Power Trio of Rules or Why Members and

Power Trio of Rules or Why Members and Parliamentarians Collide 38 th NAP Biennial Conference St. Petersburg, FL September 24, 2011 Lorenzo R. Cuesta Professional Registered Parliamentarian http: //www. roberts-rules. com

The Parliamentary Authority September 24, 2011 LRCuesta, PRP 2

The Member vs. the Parliamentarian 1. A member attends meetings of different associations and sees only inconsistencies in the handling of rules. 2. A member consults several parliamentarians on a specific issue and receives several different answers. 3. A member takes a class in Parliamentary Procedure but nothing in the class appears to relate to his association. 4. NAP units cannot recruit members because the subject is too overwhelming, too undecipherable, too remote. The Members and the Parliamentarian Collide with a Power Trio of Rules September 24, 2011 LRCuesta, PRP 3

1. The Members’ Rights September 24, 2011 LRCuesta, PRP 4

1. Fundamental Principles of Parliamentary Law (p. 263) • • One question at a time Only members can vote Must be present to vote No cumulative voting Presence of a quorum Previous notice Election by ballot Cannot dispense with order of business • Vote only in legal meeting September 24, 2011 • Committee chair must not preside during own report • Cannot postpone beyond next session • Cannot deny a member the right LRCuesta, PRP – To attend meetings – To make and amend motions – To speak in debate – To vote – To nominate 5

2. The Association’s Rules September 24, 2011 LRCuesta, PRP 6

2. The Association’s Rules (Bylaws) A. Bylaws define the business of the association, and often contradict Robert’s Rules of Order, for example a. An association has 3 kinds of members; Member type A has no power to vote b. Members may attend board of director’s meeting; Member, not a member of the board, may move a new motion c. New Business must be submitted 30 days before the meeting; New Business not allowed if it misses the deadline d. The president may vote in case of a tie; The president may not vote by ballot or to cause a tie September 24, 2011 LRCuesta, PRP 7

2. The Association’s Rules (Bylaws) B. Whereas, a Fundamental Principle of Parliamentary Law may not be suspended, it is acceptable for the association’s bylaws to violate it. C. Additionally, bylaws may not be suspended except under 2 conditions a. If they allow for their own suspension, or b. If they are in the nature of a rule of order. September 24, 2011 LRCuesta, PRP 8

3. In the Nature of September 24, 2011 LRCuesta, PRP 9

3. Bylaws in the Nature of a Rule of Order • • • Amend Discharge committee Create a committee Appeal Debate (duration or frequency) • Point of order • Recognition • Rescind • • Order of business Voting requirements Consider informally Consider by seriatim Read papers Reconsider vote Withdraw a motion Division of a question (p. 17: line 22 -25) September 24, 2011 LRCuesta, PRP 10

Members are Confused by the Parliamentarian September 24, 2011 LRCuesta, PRP 11

What’s a Parliamentarian’s Solution? • How do we stop driving them crazy, and make it about them? • How do we teach an association’s members, or our own potential members, about this Power Trio of Rules, and prove that Parliamentary Procedure is… – – Consistent? Manageable? Relevant? All about them? September 24, 2011 LRCuesta, PRP 12

Common Teaching Approach September 24, 2011 LRCuesta, PRP 13

Common Teaching Approaches September 24, 2011 LRCuesta, PRP 14

An Improved Approach • A lesson 1. Customized to the listener’s organization, and 2. Specifically incorporates the confusing trio of powers. • Such as: 1. An Interactive script based on the ranking of motions that allows for questions and discussion, Script A , or 2. A lesson based on 1/3 lecture with a handout, and 2/3 interactive drill and discussion, Script B. September 24, 2011 LRCuesta, PRP 15

In Summary The client that hires us, and the potential member that we try to recruit, see Parliamentary Procedure as a complex and remote set of obstacles to conducting business. We need to teach with the purpose of simplifying this trio of powers in the member’s mind. We need to make it about them. Lorenzo R. Cuesta, PRP http: //www. roberts-rules. com parliam@roberts-rules. com Sacramento, CA September 24, 2011 LRCuesta, PRP 16