Permission to speak

[Guest Kathy]

Our board meetings are chaotic with lots of speaking over others. How does one get the floor and once that person is recognized, how do you prevent others breaking in?

[Guest kansasmom]

Whomever is running the meeting has control of the speakers. If someone wants to speak, they need to stand and say, "Madam president" or "Mr chairman", etc.... The person running the meeting then recognizes the speaker. No one else should speak while the person designated by the president has the floor. If they do, the president, chair, etc... should stop the person and say, "John has the floor."

[Larry Cisar]

Our board meetings are chaotic with lots of speaking over others. How does one get the floor and once that person is recognized, how do you prevent others breaking in?

Any member can call for decorum -- raise a point of order. It is up to the chair to enforce it.

[Tim Wynn]

Whomever (whoever) is running the meeting has control of the speakers.

The rules govern debate, not the whim presiding officer.

No one else should speak while the person designated by the president has the floor.

There are many instances when members have a right to interrupt a person speaking. See RONR(10th ed.), tinted pages 42-43.

If they do, the president, chair, etc... should stop the person

He should ascertain the reason for the interruption. If it is out of order, he should advise the interrupting member of this.

However, any member can rise to a point of order. See RONR(10th ed.), p. 240.

Also, if the violation is more severe, any member can call the offender to order. See RONR(10th ed.), p. 626, l. 20-30.

[Guest WTC]

In a debate on a questions before the body, where the speaker is limited to 3 mins. and to speak only one time, can another speaker yield his time to someone who has already spoken.

[hmtcastle]

In a debate on a questions before the body, where the speaker is limited to 3 mins. and to speak only one time, can another speaker yield his time to someone who has already spoken.

Robert's Rules do not permit "yielding" time. Your rules may (and apparently do) vary.

[Rob Elsman]

Our board meetings are chaotic with lots of speaking over others. How does one get the floor and once that person is recognized, how do you prevent others breaking in?

Training. Your board members need training. Do they each have a copy of Robert's Rules of Order in Brief? No? Does the president regularly have at hand at each meeting a copy of the 10th edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised? No?

[Rev Ed]

Also, if there are people who speak out during a meeting, a good Chairman may bring attention to them by stating something like, "Joe, is there something you'd like to add?" This usually helps to shut people up.

[Gary Novosielski]

Also, if there are people who speak out during a meeting, a good Chairman may bring attention to them by stating something like, "Joe, is there something you'd like to add?" This usually helps to shut people up.

On the contrary, a good chairman would be better advised to follow the rules. His job is to facilitate communication by the proper application of the rules, not to "shut people up" by ignoring them.

[Josh Martin]

Also, if there are people who speak out during a meeting, a good Chairman may bring attention to them by stating something like, "Joe, is there something you'd like to add?" This usually helps to shut people up.

If by "speak out during a meeting," you mean improperly interrupting a speaker, the chair should simply inform the member that Mr. X has the floor and to remain quiet. If the problem persists, the chair should call the member to order, and proceed from there if necessary. I'm not sure your strategy is wise, as I can imagine a member responding, "Yes, there is something I'd like to add!" Additionally, it is very rarely appropriate for the chair to refer to a member by name (especially by his first name alone).