Posts Tagged ‘ground rules for meetings’
Significant Changes to Washington Nonprofit Corporation Law
Guest article by Matthew J. Schafer, PRP Many organizations are incorporated in Washington State under the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act. (This article will refer to this law as “the Act”.) During the 2021 session, the legislature repealed the existing Act and replaced it with a new one. These are some of the most important changes…
Read MoreJim Slaughter’s new website – amazing resource for Robert’s Rules
The announcement that Jim Slaughter has revamped and updated his website is joyful news for all of us committed to good meetings and the democratic process. I have long valued the free resources that Jim provides. His book Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules is my “go-to” volume for clear and helpful explanations of difficult…
Read MoreWhy bylaws?
Guest article by Ted Weisgal Are bylaws the be-all and end-all of organizational development? If you create good ones will a flourishing organization be the natural outcome? Probably not. Good bylaws are critically important, but you should also have: A mission that resonates with people, Orderly meetings, Members who are reliable, Agendas that justify people’s…
Read MoreShould you adopt “The Modern Rules of Order” by Donald Tortorice?
Guest post by Weldon L. Merritt, JD, PRP-R, CPP-Retired The Modern Rules of Order, 5th edition (MRO), by Donald A. Tortorice, a law professor at William and Mary School of Law, is one of the many works intended to replace Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 12th edition (RONR), as a parliamentary authority for adoption…
Read MoreNewly elected? 6 key questions for success
Congratulations on being elected to your nonprofit board of directors! Here are six key questions as you prepare for your new gig, with answers below: What is my moral and legal “duty of care” as a nonprofit board director? Is it a good idea to “go along to get along” on a nonprofit board? What…
Read MoreWhat Is a Quorum FAQs
Quorum questions are the most common searches on the Jurassic Parliament website. Here are the contents of our new article, “What Is a Quorum FAQs.” Join our list and get your free copy. This article is based on Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 12th edition. Read about quorum in Chapter XI, Section 40. As…
Read MoreWas this proper use of “Point of Information”?
Dear Dinosaur: A board member at a condo association meeting made a motion. The motion did not receive a second. The board member then said, “Point of Information,” and continued to state his opinion of why the motion was important. Was this the proper use of “Point of Information? If so, what is the use of…
Read MoreWhen can you bring up a new topic during a meeting?
At a recent council meeting I attended, the city issued a proclamation honoring efforts to assist the homeless. In responding to the proclamation, a local pastor asked the council to provide extra funding for their project. Before the mayor could move on to public comment, a council member made a motion to provide the funding.…
Read MoreCan member explain vote against consent agenda?
Dear Dinosaur: During our consent agenda vote, we have a board member who often votes nay. After their vote, they always feel the need to interrupt our process to give an explanation as to why they voted against the agenda Item. My question is, does a board member have a right to explain their vote…
Read MoreWhen and how can you change your vote?
A reader contacted us with some concern because a member of her local government body had changed their vote in order to be able to move reconsideration at the next meeting. Was this legitimate? A note about “reconsideration” First off, readers should know that ordinarily, the motion “to reconsider” can be made only during the…
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