Are there specific sections in RONR that address Small Boards, please?

[KimW]

Greetings - I'm a new Board Secretary for a Board of six.  President has provided the next meeting agenda, and would like a small statement on all agendas that we follow RONR for Small Boards, "pursuant to 'pages' or 'section(s)' or 'chapter(s)', etc."    We've ordered the 12th Ed, since all we have right now is a "for dummies" edition.   I've read the 12th Ed TOC, but don't see a specific entry that references "Small Boards". 

Reading through the forums, it appears that perhaps Small Boards are referenced throughout RONR in cases where Small Boards would conduct business differently than regular/large boards on any topic.  Is this correct?   Our 12th Ed won't arrive before our next meeting, but I'd like to have the statement on the next meeting's agenda. 

Many thanks,

Kim

[Rob Elsman]

Take a look around RONR (12th ed.) 49:21.

[Rob Elsman]

...and I'm not at all sure why you think the "statement" belongs on an agenda or that there should be an agenda at all.

[Dan Honemann]

When your 12th edition arrives you will find the following:

49:21    Procedure in Small Boards. In a board meeting where there are not more than about a dozen members present, some of the formality that is necessary in a large assembly would hinder business. The rules governing such meetings are different from the rules that hold in other assemblies, in the following respects:

1) Members may raise a hand instead of standing when seeking to obtain the floor, and may remain seated while making motions or speaking.

2) Motions need not be seconded.

3) There is no limit to the number of times a member can speak to a debatable question. 3 Appeals, however, are debatable under the regular rules—that is, each member (except the chair) can speak only once in debate on them, while the chair may speak twice.

4) Informal discussion of a subject is permitted while no motion is pending.

5) When a proposal is perfectly clear to all present, a vote can be taken without a motion's having been introduced. Unless agreed to by unanimous consent, however, all proposed actions must be approved by vote under the same rules as in larger meetings, except that a vote can be taken initially by a show of hands, which is often a better method in small meetings.

6) The chairman need not rise while putting questions to a vote.

7) If the chairman is a member, he may, without leaving the chair, speak in informal discussions and in debate, and vote on all questions. 4

Footnote 4 at the end of Item 7 reads as follows:

4. Informal discussion may be initiated by the chairman himself, which, in effect, enables the chairman to submit his own proposals without formally making a motion as described in 4:4–8 (although he has the right to make a motion if he wishes). 

Your Board is free to adopt all or whatever part of these rules as it deems advisable.

 

[KimW]

Thank you, Dan!

[KimW]

On 2/12/2024 at 2:31 PM, Rob Elsman said:

...and I'm not at all sure why you think the "statement" belongs on an agenda or that there should be an agenda at all.

Because we've had a problem in the past with a couple of "enthusiastic talkers" to be polite.  Although those members have since left the board, we're simply applying lessons learned.  We need an agenda to keep on track.  We need everyone reminded that we follow Robert's Rules of Order to, well, maintain order.  It's fascinating how quickly even a small board meeting can turn into a free-for-all.

[KimW]

On 2/12/2024 at 2:39 PM, Dan Honemann said:

When your 12th edition arrives you will find the following:

49:21    Procedure in Small Boards. In a board meeting where there are not more than about a dozen members present, some of the formality that is necessary in a large assembly would hinder business. The rules governing such meetings are different from the rules that hold in other assemblies, in the following respects:

1) Members may raise a hand instead of standing when seeking to obtain the floor, and may remain seated while making motions or speaking.

2) Motions need not be seconded.

3) There is no limit to the number of times a member can speak to a debatable question. 3 Appeals, however, are debatable under the regular rules—that is, each member (except the chair) can speak only once in debate on them, while the chair may speak twice.

4) Informal discussion of a subject is permitted while no motion is pending.

5) When a proposal is perfectly clear to all present, a vote can be taken without a motion's having been introduced. Unless agreed to by unanimous consent, however, all proposed actions must be approved by vote under the same rules as in larger meetings, except that a vote can be taken initially by a show of hands, which is often a better method in small meetings.

6) The chairman need not rise while putting questions to a vote.

7) If the chairman is a member, he may, without leaving the chair, speak in informal discussions and in debate, and vote on all questions. 4

Footnote 4 at the end of Item 7 reads as follows:

4. Informal discussion may be initiated by the chairman himself, which, in effect, enables the chairman to submit his own proposals without formally making a motion as described in 4:4–8 (although he has the right to make a motion if he wishes). 

Your Board is free to adopt all or whatever part of these rules as it deems advisable.

 

Thank you, Dan!

[Rob Elsman]

Most executive boards meet frequently enough that they should use the organization's established order of business (either the standard order of business or an order of business adopted by the society).  It should not be necessary to use an agenda to "keep on track", since the chairman of the board has the duty to call up the items of business in the proper order according to their assigned places.  I think a good reading of RONR (12th ed.) §41 would be helpful.  You all give it a good read and get rid of this agenda junk.

[Josh Martin]

On 2/12/2024 at 2:26 PM, KimW said:

Because we've had a problem in the past with a couple of "enthusiastic talkers" to be polite.  Although those members have since left the board, we're simply applying lessons learned.  We need an agenda to keep on track.  We need everyone reminded that we follow Robert's Rules of Order to, well, maintain order.  It's fascinating how quickly even a small board meeting can turn into a free-for-all.

To be clear, the choice is not necessarily between the use of an agenda or a "free for all." RONR has a "standard order of business" that it recommends for use in most assemblies.

[Gary Novosielski]

The Standard Order of Business comprises the following headings:

     1) Reading and Approval of Minutes
     2) Reports of Officers, Boards, and Standing Committees
     3) Reports of Special (Select or Ad Hoc) Committees
     4) Special Orders
     5) Unfinished Business and General Orders
     6) New Business

In organizations that have adopted RONR as their parliamentary authority, that hold their regular meetings as frequently as quarterly, and have not adopted a special order of business, this series of headings is their prescribed order of business.
[see RONR (12th ed.) 41:5 ff.]