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an EIS representative fully represent the membership of the school but equally is clearlyseen to be acting within the framework of EIS policy.HOLDING MEETINGS IN THE SCHOOLThe frequency of EIS meetings will depend on the size and type of school and the situationprevailing generally within schools and within education. Within some schools, themembership may prefer a regular meeting but this will not be appropriate in all cases.Certain Local Associations offer explicit advice on the organisation of meetings and it isworth checking this with your Local Association secretary. Within some authorities,agreement has been reached on time for trade union meetings, for example, within theframework of the 21 st Century Agreement.Equally, it is often useful to organise a "single issue" meeting - on the initiative either of therepresentative or of a group of members in the school. Some single issues could includefor example, teachers' pensions, EIS members' services and the work of the local EISLearning Representative and could involve outside EIS speakers, whether from the LocalAssociation, an Area Officer, or an accredited Learning Representative.The form of the agenda will vary according to circumstances but to a large extent will bedictated by communications from the EIS national body, the Local Association or areaoffice. Other items which could be raised will relate to forthcoming matters to be discussedat staff meetings where an EIS view will be important.ALL members should have adequate notice of an EIS meeting. It should be in a part of theschool to which as many members as possible should have easy access and at a time ofday when as many members as possible can attend. In larger schools it may be advisableto have an established agenda issued prior to the meeting. Although there is norequirement to hold a minute of meetings, it is useful if there is some record kept of thediscussions which have taken place. All EIS members should have access to this record.In all cases, the view which emerges should be set within the clear framework of EIS policy.It is usually advisable that the representative is clear what this is prior to the start of themeeting. If in doubt, contact the Local Association secretary. Once this is established, aconsensus view may well emerge from the meeting. In some cases, however, it may benecessary or desirable to hold a vote. The strength of any view which emerges will dependnot only on the proportion of members at a meeting which favours a proposition but theproportion of the total school membership which supports that proposition.In some larger schools, the meeting may wish a chairperson to be appointed, althoughelsewhere the chairing of the meeting is usually undertaken by the representative. It isusually counter-productive to seek to be overly formal with the running of EIS meetings inschools. However, it is important that meetings are run fairly, sensibly and that everyonewho wishes to speak should have the opportunity of so doing, although not atdisproportionate length or on a disproportionate number of occasions.One of the purposes of EIS meetings is to have a clear EIS view on particular professionalmatters, for example, in advance of a staff meeting or discussion with senior managementwithin the school. It should also be borne in mind that the EIS nationally encourages closelinks with parents and representative groups of parents and also with local councillors.Community and parental perspectives may help inform discussion at EIS meetings.On occasions, the EIS within a school may wish to express its concern on aprofessional/trade union issue as it relates particularly to the school.Where the concern emanates from a decision of the Scottish Government or LocalAuthority, the views of the members should be raised with the Local Association secretaryin the first instance. Local Association Office Bearers have access to local councillors and21September 2012