The responsibility accepted by the Section Chair and other officers is important and requires considerable commitment. There is a tendency for some Chairs to assume an undue amount of their Sections' responsibilities and problems can result. The most obvious problem is that the Chair suffers the consequences of not taking advantage of valuable assistance. Another equally serious problem occurs when the Section Chair finds that the work he/she has pursued independently is neither understood nor supported by the Section members. One of the major responsibilities of the Section Chair is the reasonable delegation of responsibility to those who serve as Section officers or on Section committees. (See Appendix 11 for Responsibilities of Officers).

Meetings are one of the best methods of finding solutions to difficult problems, creating group enthusiasm and cooperation, and communicating information. The success of a meeting most often rests in the hands of the planner, the Chair. The key to success is preparation -- prepare yourself, prepare your Section officers and committee members, and prepare the surroundings. Know what the objective is, communicate this objective, and involve the group in working on the objective.

Chair's Manual Table of Contents

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Last updated on: March 21, 2001.