duties of chair

Follow four fundamental guidelines for successful meetings

By Ann Macfarlane / January 3, 2019 / Comments Off on Follow four fundamental guidelines for successful meetings
Six people sit behind a large wooden desk with American and green flags in the background in a meeting room, discussing four fundamental guidelines.

Robert’s Rules of Order includes four fundamental guidelines that will create successful meetings. They are easy to say but take some effort to apply, since prevailing culture is often very different. Run your meetings according to these guidelines so your meetings—and your organization—will flourish. Download PDF I. The person running the meeting is the servant of…

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The chair is not in charge of your meeting

By Ann Macfarlane / December 27, 2018 / Comments Off on The chair is not in charge of your meeting
Diagram of a triangular hierarchy with "BOSS" at the top, indicating who's in charge. Arrows point from "BOSS" to three positions at the bottom corners, showing direct reporting lines.

It is a little-known fact that ultimately it is the board that is in charge of your meeting, not the chair. According to the principles of parliamentary procedure and Robert’s Rules of Order, the chair runs the meeting while subject to the will of the body as a whole. This is very different from the…

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You must call for the negative vote

By Ann Macfarlane / October 23, 2018 / Comments Off on You must call for the negative vote
A hand with a dark sleeve is giving a negative vote gesture, thumbs-down, against a white background.

Updated November 18, 2022 One of the surprising rules about voting is that when taking the vote, the chair MUST call for the negative vote—even if the chair is perfectly certain that there were enough votes in favor to pass the motion. This ensures that everyone enjoys their full right to vote, even if they…

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Beware of negativity bias

By Ann Macfarlane / August 25, 2018 / Comments Off on Beware of negativity bias
A woman with long blonde hair sits in a black office chair, holding a pen and making a doubtful expression. She is wearing a black blazer and white shirt, her face subtly reflecting the negativity bias she's wrestling with.

Human beings have a sharp and useful instinct for the negative.

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What are the 11 duties of the chair?

By Ann Macfarlane / July 23, 2018 / Comments Off on What are the 11 duties of the chair?
City council chamber with a wooden backdrop, an American flag, and six empty chairs at a curved desk. The city’s emblem is centered on the wall behind the desk, where the duties of chair are often discussed and delegated.

Under Robert’s Rules of Order, the chair of a meeting has 11 duties. These duties are listed in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 12th edition, the only official and current version of Robert’s Rules, in section 47:7. Download PDF THE MEETING may be that of a city council, a nonprofit board, a professional society,…

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Tie vote fails

By Ann Macfarlane / June 26, 2018 / Comments Off on Tie vote fails
A person in a suit marks a checkbox labeled "Fail" with a red check, next to another empty checkbox labeled "Pass," suggesting the outcome could hinge on a tie vote.

Updated July 22, 2021 What happens when a vote is tied? Here are a few angles to this question. A reader writes: I am the Vice-Chair of a small board—three people, Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary. We have dual roles. One voted yes. One voted no. One abstained. Does the motion pass or is the motion…

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You can’t shut down a meeting whenever you want

By Ann Macfarlane / June 11, 2018 /
gavel descending in stages

“Can City Council President Ben Stuckart really shut down a meeting whenever he wants?” runs the catchy headline. The answer, of course, is NO!

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When should you interrupt a speaker?

By Ann Macfarlane / April 26, 2018 / Comments Off on When should you interrupt a speaker?
A wooden gavel rests atop its matching sound block, symbolizing law and justice, swiftly silencing any inappropriate remarks in the courtroom.

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. 

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CHEAT SHEET Language Tips for Meeting Management

By Ann Macfarlane / February 26, 2018 / Comments Off on CHEAT SHEET Language Tips for Meeting Management
A handheld silver and black microphone is mounted on a black microphone stand against a white background, ready to provide language tips.

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!

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4 bad habits to avoid at council meetings

By Ann Macfarlane / August 6, 2016 / Comments Off on 4 bad habits to avoid at council meetings
Five people in business attire are seated at a conference table with notebooks and microphones. An American flag is in the background.

There are a number of “urban myths” about Robert’s Rules of Order that can get in the way of democratic process for your council. If your municipality, county council, or special district avoids these bad habits, congratulations! If these errors happen at your meetings, however, you might want to bring them to the attention of your colleagues…

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