> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.boardspot.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Implementing Your New Portal

**Implementing your new portal can be done easily in three phases. This article lays out each phase step-by-step, and links you to detailed instructions on each step.**

# Phase 1: Prepare the Portal

## Preparation for Standard, Professional, and Enterprise Plans:
* Add [Dashboard](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/editing-the-dashboard-1ki3y4g/) details specific for your organization.
* Create [Governing Documents](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/governing-documents-1a3hhu3/) groups, and upload your organization's documents.
* Add your Board, Staff, Committee Member, and Guest [profiles](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/adding-and-updating-people-124fdyc/) assigning them the [correct role](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/the-people-home-page-16xzlkf/). *Note: it may be helpful to create a fake profile for yourself with non-admin privileges so you can see what your members will experience, and place that fake profile in the trash before inviting all other members.*
* Create [Committees](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/creating-committees-hxqoyl/), adding Quorum thresholds, and assign [Committee Admins](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/managing-committee-participants-spr5em/). *(Note: Assigning the title of "Chair"  within a board/committee does NOT grant administrative privileges. You must also assign the person as a committee admin. for them to be able to add meetings, agendas, etc..) *
* [Assign](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/configuring-permissions-1f39gvd/) 2-3 additional Organization Admins.
* Populate Committees, assign Committee Admins, and schedule training for your Committee Admins.  *Note: Here is a list of [help desk articles](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/for-new-committee-admins-1emaeta/) they can use for learning, or free video call trainings with BoardSpot can be scheduled [here](https://savvycal.com/heathersharp/a7eb58f7)).*
* [Create 1-2 Upcoming Meetings](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/creating-and-publicizing-meetings-1ihnkm8/) for each committee.  Make sure all participants are added to a committee before creating meetings or they will not appear in the attendance.
* Add 2-3 Past Meetings and [upload their Minutes](https://app.crisp.chat/website/17feb984-3596-4dc9-9b46-60e64fbf1d24/helpdesk/articles/en/8a64e193-0d38-4363-b5cb-94a20db4ced6/), for the Board and each committee, so that members can find and reference them easily. *Note: People added to a group (board/committee) after a meeting date/time has passed do not retroactively get that meeting's invitation but will be able to access those past meeting records. *
* Use the [Agenda Builder](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/agenda-builder-c5gc8f/) to create agendas for each committee's next meeting (and use this opportunity to create customized [Agenda Templates](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/agenda-templates-1jprdk5/) for each committee, that will make agenda building faster in future).
* Use [Votes](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/meeting-votes-1lyyysx/) feature to create electronic votes for any upcoming meetings, as needed.

## Preparation for Essentials Plan:
* Add [Dashboard](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/editing-the-dashboard-1ki3y4g/) details specific for your organization.
* Create [Governing Documents](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/governing-documents-1a3hhu3/) groups, and upload your organization's documents.
* Create and populate your [Committees](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/creating-committees-hxqoyl/) with the right people.
* Add Board Member and Staff [profiles](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/adding-and-updating-people-124fdyc/) assigning them the [correct role](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/the-people-home-page-16xzlkf/).
* [Assign](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/configuring-permissions-1f39gvd/) 1-2 additional Organization Admins.
* [Create 1-2 Upcoming Meetings](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/creating-and-publicizing-meetings-1ihnkm8/) for each committee.
* Add 2-3 Past Meetings and [upload their Minutes](https://app.crisp.chat/website/17feb984-3596-4dc9-9b46-60e64fbf1d24/helpdesk/articles/en/8a64e193-0d38-4363-b5cb-94a20db4ced6/), for the Board and each committee, so that members can find and reference them easily. *Note: add all People before you create Past Meetings, as people added after a meeting date/time has passed do not retroactively get included in those meetings, in order to keep your records clean.*
* Use the [Agenda Builder](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/agenda-builder-c5gc8f/) to create agendas for each committee's next meeting.
---

# Phase 2: Invite your Members

## For ALL BoardSpot Plans:
* [Introduce BoardSpot](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/board-member-introduction-h4scoo/) to your Members and [send Login Invitations](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/adding-and-updating-people-124fdyc/).
* [Send Meeting invitation email](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/creating-and-publicizing-meetings-1ihnkm8/) for each committee's next upcoming meeting,  so you can begin collecting RSVPs.
* Check that each Member has [successfully logged in](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/getting-started-1gtu35h/) to the portal.
* As each next upcoming meeting date gets closer, check for RSVPs on [that meeting's page](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/a-specific-meetings-page-17hvuxb/).
---

# Phase 3: Engage your Members

## Hold your first meeting with your portal for Standard, Professional, or Enterprise Plans:
1. [Take meeting Attendance](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/holding-a-meeting-and-meeting-follow-up-xnndv4/).
2. [Use Minutes Builder](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/holding-a-meeting-and-meeting-follow-up-xnndv4/) to auto-populate topics from your agenda into the minutes.
3. [Record meeting minute notes](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/holding-a-meeting-and-meeting-follow-up-xnndv4/) then Save them.
4. [Use Votes](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/meeting-votes-1lyyysx/) to hold and document Board or committee votes.

## Follow up on your first meeting with your portal for Essentials Plan:
1. Upload Minutes to the meeting, once approved, under the "Upload existing file" link.

| Note: If your portal members lose their login credentials you can direct them to [reset their password](https://help.boardspot.com/en/article/reset-password-18kf8oq/).