Entering an item into the record

[Guest Bob Beers]

One of our members wishes to read a letter & have it recorded in the minutes at our next annual meeting.

Does this require a motion/second to do so, and a vote of approval?

Is there any parliamentary way for the chair to prevent such a motion from being introduced under new business?

[Chris Harrison]

One of our members wishes to read a letter & have it recorded in the minutes at our next annual meeting.

Does this require a motion/second to do so, and a vote of approval?

Yes. Majority rules.

Is there any parliamentary way for the chair to prevent such a motion from being introduced under new business?

No.

[J. J.]

It would require majority approval both him to read a letter (pp. 298-9) and the letter to be entered into the minutes (see p. 471, ll. 13-16). If he should start to read, and member could raise a point of order.

[Josh Martin]

One of our members wishes to read a letter & have it recorded in the minutes at our next annual meeting.

Does this require a motion/second to do so, and a vote of approval?

Is there any parliamentary way for the chair to prevent such a motion from being introduced under new business?

I would note that RONR does not recommend recording the full text of letters in the minutes - but nonetheless, such a motion would be in order.

Based on the topic's title, I imagine some members have been watching too much C-SPAN. It may be worth noting that in legislative assemblies where "entering an item into the record" is an established practice, "the record" is generally a separate document from the minutes.

[Guest Edgar]

It may be worth noting that in legislative assemblies where "entering an item into the record" is an established practice, "the record" is generally a separate document from the minutes.

Yes, something akin to what the 11th edition refers to as "the proceedings" (p. 475).