I have always hated meetings. Mainly because I have rarely been in a meeting where there was someone actually leading the meeting. The person calling the meeting should lead, starting with a clear purpose statement for the meeting and an agenda. Most of the time, even if there is an agenda the leader allows the meeting to go off-topic which then extends the meeting. There is nothing wrong with saying, "That issue is outside the scope of this meeting, I'll make a note of your concern" or "we can discuss that after the meeting".

The few good meetings I have been in have had an agenda and a leader who kept it to the agenda. These are also the only meetings where something was actually accomplished.

Lastly, I have to indict myself here, as I have called meeting and allowed them to get off-topic.