts of attending a national meeting -- when you can stand with thousands of colleagues and recite the pledge. I miss that part of grammar school (though the Pledge remained part of my middle school and high school days as well) I don't want the meetings to begin in a way that would make anyone uncomfortable. I'm open to other ideas. What if I brought my gavel and gave 3 raps on the podium as I say "This meeting is now called to order."
ReplyDeleteAs patriotic as I consider myself, I’m not sure how the flag salute will go over. I guess we could have some patriotic music playing in the background as a warm-up, but a salute may be awkward for some. You could try it or ask at the next meeting if you don’t get much of a response.
ReplyDeleteAs a member of many Masonic Organization where the pledge is used in every opening of the session, I have no problem with giving the pledge. But as showing patriotism is not part of the mission statement of KCRADE it may not be as appropriate in that setting. A suggestion for another transition is that we actually expect to start on time. The President could go to the dias and use the podium microphone (always on) when we meet in the SJMC Auditorium. A PowerPoint Slide (normally possible) might call our attention to the business meeting. We also could have music with dinner that would stop or change at the appropriate time. I know that previously the only person using the dias was the speaker because of the changing of slides, but that could be changed easily and would draw the attendees attention easily -- and not make attendees feel that the President was separating herself from the group.
ReplyDeleteIf we had a piano, Connie Kleinbeck could play through dinner... she's an awesome pianist.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to ask her if she has a CD of her performance and we can play it on a CD player during dinner. I like the idea of dinner music. Thanks
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