The fascinating exchange on July 27, 2017 between Representative Maxine Waters (California) and Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin has reverberated far beyond Washington, DC. Representative Waters sought a direct answer to a specific question. When the Secretary failed to … [Read more...]
Be a crouching tiger at meetings
As I watch meetings roll along, the good, the bad and the ugly, I often wish that chairs would observe the habits of the crouching tiger. This Sumatran beauty is lying on the rock, perfectly calm, alert and at ease – but ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. If you are chairing a … [Read more...]
Local government is a miracle
As we head into the Fourth of July holiday, I would like to thank all my readers who are involved in local government. Whether you are serving on a city or county council, a school board, a utility district, an arts commission, a library board, or as staff, you are doing quiet … [Read more...]
Robert’s Rules has special rules for small boards
The special rules for small boards are one of the best-kept secrets of Robert's Rules of Order. If you serve on a small board (up to about 12 people) you may benefit from the flexibility that the special rules for small boards offer. Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, 11th … [Read more...]
How well do you walk this meeting tightrope?
Chairing a meeting requires two skills that are not easy to combine. The presider has to control the meeting, which requires strength. At the same time, he has to remain emotionally connected to the members, which requires warmth. Put too much strength into your voice, and you … [Read more...]
Fill in the blank: an easy way to make hard choices
Have you ever wondered whether a fill in the blank approach could be useful to your board or council? Sometimes a board of directors has to make hard choices about selling property, giving the executive director a raise, making an appointment or choosing a date to schedule an … [Read more...]
“Ann, nobody wants your job”
Arnold Palmer passed away in October. I was interested to read in one obituary that he hated his nickname, "King of Golf." He was quoted as saying, “There is no king of golf. Never has been, never will be. Golf is the most democratic game on earth. It punishes and exalts us all … [Read more...]
Reader, did you miss these two posts?
Dear reader, Due to a technical glitch two of our recent posts were published without the usual notification email. Since they are two of my favorite topics, I wanted to make sure that you have access to the content! You can't vote by email Do we have to obey the … [Read more...]
Do we have to obey the mayor?
After a few years in this business, it seems to me that questions of authority are some of the hardest to resolve. Over and over I find city councils, boards of directors, and other governing boards struggling with the question, "Who's in charge here, anyway?" If a group … [Read more...]
You can’t vote by email
Several of our clients have been startled recently to learn that they can’t vote by email. Email is so ubiquitous and useful that it seems like a natural way to make decisions. For boards, it is not. The essential nature of a board of directors is to meet, discuss and decide … [Read more...]
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