Jim Slaughter

For some reason, this post shows me as "Guest Jim Slaughter." It was suggested I reply to connect it to my profile.

Today (February 19) is the 147th anniversary of the publication of the first edition of Robert’s Rules of Order by S. C. Griggs and Company in Chicago. A few differences between the original and current editions: The original version has 176 pages versus the current edition’s 714 pages. (Robert’s stated intent was to create a “very brief pocket manual, so cheap that every member of a church or society could own a copy, and so arranged as to enable one quickly to find when any particular motion could be made," but he had other writings incorporated into later editions.) One author (Henry Martyn Robert, who served in the Union Army and eventually rose to General in the Army Corps of Engineers) versus five authors (Henry M. Robert, III, Daniel H. Honemann, Thomas J. Balch, Daniel E. Seabold, and Shmuel Gerber) Hardcover format versus hardcover plus paperback and Kindle editions 75 cent cost versus $26.49 hardcover, $15.19 paperback or $24.99 Kindle (current prices at Amazon) 4” x 6” x .3” measurement versus 5” x 7” x 1.75” The telephone was also invented in 1876, but did not become common until the 1930’s. So the original edition was only about in-person meetings. In contrast, the current mentions of technology unimagined by Robert (telephones, e-mail, fax, audioconference, teleconference, videoconference, and electronic voting) and includes a 15-page Appendix of “Sample Rules for Electronic Meetings.” (For a photo comparing the original edition with the most recent Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th Edition), visit Comparing Robert's Rules of Order Original Versus Current Editions)

This case mentioning Robert's Rules appeared in the "Roberts Rules in the News" page of my website. It's a bit of a unicorn. While many news articles mention Robert's, few court cases do. Far fewer federal court opinions do, and this is from a US Court of Appeals, which is shockingly rare. So even though the decision is not that significant, it may be of interest:Burton v City of DetroitIf you're interested in how often and how Robert's typically makes it into the news, view https://www.jimslaughter.com/roberts-rules-in-the-news Jim

As to the question about "cheat sheets," many of my resources can be found at www.jimslaughter.com. Follow the top menu to "Charts & Articles."

Shmuel and I were discussing, and he suggested this might be of interest to the Forum-- If you like podcasts, the American Bar Association Journal interviewed me this month for its ABA Journal Modern Law Library. The discussion covered everything from the importance of proper association meeting procedure to the new Robert's 12th Edition, board versus member meeting procedure, myths about meetings, minutes, parliamentarians, parliamentary organizations, and more. The episode can be found at Sick of Meetings That Go Off the Rails? Robert's Rules of Order Can Help. Jim www.jimslaughter.com Past President, American College of Parliamentary Lawyers Author, Robert's Rules of Order Fast Track Author, Notes and Comments on Robert's Rules (Fifth Edition)