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Malone

When I was younger, it was always "Mister Chairman" and the occasional "Madam Chairman". I have always thought it OK, but I have never asked any women what they would prefer. "Chairwomen" sounds rather like "Charwoman" to me, and we know that is no longer acceptable.

I have heard some daft ones: Chairlady, and my daughter's School Council members had to say "Miss Chairman"

Thanks for the posts, jigjag. Glad all the Valentine's Day stuff worked out well. I don't envy you coming up with a clue for that book!

I've never liked 'Madam', it just seems so, so old-fashioned. I also feel it's not the female equivalent of 'Mister'. The scenario reminds me of being asked if I'd like to see a 'lady doctor' - no-one has ever asked me if I want to see a 'gentleman doctor'. Madam/Mrs/Miss/Mister Chairman seems needlessly long to me. I think we should have a totally new word to fit the role - all these committees can be overseen by Presidents, say.

Hello Malone et al.
I like your `President` or `Presiding Officer`...if the meeting is not too grand perhaps `Leader` would do? Interesting that Presidents, Prime Ministers, Speakers and Judges can be either sex but the Head of the Board seems to be male by default!

`Convenor` might be a possibility but its Trade Union `affiliations` might frighten the horses.

Malone and Tyke

Nothing seems to quite work. Possibly President is best. A local club has had a President (and not a chairman) for many years, and it works well. The problem is that many clubs have a "President" who does nothing, as well as the "Chairman" who is in charge.

At local Football and Cricket AGMs we just address the chairman as Betty and Dave. Everybody knows who we are talking to.

Malone

Interesting that you don't like "madam", and I agree it is not the equivalent of "mister". I teach an after-school class, and the problem is how to address adults when you don't know their names. If a teacher comes in, I use "Sir" or Miss (whatever her age). This seems to be universal in schools here.

If it is a parent, I use "Sir" or "Madam". I agree with you that it does sound old-fashioned but I cant think of anything better. The Head is a woman, as was the previous one. I address her as "ma'am" in class and in one-to-one meetings. Both ladies seem happy with this.

Tyke and Jigjag, I don't think there's one single title that would work, solve the problem. Like you said, Jigjag, there are quite a few organisations that have 'presidents' and often the role itself involves very little (or nothing). I think many organisations - residents' groups, PTAs and so on - could drop the 'madam chairman', 'mister chairman' stuff and it would have no disastrous effects. Some committees, some committee members, are overfond of the grandiose aspects of their roles!

Malone

I hope that no Pedants bought any of the "goods" that were on offer on this thread for quite a long period yesterday. The bank-notes were obvious fakes, and the so called "High-Quality Counterfeit Clues" were useless homophones along the law/lore/lure lines.

You did well to report the fraud, presumably to the Trading Standards Agency.

Jigjag, yesterday's Spam looked as unappetising as its namesake. In the interests of the Forum, I reported it to NORAH

National
Organisation for
Removing
All
Harmful posts.

(Announcing the late arrival of ... Just caught up on the verses.)

Roses am red
Violets is blue
This grammar is sh*te
And it ain't scannin' too well either