Guest Karen Posted October 12, 2019 at 06:19 AM Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 at 06:19 AM How does one phrase a motion to not carry out an activity. For example,” the committee recommends NOT having a picnic this year.” It seems a decision of “yes” or “no” could be confusing to voters. What is a better way to phrase the motion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted October 12, 2019 at 06:52 AM Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 at 06:52 AM You are quite correct -- "negative" motions are a bad idea, if not improper. If the committee doesn't think a picnic is a good thing this year, they could say so in a report but then make NO motion at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Karen Posted October 12, 2019 at 12:49 PM Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 at 12:49 PM I was just using picnic as an example. There is an activity that can be an annual effort that we can elect to do or not to do. The motion is to not do it. How does one say “let’s not do the activity on this year”? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Katz Posted October 12, 2019 at 01:28 PM Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 at 01:28 PM 36 minutes ago, Guest Karen said: I was just using picnic as an example. There is an activity that can be an annual effort that we can elect to do or not to do. The motion is to not do it. How does one say “let’s not do the activity on this year”? If you can elect to do it or not, a motion not to do it is out of order. If someone wants to do it, he can move to do it, and you can vote the motion down. Or you can do nothing, since not taking any action will lead to no activity happening. If inaction will lead to it happening (such as a rule that says that, unless the board decides otherwise, there shall be an annual whatever), then the motion would be to cancel the event. The rules do not allow you to choose between positive and negative phrasing in most cases, among other reasons, because having that choice would change the meaning of a tie vote, and there would be a race as to how to phrase the motion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Karen Posted October 12, 2019 at 01:31 PM Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 at 01:31 PM In this case, a decision needs to be made of whether or not to conduct membership intake. A process to do so is outlined in the bylaws. How does the committee state the recommendation to NOT bring in new members? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Katz Posted October 12, 2019 at 01:49 PM Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 at 01:49 PM 16 minutes ago, Guest Karen said: In this case, a decision needs to be made of whether or not to conduct membership intake. A process to do so is outlined in the bylaws. What do the bylaws establish as a default - i.e. if no motion is made, what will happen? If the intake will happen, then the committee should recommend to cancel it. If no intake will happen, the committee should recommend in its report not conducting an intake, but should not make a motion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Honemann Posted October 12, 2019 at 03:06 PM Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 at 03:06 PM The committee can recommend that no new members be brought in this year, and a motion can then be made "that no new members be brought in this year." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Elsman Posted October 12, 2019 at 04:26 PM Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 at 04:26 PM ...or the motion could be worded in a more positive way, "That the admission of new members be suspended for this year". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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