reports and minutes

[wwdslovene]

As I read Robert's Rules it is my understanding that a monthly Treasurer's report does not require approval. It is simply accepted and filed after discussion and questions, if any.

On the other hand, Minutes of the preceding monthly meeting must be presented and approved as is, with changes, etc.

Am I wrong on either count?

Finally.... what is the President's obligation to acquaint himself or herself with Robert's Rules? Our current President refuses to look at Robert's Rule's and then gets offended when called down when not following them.

Any help here will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

[Hieu H. Huynh]

As I read Robert's Rules it is my understanding that a monthly Treasurer's report does not require approval. It is simply accepted received and filed after discussion and questions, if any.

 

Note the correction. Also, it is the auditor's report that is accepted/approved.

 

 

On the other hand, Minutes of the preceding monthly meeting must be presented and approved as is, with changes, etc.

 

Correct. Note that the minutes are approved without any formal vote. Corrections may be voted on.

 

 

Finally.... what is the President's obligation to acquaint himself or herself with Robert's Rules? Our current President refuses to look at Robert's Rule's and then gets offended when called down when not following them.

 

Perhaps getting the In Brief version may be helpful. Or a new president (see FAQ #20).

[Bruce Lages]

Do your bylaws specify RONR as your parliamentary authority? If they do, then you might point out  to your president - in a gentle way - that the organization which elected him president has decided that the rules in RONR will govern their meetings, and that in order for him to preside effectively he really needs to have some understanding of them. RONR - in Brief, as suggested, is pretty much a fool-proof way of gaining that understanding.

[Richard Brown]

Finally.... what is the President's obligation to acquaint himself or herself with Robert's Rules? Our current President refuses to look at Robert's Rule's and then gets offended when called down when not following them.

Any help here will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

RONR devotes almost four pages, starting on page 454, to "Suggestions for Inexperienced Presiding Officers".  Here is the first paragraph, which has some key suggestions:

 

"Suggestions for Inexperienced Presiding Officers. The larger the assembly, the more readily it will detect the slightest weakness in a presiding officer. Efforts to capitalize on any such failing may follow with sometimes disastrous results. It is often said that knowledge is strength, and certainly that is true in this case. The presiding officer should be thoroughly familiar with the "Duties of the presiding officer of an assembly," as stated on pages 449–52, and should have with him the documents listed on pages 450–51. There is no acceptable alternative to parliamentary procedure for the conduct of business in a deliberative assembly; yet many presiding officers try to get along with a minimum of knowledge. This approach inevitably results in signs of unsureness. A presiding officer should make every effort to know more parliamentary procedure than other members, and should at least become familiar with 1 through 9 of this book and memorize the list of ordinary motions in their order of precedence, on tinted page 4. The chair should be able to refer to the table of rules relating to motions on tinted pages 6–29 quickly enough that there will be no delay in deciding all points contained there. These steps are simple and will enable a president to master parliamentary procedure more quickly. As more difficult points arise, a careful reading of the detailed treatment of such points in the body of this book will make them readily understood and mastered."