Council generally meets eight times a year for full-day Council meetings, but there are occasions when a special meeting is called to deal with a specific, usually complex issue. Council meetings begin at 9:30 am, and tend to run until approximately 4:00 p.m. Attendance at regular Council meetings is mandatory; a failure to attend three consecutive meetings without cause will disqualify the member from continuing to sit on Council.
Preparation for each of these meetings requires a considerable investment of time and energy. Meeting agenda and packages are distributed electronically to all members of Council one week ahead of the meeting date. In order to participate fully and constructively, Council members will have to review and familiarize themselves with the material. They can expect to spend the better part of a day reviewing the material in preparation for each meeting.
Councillors also participate in a yearly two-day retreat, as well as attend the annual OAA Conference. Additionally, Councillors participate in the various Committees and Task Groups of the Association—this particular time commitment varies widely, from calling in a few times a year to monthly meetings.