AngelaMaria Posted January 24, 2018 at 09:07 PM Report Share Posted January 24, 2018 at 09:07 PM I am Assembly Secretary (my first term ever) at an educational organization (7 yrs old). Bylaws designate Sturgis 4th as our manual. Procedure is not followed, except in some cases. I've promoted a return to parliamentary law as per bylaws. I'm not taken seriously. What to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted January 24, 2018 at 09:23 PM Report Share Posted January 24, 2018 at 09:23 PM 14 minutes ago, AngelaMaria said: I am Assembly Secretary (my first term ever) at an educational organization (7 yrs old). Bylaws designate Sturgis 4th as our manual. Procedure is not followed, except in some cases. I've promoted a return to parliamentary law as per bylaws. I'm not taken seriously. What to do? Well, this is a forum about RONR, not Sturgis, but regardless, the solution is to get a majority of the members to take you seriously. Until that happens, there’s not much you can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Katz Posted January 24, 2018 at 10:47 PM Report Share Posted January 24, 2018 at 10:47 PM 1 hour ago, Josh Martin said: Well, this is a forum about RONR, not Sturgis, but regardless, the solution is to get a majority of the members to take you seriously. Until that happens, there’s not much you can do. One way to do that is, if feasible, to offer a workshop on parliamentary procedure. I found that focusing less on 'how,' and more on 'why,' tends to work. A focus on "we can go home earlier and get more done" tends to open minds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrEntropy Posted January 24, 2018 at 11:09 PM Report Share Posted January 24, 2018 at 11:09 PM The most important person you have to convince is the presiding officer. I have found that you can more easily bring people on board by emphasizing that (at least for RONR) the rules themselves specify a somewhat relaxed attitude for most cases, especially for committees and small boards (where, for example, seconds are not required, and one can speak on a subject when no motion is pending). And consider this: RONR 11, page 456 "The president should never be technical or more strict than is necessary for the good of the meeting. Good judgment is essential; the assembly may be of such a nature, through its unfamiliarity with parliamentary usage and its peaceable disposition, that strict enforcement of the rules, instead of assisting, would greatly hinder business." Even if RONR is not your authority, I recommend it for becoming acquainted with the general principles of parliamentary law. And the little "RONR in Brief" which is a great resource for understanding the essentials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted January 25, 2018 at 07:36 PM Report Share Posted January 25, 2018 at 07:36 PM 20 hours ago, DrEntropy said: I have found that you can more easily bring people on board by emphasizing that (at least for RONR) the rules themselves specify a somewhat relaxed attitude for most cases Sturgis is even more relaxed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts