Powerful Meetings
Interrupting 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 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 MoreThe twelve stupidest meeting mistakes
In the eighteen years since Jurassic Parliament began, we’ve seen a lot of dumb things happen at meetings. Here’s our dirty dozen—a list of the twelve stupidest meeting mistakes.
Read MoreWhen should you interrupt a speaker?
We see so many instances of rude behavior in public life today that it is not easy to keep our bearings about civility. Polite people who have been well brought up sometimes feel stymied when public discourse disintegrates.
Read MoreUnanimous consent will slash your meeting time
Unanimous consent is one of the most useful tools in Robert’s Rules of order. Yet this method of voting is little known. Use it well, and your meetings will be much more efficient. Your members will also be grateful!
Read MoreCHEAT SHEET Language Tips for Meeting Management
Do you feel flummoxed by the language of Robert’s Rules? Is it a challenge for you to keep things running smoothly at your meetings? We have just what you need!
Read MoreHow to use Point of Order and Appeal
Point of Order and Appeal are essential motions for every member of an elected public body, a nonprofit board, an academic senate, or any group that functions on democratic principles. They are key to effective use of Robert’s Rules of Order.
Read MoreReclaiming my time is not relevant in Robert’s Rules of Order
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 answer, she interrupted him numerous times, referring to the House Rules of Order, with the…
Read MoreBe 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 meeting,…
Read More