How to bring an organizations chaotic meetings to organization

[Guest meetingchaos]

Our organization has been around for almost 10 years, but we have never adopted any formal type of organization to the meetings. I want to bring in RONR to allow for more productive meetings and less stress and personal/excessive chatter that becomes unproductive. Where is a good starting point to begin moving toward a better format? RONR is so extensive that finding a starting point or first few steps to transition so that not only members can understand and follow, but also succeeds and doesn't make things more chaotic, seems like a daunting task. ANY tips for a starting point or process of implementation would be greatly appreciated. I will add, very few of our members have ANY experience in an organized meeting that uses Robert's Rules so the education of members will be a large part of the battle. Thanks in advance.

[tctheatc]

A good starting point would be Robert's Rules of Order In Brief. It sets out the basics in a very understandable format and explains how those basics will enhance the organization and efficiency of meetings. It's a rather inexpensive book and maybe you could spring for a few copies for a few key members and get them on your side.

[Guest Edgar]

Where is a good starting point to begin moving toward a better format? RONR is so extensive that finding a starting point or first few steps to transition so that not only members can understand and follow, but also succeeds and doesn't make things more chaotic, seems like a daunting task.

You could start with RONR In Brief. It focuses on the 20% of RONR that you'll use 80% of the time.

[Added after our own ATC's post for the link.]

[g40]

In some organizations, just reviewing/approving the minutes is a three ring circus. If that describes your organization, I suggest starting there. Remind/educate the Chair of the meeting (and perhaps other offiers) that only proposed corrections are in order. When all proposed corrections have been made (or voted on if a disagreement), the minutes stand approved (as corrected). Our neighborhood Civic Association would have these lengthy arguments over the minutes - without proposing corrections - just arguing that what was in the draft was not correct.

After one particularly contentious such meeting, I "educated" the President (and a Vice-president as well) of the proper RONR procedure. Just that one change (following RONR) has made these quarterly meetings much smoother.