What To Discuss At Your First Investment Club Meeting

A first investment club meeting is quite important and can set the tone and expectations for future meetings. Because the first meeting is so important, try to prepare for this meeting more than almost any other. Your members may have certain expectations in mind and it would be a good idea not to disappoint these potential expectations if at all possible. Follow the following guidelines to run a successful first investment club meeting.

1) Begin the meeting on time. This should be an unspoken instruction, but nevertheless, keep your meeting start time clearly in mind and be attentive to starting on schedule. This will help let your members know that you mean business and that you respect and value their time.

2) Prepare well in advance. Write down a list of the potential topics of the meeting, and the potential questions that your members may have in the back of their minds. If you can answer these questions before they are even able to bring them up then you will appear to be extremely well organized and prepared, with the needs of the group clearly in mind.

3) Manage expectations properly. The new members will be a little unsure of what to expect from the investment club in coming months. Address this right up front and explain what the members should expect in the coming weeks and months ahead; let them know also what is expected of them. Managing expectations is a key to success group organization.

4) Paint the vision for the group. It is said, 'Without a vision the people perish.' Groups thrive when they have a clearly defined and exciting vision of which to work towards. If you paint the vision of the club clearly, members will have an ideal in mind and can work to help you achieve the desired vision.

5) Answer the questions that the group has. Even with all of your preparation, there will be questions that come up which you had not thought of. Answer all of the questions that you can, and if you cannot, simply let the group know when they can expect your answer. Be attentive to the needs of the group. One of the failings of any organization comes from a lack of communication. Bear this in mind and always be upfront with your members.

Because the first investment club meeting is arguably the most important, give careful attention to the planning and execution of the first gathering. This first meeting will help set the stage for all other future meetings and if the members are disappointed at this first meeting, they may be less likely to return for subsequent events. However, put on a successful first event and your members will have much to talk about in a positive light and may be more likely to pass along word of the investment club to others. This in turn may serve to help build the investment club, which is generally a desirable outcome. With proper advanced planning any meeting can be a great success and proper foundation for your group.