Ideas for meeting topics

Having a formal topic for each meeting can help to form a tight agenda while giving structure to the group's conversation. To find out which topics interest your group's participants, simply pose a few questions to people. Submit a questionnaire during the first meeting, ask participants to fill out little slips of paper into an "idea jar", include a column for suggestions on the sign-in sheet, or hold brainstorming discussions to gauge interest in different topics. And encourage people to make requests if they have something on their mind.

Meeting topics can also correspond to the type of guest speakers you invite. For example, a dentist might naturally feel compelled to speak about temporamandibular joint disorder, while a psychologist might choose to speak about depression. Local experts can be an easy and informative way to discuss complex topics without too much research on your end.

Some suggested meeting topics:

For more information please contact: Lisa F. Hutton, Manager of Member Services, 1-800-634-8978 x219 or lisa@ata.org