Annual Family Business Shareholders' Meetings Most families have no forum to review their achievements and plan for the coming year.

We recommend an annual celebration of the achievements of the family business - The Annual Family Business Shareholders' Meeting. The CEO of the business can review the story of the previous year and discuss the objectives for the coming year. This meeting has a definite social flavor, perhaps including lunch or dinner. This social aspect also provides an opportunity to connect those family members who are not involved in the day to day operation of the business and the in-laws.

It's amazing how pleased family members are after participating in this type of meeting. It definitely has a positive effect in engaging all the shareholders and getting them excited about the future.

It provides a safe, open environment to state the facts and increase the shareholders' understanding of business and financial issues. Shareholders can understand the annual profits, have some perspective on where the family wealth is invested and appreciate the need for continued reinvestment in the business.

When all the shareholders, especially those who are not involved in the day-to-day running of the business, join in celebrating the recent achievements, they are going to feel more connected to the business and therefore more committed to building something that can last beyond the current generation.

Our Family Tradiitons Program, including the creation of The Memory Quilt, can help you design meaningful activities for the non-Management Circle members of your family.