Can anyone attend a meeting of the HSNTX Board of Directors?
Yes! Visitors are welcomed to attend Board of Directors meetings.

What is the purpose of the HSNTX board meetings?
HSNTX Board meetings are held monthly to ensure that the organization's vision, mission, and goals are protected and furthered. An update on the shelter operation and animal statistics is only a small part of the meeting. Discussion and planning in the areas of budget, fundraising, new building plans, animal policies, and public relations/education are a regular part of the monthly agenda. The Board also addresses any other timely issues at hand, such as state law changes that affect requirements associated with the facility or employees.

How long do the meetings usually last?
Meetings usually last 1½ or 2 hours, but can last longer if the agenda is packed with particularly pressing issues to be addressed.

Is everything discussed in Board meetings open to the public?
Regular board meetings are open to the public. When there are specific issues that need to be discussed only within the Board itself, such as personnel salaries, these topics are covered in an Executive Session that is closed to the public. Executive Sessions are held at the end of regular board meetings and will be clearly announced in order to allow non-Board members to be excused.

Where do visitors sit during a Board meeting?
Visitors should sit in chairs that are set up separately from the Board table. They will be introduced at the beginning of the meeting.

Can visitors ask questions during a meeting?
Currently, our organization does not have a strict policy about visitor questions. However, the Board has full agendas to cover each month and appreciates the understanding of visitors in this regard. If visitors have questions that cannot be answered very briefly, they should submit their request ahead of time to the Board President via the Executive Director at the shelter. If the Board President determines that the topic is appropriate for Board discussion, it will be worked into a meeting agenda as soon as is reasonably possible. Otherwise, the President will ensure that contact is made with the person submitting the topic, and an alternate method of addressing the question or topic will be determined.