Comments/Questions submitted beforehand and moderated

[Doug B]

A special meeting has been called and the chair put in the notice that all questions and comments will need to be submitted prior the meeting. The reason given was to make sure there were no repeated questions or comments and to keep the discussion orderly and on topic. Questions and comments will be read by the moderator (we have not been informed who the moderator is, either the chair or someone else). When a few members questioned if this was permissible and, also, if someone comes up with a question/comment during the meeting will they be able to speak, the chair then said members will be able to submit questions or comments during the meeting into the chat box (the chat will only allow participants to send a chat to "the host") and the chair will decide if it is a repeat or orderly/on topic before allowing the question/comment. 

I have already given notice of my objection to this procedure, and my intention to object at the meeting, as it doesn't give the members the ability to speak for themselves and there is no way for the members to know what questions or comments were submitted and not chosen. Additionally, it doesn't give the members the ability to overrule the chair on which comments and questions to allow. The chair has said this isn't keeping members from speaking, as the comments and questions will be coming from the members, but making sure there is order during the meeting. 

 I've been reading through RONR to find support for my stance, but can't find much beyond speaking at meetings as the right of all members, which the chair insists is happening here. 

Any help would be appreciated. 

[Joshua Katz]

3 minutes ago, Doug B said:

 I've been reading through RONR to find support for my stance, but can't find much beyond speaking at meetings as the right of all members, which the chair insists is happening here. 

 

The better question is where RONR or your rules say the chair has the power to disallow comments that are not pre-screened. Absent such a reference, the chair has no such power. But this is, in part at least, a consequence of technology. What do your rules say about online meetings of this sort?

 

[Doug B]

Our CBL states we follow RONR during meetings. We had to get permission from our parent body to allow online meetings, but in the instructions in allowing them to be online it states we must still follow our CBL during an online meeting. 

Thank you for your point that the onus should be on the chair to reference in RONR and/or in our CBL where the power to pre-screen comments comes from.