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Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:12:01 -0500 Subject: Charter Mtg: Simplified Roberts Rules -Agenda item for next meeting From: clsutherland©gmaii.com To: denali2010@q.com; talkette@yahoo.com Chair Dahl/Secretary Gunderson, Please share this communication with the other commissioners. In reviewing and trying to create a simple reference sheet for use in our meetings utilizing Robert's Rules more effectively, I discovered that the `motion to divide question' is used to consider the motion more carefully, however it requires a 'second', is not debated, can be amended and does require a majority vote to move forward -none of which was followed. The correct motion would have been to, "object to consideration of the question given my rationale of the item in question not being on the agenda", which does not require a second, is not debated, can not be amended and requires a 2/3 vote. The action would have been for the chair to immediately take the vote by asking, "Shall the question be considered?" the meeting would then continue based on the outcome of that vote. Attached are two documents that attempt to hone in on those items most commonly used or misused, a small grid of common motions, their order of ranking, and how they are handled by the assembly. I am requesting time on the agenda, prior to business items to review these items with the assembly. This will provide an opportunity for open dialogue to fully understand the impact and importance of utilizing these motions correctly. The end goal as cited from my RR book "is that a group of people get together, thoroughly discuss the issue, fix the objectionable parts, and reach a conclusion". I apologize for introducing a not commonly used motion incorrectly last night, and look forward to working from a shared understanding at our meetings going forward. Also from my new understanding, the referendum item should not have been included in the business portion of the agenda as it did not relate to the workings of the assembly but rather was 'open discussion' which could be placed before business items. (Each business item, old or new, on the agenda is considered a proposed motion). However, this may be an item to review with a parliamentarian, as there were other questions about the agenda. Thank you for your time, cordially, Commissioner Sutherland My Strengths are: Relator, Strategic, Individualization, Command and Achiever. "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts", Winston Churchill. "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race", Calvin Coolidge.