Tips for a New league

[JohnC]

Without going into too much detail, as we would be here for a longtime, after several months of trying to work with the civic league president, it was decided to simply start a new civic league.  In a nut shell, the presidents tactics when people disagree is to bully and anger them until they simply quit.  Then he walks through the neighborhood finding people on the street and appointing them as officers. He has been through 4 boards in 2.5 years.  This last time, we refused to be chased off and even sought the help of a regional civic organization (who were flabbergasted at the happenings).  Well, the president then started calling the police and even filed assault charges against several members.  Thankfully, all charges were quickly dismissed and the judge even told the president to start acting like an adult. So it simply isn't safe for us to work within that environment anymore. He is simply a power hungry dictator with no interest in a community civic league who will do whatever it takes to keep his title.

 

So we left and formed a new league. We are recognized by the city and the regional civic organization. Our first meeting is next week. We have been told the president of the original league will show up to try and disrupt the meeting and scare away members. (but not in any solid writing proof).  We already have almost 30 members while he has canceled 2 meetings in a row since no one showed up. I know there are good times ahead if we can successfully clear this first meeting hurdle.

 

We have already put in place several measures to prevent or limit disruptions to include police presence at the meeting. That being said, I'm sure there is a lot of wisdom and experience on these forums that could offer a bit of advice on how to handle the situation, if it arises. So the question....1) Can I please get your opinions, tips, advice on how to handle such a situation and 2) Can you provide a direct reference to specific rules I should be very up to date on that will help the process.

 

Thank you in advance!

[Edgar Guest]

May we assume you've already acquired copies of RONR and RONR In Brief?

 

Or may we assume you haven't.

[JohnC]

I have been reading them online and I borrowed a RONR for dummies.  But I will be getting the actual book this evening. I know there is a lot of homework ahead for me as the Chair, and I'm not looking for shortcuts. Also, the parliamentarian from the regional league will be at our meeting to assist and advise on procedure if needed.

[jstackpo]

The on-line version of Robert's Rules dates from 1915. I trust you are getting the Right Book -- RONR 11th edition.

[JohnC]

For now I am basing it off the information of this site. This is where I am starting.

 

http://www.rulesonline.com/rror_01.htm

 

Note: I admit, I was hoping all over trying to find this or that before.  I know now I need to stop looking that and become familiar with it and learn how to find things quickly if needed.  But I will be sure to get the 11th edition. Thank you.

[Richard Brown]

John, I'm a bit confused.  You say you are about to have your first meeting but you also say you have formed a new league, that you have almost 30 members and are recognized by the city and the regional civic association.   By that, I am assuming that you have laid the groundwork and you have about 30 people who say they want to join, but you have not yet had your "organizational meeting".   Is that correct?  I'm assuming that the upcoming meeting is your "organizational meeting".

 

You mentioned Robert's Rules For Dummies by Alan Jennings.  It is a very good and easy to understand book which is based solidly on RONR.  The 2nd edition has an excellent chapter (Chapter 19) on "Starting a New Organization".   Mr. Jennings lays out, step by step, what you should do and how to handle a couple of the issues you probably expect to have to deal with.  That chapter is not in the 1st edition.  It's only in the 2nd edition.  You do still need RONR, though.  It is the only "real thing" and goes into a lot more detail.  Don't leave home without it.  :-)   

 

My advice is to plan, plan, plan.  I think the essentials of the meeting should be scripted as much as possible.  Have all of the key steps and key players worked out in advance:  Who will call the meeting to order, who will be nominated (and hopefully elected) Chairman or chairman pro-tem, who will nominate someone for secretary and who that nominee will be, who will (hopefully) be on the bylaws committee, etc.  Have the resolution (motion) that RONR and Mr. Jennings talk about to create the organization prepared in advance.   And have several members ready to vote to eject any troublemakers from the meeting. 

 

Since this is your meeting, you (or whoever set up the meeting) probably have the right to say who may and may not attend and to exclude anybody you want to, as Mr. Jennings suggests on page 291 of Robert's Rules for Dummies.  He elaborates on that quite a bit.  However, if there is a troublemaker, it might be preferable for someone to move to remove him from the meeting and to have the assembly vote to do so.  

 

In a nutshell:  Preparation.  Good luck!

[JohnC]

Thank you Richard, lets see if I can clear the confusion.

 

There were about 10 of us who left the 12 active member original civic league.  The 10 of us met three times at my house.  First we decided to go it alone and start a new civic league.  At meeting two, we had draft bylaws and a working plan to formally organize. We voted on organizing. Then we elected Interim officers then we approved (after a good discussion) the bylaws. After that meeting, we submitted our application to the city and the regional league, both of which were accepted. At meeting three we talked about going public, where when how type thing. This is the meeting I refer to as our first public meeting. 

 

Now we are having our first, open to the public anyone can attend meeting. The other 20 are people we have spoken to and wish to attend.  We intend this meeting to be more social than formal; although there are specific meeting rules of conduct.  In fact, most of the meeting will be an introduction session where everyone gets a short time to introduce themselves and to tell us what it is they would like to see.  At the October meeting, first we intend to be much more formal and we will establish a bylaws review committee so all the 'new' members can feel like they are part of the process; then we will have formal elections, now scheduled for Feb, to elect permanent officers.

 

I don't know if you can understand just how much damage the "president" of the other civic league did. For most people, the first question out of their mouth when we mention our new league, "Is he involved?" People simply want nothing to do with the man.  As a result, we believe we have to move slow and maybe even repeat a few steps (like such a quick review of the bylaws) to help alleviate some fears. Heck, I have the title of Chair because the word "President" has such a bad taste associated to it.  There is going to be police presence for the entire meeting partly due to the potential of trouble. Hopefully the presence alone helps to keep it calm. The man we're dealing with is pure and simple a bully.  He gets his way by intimidating other people but never actually doing anything (although he has been found guilty of assault and brandishing a firearm in the past). We will not be intimidated and we will make this work.  Hopefully he doesn't even show up and we can move on in peace. We shall see.

 

One note - Since we are meeting at a public school and since we have police presence, we could only do that if we allowed access to anyone.  If he attends and is later ejected, then we can ban him from future meetings.

[Chris Harrison]

If this person is not a member of the new league (so he would be attending as a member of the public) you as the Chair can order his removal as a disruptive nonmember (RONR pp. 648-649).  So the first time he says or does something to disrupt the meeting you can request the police escort him right out the door.  However, be aware that you ordering his removal can be Appealed by a member of the league.