Talk about Rules

Now you can learn more about parliamentary procedure in easy to use online courses.  The National Association of Parliamentarians just launched its first course:  Minutes Made Easy.  This course, designed for new secretaries or those who may become secretary for an organization, provides a wealth of practical information about what goes in minutes, how to correct minutes, and much more.

I thought the course was colorful, interesting, and best of all you can log on for a part of it, leave, and when you come back you get to pick up right where you left off.  It has easy navigation and allows you to go forward or back as much as you want.

There is an easy quiz at the end with a certificate awarded to those who can answer 7 out of the 10 questions correctly.

Give it a try and learn what you need to know about minutes.

They say:  The president or the chairman can't speak during debate and can't vote. 

But we say:  In small boards or committees, the rules are less formal and the presiding officer (president, chairman) can both speak during debate and can vote on all matters.  Small boards are defined as having twelve or less members. 

Even in a large board the presiding officer can vote to make a tie or to break a tie.  (A tie vote means the motion is lost.) This right should be used very carefully though because the presiding officer does not want to lose the trust of the assembly.

The presiding officer can always vote when the vote is by ballot.  A ballot vote maintains privacy and is less likely to impair the presiding officer's impartiality in conducting the meeting.

 I attended the Florida State Association of Parliamentarians Convention in Miramar, FL last week-end and had a great time. You might think a convention of parliamentarians would be pretty staid and yes, even boring. Not this one!  It was lively, full of energy, and packed with young people.

Why on earth would they want to come? Well, it seems they go to meetings and they want to know how to get things done in a fair and efficient manner, and they believe knowing Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised and good parliamentary procedure will help them accomplish that goal.

Besides young people there, it is always great fun and very educational to be in a meeting when a expert presides. I've heard some speakers tout the idea that what is wrong with meetings is Robert's Rules -- well, yeah, probably so if Robert is the person presiding and he doesn't know what he's doing -- or he takes liberties with members' rights.  On the other hand, it is great to see a meeting done well, where everyone gets a fair chance to speak, ideas are openly discussed, and you still actually get done on time.

Kudos to Julie Palm, FSAP's president, for a well organized, well run meeting. I'll be back for the next one in the fall.  By the way, it is in the Lake Mary area in October.

Members have a right to receive notice of meetings, attend meetings, make and debate motions, vote, and to run for office, except as otherwise provided in the bylaws or special rules (Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR), 10th ed., p.3, 5, 431, 255).

Wayward members can be disciplined and have their rights suspended temporarily by majority vote, or be expelled by a two-thirds vote, but they have a right to defend themselves against the charges against them (RONR p.628).

Members have the right to speak twice to each motion for 10 minutes each time. This right to debate can be changed only by a two-thirds vote.  

Meeting Myths

Myth: Only members have the right to serve as officers.

Fact: "In most societies it is usual to elect the officers from among the members; but in all except secret societies, unless the bylaws or an established practice provide otherwise, it is possible for an organization to choose its officers from outside its membership" (RONR p.431).

Myth 2: Ex officio members do not have the right to vote.

Fact: An ex officio member is an individual whose membership on a board or committee is by virtue of holding a specific office. For example, the treasurer may be an ex officio member of the finance committee, and the local chapter presidents may be ex officio members of the state board. All ex officio members have the right to attend meetings, make motions, debate and vote, just as any other member, except of course as the bylaws otherwise provide. See RONR p.466-467 and 480.