Posts by Ann Macfarlane
Successful staff interaction in local government meetings
Staff interaction in local government meetings can be effective or disastrous.
Read MoreStarting a nonprofit? Here’s a helpful workbook
Are you planning to start your own nonprofit organization? The process is complex.
Read MoreWhen is a quorum not enough?
It seems that confusion is rampant about the “quorum” and related voting issues. Read on:
Read MoreInterrupting is not allowed at meetings
Interrupting is one of the most common conversational gambits in our American society. It is not allowed at meetings run according to Robert’s Rules of Order.
Read MoreNo after-the-fact comments in minutes
As our faithful readers know, Robert’s Rules affirms that minutes contain what is DONE, not what is SAID.
Read MoreBeware of negativity bias
Human beings have a sharp and useful instinct for the negative.
Read MoreCounting a vote wrong is dangerous
Counting a vote wrong can land you in big trouble.
Read MoreEssential Guidelines for Small Casual Groups
Many small casual groups spend too much time in discussion. Seeking consensus, time can be wasted and little progress made.
Read MoreWhat are the duties of the chair?
Under Robert’s Rules of Order, the chair of a meeting has 11 duties.
Read MoreChoosing citizens by lottery: recipe for disaster?
The Washington Citizen’s Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials chooses half its 20 members by lottery.
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