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Parliamentary Procedure
Volunteers and staff
members don’t have the expertise or the desire to expend on these tasks. Great meetings are no
accident – they are the result
of careful planning and attention to detail. That’s
where I can be your secret weapon against frustration, confusion, and
inefficiency. I am Colette Collier Trohan, Parliamentarian and parliamentary
training is one of my specialties. 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.
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.
Good decision-making
requires commitment,
understanding, and discipline. The problem might not
be with the paper, but with the people. 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 most important
task of members of an organization is to elect their board and/or officers.
The integrity
of the election process is fundamentally linked to stability and success.
Safeguards must be put in place to ensure that the ballots are properly
prepared, counted, and reported according to the unique rules and customs
of the association. 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 achievement of your mission. Don’t ignore or underestimate
the importance of safeguarding their integrity.
Parliamentary
Procedure Consultant - parliamentary
consulting - American
Institute of Parliamentarians -
Parliamentarian - Professional
Registered Parliamentarian - Parliamentarian
Standard Code of Parliamentary
Procedure - Standard code - Robert's
Rules -
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