RESOURCES
Parliamentary Procedure 101: How Motions Work – 6 Steps in 6 Minutes
A quick six minute tutorial on how to process motions in six easy steps. Follow these steps and you will never get lost – guaranteed!​
Great Leaders Series eBooks
This is the most useful book ever developed to help anyone run a great meeting. It can be read in an hour or two and used for years. Rules for both Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) and American Institute of Parliamentarians Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (AIPSC) are included. The table of contents makes it easy to find information quickly.
There are two sections: Meetings Explained and Motions Explained. Meetings Explained thoroughly walks you through a meeting, starting with preparing the agenda, and progressing through call to order, handling reports, assigning the floor, taking votes, and adjourning. Motions Explained includes virtually every motion that can come up in a meeting, arranged by its purpose rather than by its parliamentary classification. It gives suggested language and hints for handling each motion. This information can be applied to any type of meeting from the smallest board or committee to the largest house of delegates.
A Great Meeting Needs a Great Chair is the closest thing you’ll find to a magic gavel.
The duties of the secretary, like those of the president, are so important to the meeting that if either is absent, someone is chosen to serve temporarily (“pro tem”). The secretary works before the meeting to send required notices and help the chair set the road map for the meeting (the agenda). During the meeting, the secretary calls the roll, reads official correspon-dence (and the minutes if not distributed in advance) and records motions made during the meeting. These notes are used to prepare the official record of the actions taken (the minutes). The secretary has the same responsibilities whether or not a paid staff member performs most of the tasks. This tool will help you learn the tasks and understand the important role of the secretary. Like the other ebooks in the Great Leaders Collection, there are two sections: a front section containing information about the secretary’s role and responsibilities and a back section providing templates and samples of the rules and documents critical to the success of an association as well as suggested special rules for many situations, including conventions, telephone meetings, board meetings, and electronic meetings. It is easy to be a Great Secretary – just flip the pages and follow the directions!
The fundamental nature of the treasurer’s position is more closely linked to the size of the association than any of the other leadership positions. The treasurer of a local club will likely be the sole keeper of the association’s financial records and perform all of the tasks associated with the position, while the treasurer of a large national association will probably never write a check or make a deposit. We refer to the treasurer who performs the financial tasks as the practicing treasurer, and the treasurer who works with a paid staff who performs the financial tasks as the fiduciary treasurer. Whatever the tasks, all treasurers have the responsibility to serve as the elected custodian of the association’s funds. Like the other tools in the Great Leaders Collection, there are two sections: a front section has tabs for how to make the transition from one treasurer to another, basic records, and instructions for conducting audits, creating budgets, and other financial reports and a back section containing forms and templates for invoices, receipts, reimbursements, and a variety of reports. Sample financial policies are also included. A Great Meeting Needs a Great Treasurer is the perfect resource for the treasurer.
This is the most useful tool ever developed to empower members. It can be read in an hour or two, and used for years. After the initial joy of being elected or appointed to a board, committee, or delegate assembly fades, the need for concise and accurate information about that role begins. Rules for both Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised and American Institute of Parliamentarians Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure are included. The table of contents makes it easy to find information quickly. There are two sections: Meetings Explained and Motions Explained. Meetings Explained walks you through a meeting from call to order to adourn. Motions Explained gives virtually every motion that can come up in a meeting, arranged by its purpose rather than by its parliamentary classification. This information can be applied to any type of meeting from the smallest board or committee to the largest house of delegates. A Great Meeting Needs Great Members will take anyone from being intimidated to being effective.