Posts

Don’t recognize dilatory (time-wasting) motions

By Ann Macfarlane / November 13, 2024 /
A group of businessmen in a meeting room, with one person replaced by a dinosaur. Caption reads: "If anyone can get us out of our rut, it’s Ole Dinosaur here. Any questions about Robert's Rules?" Chart showing declining profits in background.

Dear Dinosaur:  A member of our board relentlessly wants the minutes for the January 2024 meeting to include the content of a conversation he had at that meeting. At every meeting, he makes a motion to do this. Our minutes provide the actions of the board but not direct quotes from people. How can we…

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Processing financial reports correctly

By Ann Macfarlane / October 30, 2024 / Comments Off on Processing financial reports correctly
Close-up of a typewriter with a piece of paper showing the text "Financial Report" being typed, reminiscent of reports in Robert's Rules.

There are three broad types of financial reports that a board of directors needs to process. Here is an explanation of how to handle them. DOWNLOAD PDF Expenditures requiring board approval before payment Some boards have the responsibility of approving payments before they are made. In this case, the list of checks, warrants, expenditures, etc.…

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Vote cast without a second – is this OK?

By Ann Macfarlane / October 11, 2024 / Comments Off on Vote cast without a second – is this OK?
Cartoon of a business meeting with five men and a dinosaur around a table. A chart on the wall shows declining profits. One man raises his hand, asking questions about Robert's Rules. Caption reads, "If anyone can get us out of our rut, it’s Ole Dinosaur here.

Dear Dinosaur:  In our committee meeting, someone made a motion, and before a second could be made, discussion began. Upon completion of the discussion, the meeting chair said, “There is a motion and a second, all in favor?”  The vote was cast without a second. Is this ok? Answer: If someone makes a motion and…

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Is your council puzzled by these 15 issues?

By Ann Macfarlane / September 19, 2024 / Comments Off on Is your council puzzled by these 15 issues?
Four faceless figures in business attire stand with arms crossed in front of a green background, their empty connected speech bubbles forming a large puzzle piece shape, as if the council is puzzled over a difficult decision.

Dear reader, A friend recently sent me this list of 15 issues that are puzzling for the council he staffs. Does your council struggle with any of these? Let us know by sending an email here! This will help us tailor our training to your real needs. Many of these issues are addressed in self-paced…

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Can councilmembers speak during public comment?

By Ann Macfarlane / August 14, 2024 / Comments Off on Can councilmembers speak during public comment?
A group of businessmen in a meeting room, with one person replaced by a dinosaur. Caption reads: "If anyone can get us out of our rut, it’s Ole Dinosaur here. Any questions about Robert's Rules?" Chart showing declining profits in background.

Dear Dinosaur:  Our council meeting took an interesting turn last week. The council comment period was over, and they were winding up public comments when two of our council members decided they had more to say. Are they allowed to speak during public comments? Should they recuse themselves from the meeting and then make their…

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HOA victory – the power of one person

By Ann Macfarlane / June 5, 2024 / Comments Off on HOA victory – the power of one person
Colorful exploding party popper

“On the honor system” In the May newsletter I wrote about a president who declined to provide financial information to his HOA board of directors. He used the phrase “on the honor system.” When my friend, a board director, insisted on seeing details before approving checks, the president and board resisted, finally voting her off…

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Councilmember badgers the staff

By Ann Macfarlane / May 8, 2024 / Comments Off on Councilmember badgers the staff
Cartoon of a business meeting with five men and a dinosaur around a table. A chart on the wall shows declining profits. One man raises his hand, asking questions about Robert's Rules. Caption reads, "If anyone can get us out of our rut, it’s Ole Dinosaur here.

Dear Dinosaur: One of our councilmembers puts question after question after question to the staff at meetings. Sometimes our meetings are five hours long! What can be done about this? Answer: This certainly can be a problem! We suggest that you discuss the matter with the council chair, mayor, and/or city manager, and see if…

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What if a colleague says something outrageous and insulting?

By Ann Macfarlane / February 14, 2024 / Comments Off on What if a colleague says something outrageous and insulting?
Cartoon of a business meeting with five men and a dinosaur around a table. A chart on the wall shows declining profits. One man raises his hand, asking questions about Robert's Rules. Caption reads, "If anyone can get us out of our rut, it’s Ole Dinosaur here.

Dear Dinosaur:  At a recent citizen advisory committee meeting, a colleague made hateful statements about a minority group as a whole. This was in response to diversity training we had received. I was shocked and didn’t know what to do. Answer: It is indeed shocking when someone makes outrageous statements attacking a category of people.…

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When homeowners are unhappy with their HOA board

By Ann Macfarlane / January 31, 2024 / Comments Off on When homeowners are unhappy with their HOA board
row houses in a condominium

Homeowner and condo associations generate the highest number of inquiries to our “Dear Dinosaur” advice column. Month after month, we receive messages about HOA boards that appear to be unresponsive to homeowner members, dysfunctional, or otherwise incompetent. (To be fair, we also receive inquiries from board members about homeowners who are making life difficult for…

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What is the chain of command in your nonprofit organization?

By Ann Macfarlane / January 10, 2024 / Comments Off on What is the chain of command in your nonprofit organization?
A diagram showing a central figure labeled "leader" with arrows pointing to and from various small crosses, indicating interactions or connections.

A reader asks, “Where can I find the chain of command from the chairperson on down?”  Several thoughts come to mind. This article covers nonprofit organizations—governmental bodies are different. Take our online course for great nonprofit meetings A nonprofit organization is not like a profit corporation In a profit corporation, there is a boss who…

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