CC Trohan, Parliamentarian
I am Colette Collier
Trohan, Parliamentarian and parliamentary training is one of my specialties.Great meetings are
no accident – they are the result
of careful planning and attention to detail. Volunteers and staff members
don’t
have the expertise or the desire to expend on these tasks. That’s
where I can be your secret weapon against frustration, confusion, and
inefficiency. The purpose of a meeting is to take
an action or make a decision toward the fulfillment of the mission, and
meetings that have
not made
measurable progress toward that goal are a wasted resource. I can help
you spend
your time wisely, focusing on the issues rather than the mechanics of
your meeting.
Perhaps the problems are deeper than organization of the meeting event itself.
Issues may reside in your governance documents,
such as the bylaws or policies. A governance document review can expose problem
areas
or areas
of potential
danger in which a problem is lurking and waiting for a the most inopportune
time to launch. These problem areas might not be easily seen by those who
are too close to the situation, but a professional that has experience working
with many different types of associations like me can find them and give
you the tools you need to disarm them.
The problem might be
with the people, not with the paper. Good decision-making
requires commitment,
understanding, and discipline. The person presiding over the meeting
needs to understand that role, and acquire a few special skills to
keep the
meeting on track. The members also need basic skills to make their
participation more effective. The only way to acquire those skills
is through training,
and the only way to keep them is through practice. As new members come
onto a board or into an assembly, an ongoing program of training and
support will keep your deliberations at a high-impact level. I don’t have
prefabricated workshops -- all of my training is customized to the
specific needs and
circumstances of my clients.
The election of their
board and/or officers is the most important task of members of an organization.
The integrity of the election process is fundamentally linked
to stability and success. Problems with an election can cause discord long
after the election has ended. The process is too important to delegate to someone
with no experience or training, and if that delegation takes staff time away
from the implementation of the association’s strategic objectives, double damage
can be done. If members count your ballots on site at a meeting, I can train
them how to get an accurate count and accurate report that everyone can trust.
Your rules represent
the covenant between the member and the association; they define the
relationship and
set the stage for the missions's achievement. Don’t ignore
or underestimate their importance.
Parliamentarian - American
Institute of Parliamentarians - Parliamentary
training - Parliamentarian -
parliamentary procedure - Professional Registered Parliamentarian - Standard
Code of Parliamentary Procedure -
Standard code - Robert's
Rules
- parliamentary consulting - Parliamentary
Procedure Consultant - | 
