National Parliamentarians (Vol. 79, No. 1)

NP

National Parliamentarian Volume 79, No. 1 | Fall 2017

Building on Our Successes

See page 37.

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NP

National Parliamentarian Volume 79, No. 1 | Fall 2017

Contents 2017-2019 NAP Officers President James N. Jones, PRP Vice-President Darlene T. Allen, PRP Secretary Kevin R. Connelly, PRP Treasurer Wanda M. Sims, PRP Directors-at-Large Joyce Brown-Watkins, PRP Ann Rempel, PRP Alison Wallis, PRP District Director Representatives Roger Hanshaw, PRP Larry Martin, PRP Parliamentarian James H. Stewart, PRP Executive Director Cynthia Launchbaugh

NAP’s Vision: To provide parliamentary leadership to the world

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 President’s Message Building on Our Successes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Features Resolutions Committees – RONR or AIPSC? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Red Flag on the Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Comparing Parliamentary Law & Parliamentary Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 National Association of Parliamentarians® 2015-2017 History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Thoughts of a Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Reflections on Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Departments Test Yourself Tongue-in-Cheek “Punny” Trivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Parliamentary Procedure Vocabulary Builder . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Questions & Answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 NAP Connections Irene Carter Receives Trailblazer Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Photography Information for NP and for Monthly Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Recertification Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 FCCLA STAR Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Association Relations Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Meet our New 2017-2019 Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 District Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 A Closing Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Editor’s Farewell… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 New Professional Registered Parliamentarians . . . . . . . . . 39 New Registered Parliamentarians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 NAP 41st Biennial Convention Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 www.parliamentarians.org

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National Parliamentarian

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Editor

Ann Iona Warner npeditor@nap2.org

Assistant Editor

Betty Tunstall, PRP

Parliamentary Review Committee Schmuel Gerber, PRP

Parliamentary Research Committee C. Alan Jennings, PRP Rosalie Stroman, PRP Jeanette Williams, PRP Thomas J. “Burke” Balch, PRP

Editorial Staff Lisa Zwarn, PRP John Berg, PRP

Information and Outreach Cluster Leader Brandon Walters, PRP

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From the Editor

It is a challenge to come in and take ownership of a well-oiled machine such as this magazine. Fortunately, I know that I will have the support and guidance of the NAP staff and assistants who have the experience of helping the production of the National Parliamentarian.

I look forward to the opportunity to work with the new leadership of NAP, and to develop, through the NP, a strong source of organizational information and professional knowledge for our members.

We are always looking for contributions from our members. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any suggestions or contributions, npeditor@nap2.org.

Ann Iona Warner 2

National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

President’s Message

Building on Our Successes New beginnings are not about starting over – they are about moving forward.

Through their hard work, my predecessors have played a part in the continuous growth of NAP. What a distance we have traveled since 1930.

It is time now to focus on a future that is based not on surviving but on thriving. Through the cumulative efforts of NAP’s leaders (past and present), we are now able to affect the changes necessary to become the organization that we all want to become. A future that focuses on service to our members, quality educational programs at all levels, and positioning our credentialed members to realize their potential as leaders in the parliamentary and governance fields.

So, what does the future of NAP look like? It will require all of us to dream of a great future and to work hard to make that dream a reality. Leaders dream but they also act to make those dreams come true. Otherwise, they are destined to only become day dreamers!

Allow me to share my vision of NAP in this biennium: • An organization nationally known for its high-quality, innovative educational programs, supporting organizations and community leaders to fulfill their leadership goals.

• An organization that celebrates the accomplishments of its credentialed members, providing them the support and recognition necessary to evolve into successful practicing parliamentarians.

• An organization that is fiscally strong and able to share its financial resources with its associations and units to aid them in serving their members and communities.

• An organization known for an outstanding Board of Directors committed to furthering the vision of the founders while assisting in charting new courses for a secure future. www.parliamentarians.org

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• An organization that has strong relationships with its association and corporate partners and which focuses on expanding its membership base around the world.

• An organization known for attracting enthusiastic learners across the world.

This list is obviously not comprehensive; it is only the beginning of our future. And it will be important to make sure all our members are involved in a vigorous dialogue to identify how we can best fulfill NAP’s mission. I know it is ironic for us to focus on our future by recapturing visions from the past; however, it is imperative that we build on our successes even as we recognize the great potential which will frame our future.

It has been said, “Nothing really worthwhile ever happens quickly or easily. If it did I doubt that we would ever grow.

You achieve only as you are determined to achieve…and as you keep at it until you have achieved.” We have achieved a great deal over the years, and now it is time for us to achieve even more.

As stewards of NAP’s great legacy, we have an opportunity to build an organization worthy of our labors. I am eagerly anticipating great things for this biennium. We have assembled an energized team of board members, committee workers, and local leaders all of whom are working together to lift up our organization and its mission. I am looking forward to building new educational programs, implementing innovative changes to existing programs, reinvigorating our associations and units and developing highly qualified credentialed members. What an exciting time to be a member of NAP. Thank you for joining me in this journey. Thank you for your confidence in our collective future. And, thank you for all you do for NAP and our mission.

Happy New Beginnings!

James “Jim” Jones PRP, CPP-T 44th NAP President, 2017-2019

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National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

Resolutions Committees – RONR or AIPSC?

By Lorenzo R. Cuesta, PRP

Recently I served as parliamentarian for two associations that were using a Resolutions (Reference) Committee in their respective conventions. One association was under Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised (RONR, 11th ed.); the other was under the AIP Standard Code (AIPSC). This was a great opportunity for me to apply the same concept in both parliamentary authorities.

In RONR, a Resolutions Committee screens resolutions or bylaw amendments that are to come before a convention or annual meeting. AIPSC refers to these committees as Reference Committees.

Each authority’s committee serves solely in an advisory capacity.

The committee’s recommendations are part of the debate; not a substitution amendment for the original resolution.

Resolutions are presented to the Resolution Committee without debate unless they originate from a committee or board. The purpose for this screening is to allow the voting members to efficiently dispose of its business by limiting the right of members to propose motions without notice from the floor!

Let me illustrate how one parliamentary authority complements the other one.

Resolutions Committee – Reference Committee – RONR (p. 633-640) AIPSC (p. 212-226) Potential Means of Resolution Introduction • Secretary submits any memberoriginated resolutions to Resolutions Committee chair.

• Member may submit resolutions directly to the Resolution Committee a specific number of days before the convention.

• Member may submit resolution at convention floor with a 2/3 vote.

Potential Means of Resolution Introduction/Referral • Per the bylaws.

• Commonly, the presiding officer.

• Often by committees, boards, officers, or delegates.

• Some allow individual members.

• Informational reports requiring no action will be filed whether or not they are part of report. www.parliamentarians.org

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Resolutions Committees – RONR or AIPSC? continued Resolutions Committee – Reference Committee – RONR (p. 633-640) AIPSC (p. 212-226)

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Potential Origins of Resolutions • Society members (delegate or not delegate).

• Constituent societies.

• Special or Standing Committee may need to have resolutions screened.

• The Resolutions Committee may originate the resolution.

• Resolutions Committee may form the resolution based on a member’s recommendation.

Potential Origins of Resolutions • Per the rules of the organization.

Potential Power of Resolutions Committee • Put resolutions in a proper form, in a logical sequence.

• Authority to make substantive alterations with the sponsor’s consent.

• Authority to make substantive alterations with 2/3 vote if without the sponsor’s consent.

• Typically, report on all resolutions referred to it. With a majority vote, an assembly can force unreported resolutions to come to the convention floor.

Potential Power of Reference Committee • Society adopts rules governing the organization and format of the report.

• Society should provide templates for this report.

• Committee must ensure the least procedural confusion.

• Persuasive facts supersede volume of testimony.

• Typically, committee must report on all resolutions referred to it. The presiding officer should place any omitted resolutions before the assembly.

Resolutions Committee Composition and Appointment • At least one person.

• Elected or appointed by (or by direction of) an assembly.

• Nonvoting members may be appointed.

Reference Committee Composition and Appointment • President customarily appoints at least 3 members.

• Speaker of the House may appoint.

• Nonvoting advisor or organization staff may be appointed.

Open Meeting – Hearing • Sponsors allowed to explain resolution.

• Sponsors allowed to answer questions.

• Delegates may participate in discussion.

Open Meeting – Hearing • Open to voting and nonvoting members.

• Some societies restrict testimony to members only.

• Some societies allow testimony from nonmembers with permission of a majority of committee members.

• Committee decides how much testimony to allow depending on type of business, or per person, or times per person.

• No member can be denied the right to testify.

National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

Resolutions Committee – Reference Committee – RONR (p. 633-640) AIPSC (p. 212-226) • Committee chair should be empowered to eject disruptive individuals.

• No votes are allowed in the hearing.

• Committee members should not give testimony at hearing, only at committee deliberation.

Executive Session – Recommendations • To review each resolution.

• To prepare the report.

Closed Session – Recommendations • Approve resolution as submitted.

• Disapprove, reject, not adopt, or no vote for a resolution as submitted.

• Approve as amended.

• Refer for study to specific committee with instructions on when and to whom to report.

• Postpone, but only to later in the same convention and to the identical delegates.

• Adopt In-Lieu-Of motion which summarizes and replaces a group of similar resolutions with one that combines the entire group.

Resolutions Committee Report Actions • Each resolution is treated as if it had been moved and seconded in the assembly.

• Resolutions Committee recommendations are not voted upon.

Reference Committee Report Actions • Identification of resolutions that will be withdrawn.

• Adoption of resolutions on the Priority Agenda.

• Removal of resolutions from the Consent Agenda.

• Adoption of Consent Agenda consisting of the remaining resolutions.

• Adoption of resolutions removed from the Consent Agenda.

• Adoption of resolutions that were never placed on the Consent Agenda.

• Committee recommendations to amend or refer are immediately taken up by the chair as if introduced from the floor.

• It is advisable to include the financial impact for each resolution.

• Report should be signed by all committee members.

• Assembly never votes directly on the recommendation for action. www.parliamentarians.org

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Resolutions Committees – RONR or AIPSC? continued Resolutions Committee – Reference Committee – RONR (p. 633-640) AIPSC (p. 212-226) Consent Calendar • “If there is no objection, …”

Consent Agenda • En bloc adoption of different parliamentary actions in a single vote involving the committee’s recommendations, e.g., adopt, defeat, adopt as amended, refer, etc.

• Bylaw amendments may be included in Consent Agenda, but not budget items.

Priority Agenda • “If there is no objection, . . .”

Priority Agenda • Most important agenda items may be placed in the Priority Agenda, but the assembly with a majority vote may amend the list.

Regardless of a society’s parliamentary authority, the other authorities offer persuasive and invaluable material to address the needs of the society’s Convention Standing Rules. The best conclusion is that any parliamentarian who needs to serve either an RONR-based or an AIPSC-based convention or annual meeting, must assure that the Convention Standing Rules include customized rules based on all available resources, whether RONR, AIPSC, or some other authority.

Lorenzo R. Cuesta, PRP, has served as a parliamentarian for boards, conventions, and annual meetings in and beyond California for more than 17 years. He typically offers a three-hour interactive parliamentary procedure workshop that focuses on members’ rights and efficient meeting management. http://www.roberts-rules.com, parliam@roberts-rules.com

Join the conversation!

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National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

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Red Flag on the Table

By John R. Berg, PRP

It was very surprising to hear a motion to “table until…” at the 41st Biannual Convention of the National Association of Parliamentarians last September in Lombard, Illinois.

The Convention Highlights newsletter even described it as “tabled until Sunday morning’s session due to lack of time.”

It was later followed by a motion to Take from the Table.

One would think that a convention of parliamentarians should know better than to misuse such a procedure.

As a result, this article will attempt to discourage the use of the term table altogether.

Over the years the term table has come to mean different things to different people. Henry M. Robert states in Parliamentary Law that table is “the same as to Lay on the Table” (1975 printing, p. 576). To others, even in another parliamentary authority, it means to kill a motion, to others it means to introduce a motion (cited in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (11th ed.), (RONR), p. 217, footnote), and to others it means to postpone a motion either definitely or indefinitely.

Precision and uniformity in terminology is an essential prerequisite for effective communication and the proper application of parliamentary procedure. The effect of any motion must be understood before members can intelligently vote on it.

The motion Lay on the Table has a very specific and limited use “to interrupt the pending business so as to permit doing something else

immediately” (RONR, p. 209, ll. 23-24).

Any other use would be a misuse. “In ordinary societies it is rarely needed, and hence, seldom in order” (Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief, (2nd ed), p. 119).

There are other motions that can accomplish the same thing. If it is so important that the pending business must be interrupted, there should be no problem with the assembly agreeing, by unanimous consent, to Suspend the Rules or otherwise adjust the order of business. Normally a motion to Postpone Definitely will suffice, so that Lay on the Table can be avoided almost completely.

Perhaps it is the unique set of characteristics of Lay of the Table that has enabled it to become subject to abuse over the years.

• It has a high rank that “takes precedence over the main motion, over all other subsidiary motions, www.parliamentarians.org

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and over any incidental motions that are pending when it is made” (RONR, p. 210, ll. 20-22).

• It is not debatable (RONR, p. 211, l. 30).

• It is not amendable (RONR, p. 212, l. 10).

• It requires only a majority vote (RONR, p. 212, l. 1).

The misuse of Lay on the Table can violate “a basic principle of parliamentary law that only a two-thirds vote can rightfully suppress a main question without allowing free debate” (RONR, p. 216, ll. 8-10). The chair, parliamentarian, and members should diligently protect against this abuse.

Additional potential abuse can arise from the fact that after Lay on the Table is adopted by a majority, it can be brought back from the table by a different, temporary majority without notice (RONR, p. 216, ll. 11-17). If it had been postponed definitely, the time of its return is known and only a two-thirds vote or a reconsideration of the motion to postpone can bring it back sooner (RONR, p. 186, ll. 3-9).

Thirdly, if the motion is not brought back from the table before the end of the next session and within a quarterly time period, it dies without any further debate on its merits (RONR, p. 214, ll. 19-28). Finally, while on the table, another conflicting motion on the same topic would be out of order (RONR, p. 214, ll. 29-33).

Any use of the verb table in a motion should be a red flag to the presiding officer. The chair should immediately inquire as to the intent of the maker 10

National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

of the motion, which can be to 1) Kill the motion without further debate, 2) Postpone Indefinitely, 3) Postpone consideration of the motion until a later time, or 4) Temporarily suspend consideration of a main motion in order to attend to more urgent business. Each of these will be addressed in turn. The chair has a right and an obligation to assist a motion’s maker in using the properly worded motion to accomplish the maker’s intent, rather than abruptly rule the motion out of order (RONR, p. 34, ll. 11-13; p. 39, l. 33 – p. 40, l. 4).

The following should guide the chair: 1. If the intent is simply to kill the motion without further debate, that use would be out of order (RONR, p. 210, ll. 9-11). The chair can suggest alternatives, depending upon the parliamentary situation at the time. a. If debate has not yet begun on a main motion, Object to the Consideration of the Question would be appropriate, being undebatable and requiring a two-thirds vote against consideration (RONR, pp. 267-270). b. If debate has begun and the main motion remains the pending question (there being no secondary or incidental motions pending), Postpone Indefinitely would be appropriate (RONR, pp. 126-130). (See #2.) c. If there are secondary or incidental motions pending, a combined Suspend the Rules and Postpone Indefinitely would accomplish the intent to kill (RONR, pp. 260-267,

ll. 26-130). It is undebatable and requires a two-thirds vote. It is appropriate to combine the two motions since the adoption of the first by a two-thirds vote would undoubtedly guarantee the adoption of the second by a majority vote (RONR, p. 262, ll. 8-13).

2. Postpone Indefinitely (RONR, pp.

126-130) is intended to kill the main motion by a majority vote without a direct vote on its adoption. However, it is debatable and leaves merits of the main motion open to debate.

The maker of the motion Postpone Indefinitely, who would have the right to speak first on the motion, could immediately move the Previous Question. The latter is undebatable and requires a two-thirds vote, which would then be followed by the vote on Postpone Indefinitely. (In this case the adoption of the Previous Question would not necessarily be followed by adoption of Postpone Indefinitely.)

The disadvantage of Postpone Indefinitely is that it is not in order if there are secondary motions pending. (See #1c.)

3. Postpone Definitely (RONR, pp. 179-191) would be particularly appropriate to set the time of the future consideration of the motion.

This could be set as a specific time or stated as being after a particular event. The advantage of Postpone

Definitely is that at the appointed time the motion would come back without requiring another motion to Take from the Table. If the original maker uses the words “table until...” the proper motion would be Postpone Definitely, since Lay of the Table cannot have any additional qualifications attached to it (RONR, p. 212, ll. 4-5; p. 217, ll. 12-17).

Postpone Definitely is debatable and amendable unless followed by the Previous Question as in #2.

4. If the maker’s intent really is to temporarily suspend consideration of a main motion in order to attend to more urgent business, Lay on the Table might be appropriate (RONR, pp. 209-218). The motion should be prefaced by a statement of the urgent business to avoid a qualification being added to the motion with a “table until…”.

The motion Lay on the Table should be permitted only if the situation justifies it and one of the other methods described above is not appropriate. So why did not someone raise a point of order in Lombard when “table until...” was used? Most likely because the intent of the maker was clear, the proposed action was not controversial, and the body did not want to waste the time on correcting the improper usage.

It is also a question of choosing one’s battles, which will be the topic of another article.

John R. Berg, PRP, is currently President of the Washington State Association of Parliamentarians, and has served as parliamentarian for a number of national organizations.

He resides near Port Orchard, Washington.

www.parliamentarians.org

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Comparing Parliamentary

LAW

&

Parliamentary

Procedure

By Jonathan M. Jacobs, PRP, CPP

The terms “parliamentary law” and “parliamentary procedure” are often used interchangeably, even by parliamentarians. Sometime, the speaker may assume that “parliamentary law” has something to do with law, in the sense that it based upon either statute or precedent set by a court. This is especially true when the term “common parliamentary law” is used, even though Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (11th ed.) notes that this term is synonymous with “general1 parliamentary law (p. xxix).”

What then is “parliamentary procedure?” Can you, without looking, explain what parliamentary procedure is?

Parliamentary law (or “common parliamentary law” or “general parliamentary law”) and parliamentary procedure are two distinct things. One 12

National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

is almost theoretical, while the other mainly practical.

In RONR, “parliamentary law” is, broadly, those rules and customs that originated in the English parliament, that dealt with the transaction of business, but that further developed due to legislative procedure in America This parliamentary law is a broad set of rules, which when written and adopted, become “rules of order (p. xxix).” RONR itself is a codification of these rules.

“Parliamentary procedure” is something different. It is these “rules of order” together with whatever additional rules of order the society may adopt (RONR, p. xxx). In that definition, it would include bylaw provisions and any applicable statute that would deal with the transaction of business in a meeting or with the

duties of officers within a meeting2.

Basically, it is the procedural rules that govern a specific assembly.

Parliamentary procedure, which would probably include large elements of parliamentary law, is much narrower than parliamentary law.

How would this function? Assume that there is a question of the time that each member is allowed to speak in debate. The limit set by “parliamentary law,” as codified by RONR 11th ed., is that each member may speak twice for up to ten minutes on each debatable question (p. 387, ll. 29-34). Suppose the assembly adopted a rule to limit debate to one three-minute speech for each member on any debatable motion. The rule under parliamentary law would remain the ten-minute rule. In terms of parliamentary procedure, the rule for this assembly is now three minutes

for each member for each debatable motion. What RONR says about the limits of debate has no bearing on the procedure of debate.

The difference can also be expressed this way: Parliamentary law expresses the general and theoretical rule, while parliamentary procedure expresses the specific rule for the specific assembly.

ENDNOTES 1 The author prefers not to use the term “common parliamentary law” as it can be easily confused with “common law.”

2 Not all rules that regulate procedure within a meeting are rules “in the nature of a rule of order.” The clearest example is a statute requiring an assembly, e.g. a municipal council, to have roll call votes.

WORKS CITED Robert, Henry M., Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 11th Edition. Eds. Sarah Corbin Robert, et al., Philadelphia: Da Capo Press, 2011.

Jonathan M. Jacobs, PRP, CPP, is the former president of the Pennsylvania Association of Parliamentarians, and the current president of the Delaware Valley Unit.

www.parliamentarians.org

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National Association of Parliamentarians

®

2015-2017 History The National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP) began the 2015-2017 biennium with the vision statement: To provide parliamentary leadership to the world, and the mission statement: NAP is dedicated to educating leaders throughout the world in effective meeting management through the use of parliamentary procedure.

NAP Board of Directors The following NAP members were elected to the Board of Directors for the 2015-2017 biennium: President: Mary Randolph, PRP; Vice-President: James Jones, PRP; Secretary: Teresa Stone, PRP; Treasurer: Wanda Sims, PRP. Three Directors-at-Large: Darlene Allen, PRP; Ann Rempel, PRP; and Alison Wallis, PRP. Completing the nine-member Board was the election of two District Directors: District Four Director, Joyce Brown-Watkins, PRP and District Seven Director, Kevin Connelly, PRP. The installation banquet was held at the Marriott Crystal Gateway Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, on September 7, 2015. Henry M. Robert, PRP, installed Mary Randolph, PRP as NAP President, and Dr. M. Eugene Bierbaum, PRP installed the remaining Board members.

President Randolph chose as her theme for the biennium, “RISES,” with the sub-themes of Respect; Integrity; Service; Education; and Stewardship.

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National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

Advisors and Consultants The following individuals were appointed by President Randolph: Parliamentarian – Roger Hanshaw; Technology – Greg Goodwiller; Website – Paul McClintock; Legal – Thomas “Burke” Balch and Michael Malamut Commission on Credentialing Upon the adoption of the new NAP Bylaw Article X at the 2015 Convention, the president with board approval, appointed the following six members to the first Commission on Credentialing: Eugene Bierbaum – 3-year term, elected Chair by the Commission*; Thomas Balch – 3-year term; Maurice Henderson – 3-year term; Gail Knapp – 2-year term; Rosalie Stroman – 2-year term; Gayla Stone – 1-year term; and Wanda Davis – 1-year term President Randolph, ex-officio; and Vice President Jones, board liaison * Upon the resignation of Chair Eugene Bierbaum, Maurice Henderson was elected

to serve the remainder of the term; and Thomas Balch was elected chair of the Commission

Bylaws Committee Upon NAP Board approval, the president appointed the following Bylaws Committee members: Weldon Merritt, Chair; Lucy Anderson; Ronald Avedisian; Richard Brown; Ruth Ryan; and Joe Theobald President Randolph, ex-officio; and Parliamentarian Hanshaw, adviser Ethics Committee In accordance with Article XI of the NAP Bylaws, the president nominated and the board approved the following two NAP members to serve four-year terms, and a current Committee member to serve as Chair for a two-year term: K. Ann McCartney Chair; and members, Christine Dickey and Connie Deford Elected by the 2013-2015 NAP Board, Thomas Balch continues on the Ethics Committee Committee Clusters and Coordinators President Randolph, with Board approval, designated three Committee Clusters, with a designated Cluster Coordinator tracking and synchronizing the activities of each committee in the cluster.

1. Communications Cluster: Coordinator – Julie Pioch a.

Public Relations and Marketing Committee: Susan Eads Role, Chair; Brandon Walters; Mike Peck;

and Abigail Hood President Randolph, ex-officio b. National Parliamentarian (NP): Martha Haun, Editor; and Dana Dickson, Assistant Editor President Randolph, ex-officio c. NP Review Committee: Betty Tunstall, Chair; Dennis Clark; and Beverly Przbylski President Randolph, ex-officio d. NP Parliamentary Research Committee: Jonathan Jacobs, Chair; Steve Britton; and George Mervosh; and Roger Hanshaw President Randolph, ex-officio 2. Education Cluster: Coordinator – Dan Seabold a. Education and Resources Committee: David Mezzera, Chair*; Carrie Dickson; Eleanor “Coco” Siewert; Azella Collins; and Sheryl Wombie President Randolph, ex-officio * Upon the resignation of David Mezzera, Carrie Dickson was appointed chair

b. Membership and Registered Parliamentarians Examiners Committee: Larry Martin, Chair; Lorenzo Cuesta; Lorraine Talbot; Emma Faulk; and Patti Getchell President Randolph, ex-officio c. Professional Development Committee: Marcella Morrison, Chair*; Darlene Allen; Mona Calhoun; Wanda Davis; and Cynthia Mayo President Randolph, ex-officio * Upon the resignation of Marcella Morrison, Darlene Allen appointed chair www.parliamentarians.org

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3. Membership Cluster: Coordinator – James Jones

c. Partnerships Coordinator: Maurice S. Henderson, Chair

a.

d. Youth Committee: Janice Strand, Chair; Richard Hayes; Laura Meade; Kendra O’Toole; and John “Kirk” Overbey President Randolph, ex-officio

Membership Extension and Retention Committee: James Jones, PRP Chair; and members: Director, District 1: Rosemary Seghatoleslami Director, District 2: Roger Hanshaw Director, District 3: Greg Goodwiller Director, District 4: Joyce Brown-Watkins Director, District 5: Denise Irminger Director, District 6: Daniel Ivey-Soto* Director, District 7: Kevin Connelly Director, District 8: Carrie Dickson

* Upon the resignation of Daniel Ivey-Soto, Valoree Althoff was elected to complete the term

b. International Services Committee (ISC): The 2015 Convention adopted a new F. to Article IX, Committees, Section 1, to define the ISC as a Standing Committee.

The president with board approval, appointed the following four members: M.Carling, Chair*; Lori Lukinuk; Don Freese; Baofeng Ma; and Daniel Ross President Randolph, ex-officio * Upon the resignation of M. Carling, Lori Lukinuk was appointed chair 16

National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

Youth Advisory Sub-Committee appointed by President Randolph: Donald Garrett; Abigail Hood; Graham Rabinowitsch: Trevor Sorenson; Shannon Sun; and Molly VanDop

Committees of the Board of Director The board approved President Randolph’s appointments to the following committees: a.

Finance and Pricing Committee: Wanda Sims, Chair; Jim Jones; and Darlene Allen President Randolph, ex-officio

b. Minutes Approval Committee: Alison Wallis, Chair; James Jones; and Kevin Connelly President Randolph, ex-officio c.

Personnel Committee: James Jones, Chair; Wanda Sims; and Ron Stinson President Randolph, ex-officio

d. NAP Operational Policies and Procedures Committee: Teresa Stone, Chair; Ann Rempel; and Joyce Brown-Watkins President Randolph ex-officio; and Roger Hanshaw, adviser

Special Committees of the Board of Directors With the board’s approval, the president appointed the following special committees: a.

Review of Referral System Committee: Ann Rempel, Chair; Darlene Allen; Teresa Stone; and Kevin Wendt, Consultant President Randolph ex-officio; and ED Launchbaugh, adviser

b. Review of NAP Bookstore Website Committee: Alison Wallis, Chair; Wanda Sims; Kevin Connelly; Joyce Brown-Watkins; and Paul McClintock, Consultant President Randolph ex-officio Additional Committee Appointment Technology Committee: Greg Goodwiller, Technology Coordinator; Kevin Wendt, Web; Paul McClintock, Web Master; Assistants: Steve Cook; Lori Lukinuk; Bethany Prykucki; and Jeff Weston President Randolph, ex-officio NAP Headquarters Staff Cyndy Launchbaugh, Executive Director; Stefanie Luttrell, Administrative Coordinator: Stefanie Luttrell; and Courtney Emery, Membership, Marketing and Communications NAP Events 2016 NAP Training Conference (NAPTC): The NAPTC was held August 24 to August 26, 2016, at the Omni

Interlocken Hotel, Broomfield, Colorado with 235 registrants. Gayla Stone served as NAPTC Coordinator and Dollie McPartlin as Assistant Coordinator. Patricia Simpson served as Workshop Coordinator, and Cynthia Bell served in the position of Assistant Workshop Coordinator.

2018 NAP Training Conference: The NAPTC will be held at the Buffalo Hyatt Regency Hotel in Buffalo, New York. Rosemary Seghatoleslami will serve as NTC Coordinator and Ann Homer as Assistant Coordinator. The Workshop Coordinator is Evan Lemoine and the Assistant Workshop Coordinator is Kendra O’Toole.

Committee Achievements Bylaws Committee: This biennium, the Bylaws Committee has reviewed, revised and posted to the Website the following documents: New Association, New Unit and New Youth Group Kits. The committee chartered eleven new units, four of which were electronic units. The committee also chartered the first electronic association – the Electronic Association of Parliamentarians (EAP). In preparation for the 2017 Convention, the Committee reviewed and processed thirty-one proposed amendments and conforming amendments for consideration by the NAP Delegates.

Ethics Committee: This biennium, the Ethics Committee processed seven ethics complaints, with an additional complaint currently www.parliamentarians.org

17

in the review process. Two member disciplinary complaints were received, with one being processed by the Committee. Members of the committee presented a workshop at the 2016 NAPTC and at the 2017 Convention.

National Parliamentarian (NP): The number of NP editions published during the time frame of September 2015 – August 2017, numbered eight.

Prior to distributing to the membership, each edition was reviewed by the NP Review Committee, the NP editor and assistant editor, and the NAP president.

International Service Committee (ISC): As the newest Standing Committee, the ISC is charged with increasing NAP membership outside the United States through contact and membership data; documentation translation; offering continuing education units electronically; and improving access to the website. The committee chair created a chart to assist the international RP members’ understanding of renewal requirements. As of July 2017, there were 177 international members from eleven countries.

Membership Extension and Retention Committee (MERC): The eight District Director members of MERC have held their biennial District Meetings, and five new District Directors were installed at the 2017 NAP Convention. To reflect current practices, the MERC is editing and finalizing the updated District Director Manual, that will be distributed to the Directors.

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National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

Membership and Registered Parliamentarians Examiners Committee (MERPE): Upon passing the membership exam, NAP increased its members by 825 this biennium. The MERPE provided the examinee a choice of testing, using questions from either the RONR In-Brief, or RONR Newly Revised (11th ed.).

To attain the level of Registered Parliamentarian (RP), the nine-month program has been successful for 82 members this biennium, with another 60 members in the exam cycle. The overall evaluation of the RP process is positive for the MERPE and the examinee.

The Professional Development Committee (PDC): Prior to the 2017 Convention, forty-seven RPs in this biennium successfully completed the NAP Professional Qualifying Course and became accredited as PRPs. During the same timeframe, twenty-six PRPs renewed their credential by successfully completing the Professional Renewal Course. At the 2017 Convention, 19 were accredited as PRPs, and 13 PRPs successfully retained their credential.

The Youth Committee: The Youth Committee works with the following associations aligned with the NAP Career and Technical Youth Organization Partners: Business Professionals of America (BPA), Future Business Leaders of America/ Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA/PBL), Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Future

Health Professionals (HOSA), and SkillsUSA. The committee members mentor students in parliamentary procedure, arrange for parliamentary judges, present workshops and hosted Youth Day at the 2017 NAP Convention, titled “Network Today, Lead Tomorrow.”

Passing of NAP Past President The 37th President of NAP, Nola Mae Pursiful, serving from 2003-2005, died on February 8, 2017 in Macon, Georgia.

Substantive Actions Approved by the NAP Board of Directors Fiduciary: 1. The 2016 NAP operating budget; 2. The 2016 NTC registration fees; 3. The Leadership conference registration fee; 4. The Dues Renewal and Incentive Plan; 5. Technology Fund allocation for new NAP software; 6. The 2017 NAP operating budget; 7. The 2017 Convention budget and registration fees; 8. The movement of NAP funds to optimize investment and return; and 9. As authorized by the Bylaws, the dues for 2018 will be increased in accordance with the CPI-U. NAP Membership Manual: The Membership Manual and educational materials were converted to downloadable materials to reduce printing costs. The downloads, at no charge and the hard copy for purchase are available through the Bookstore.

The NAP Operational Policies and Procedures Manual (NAPOPP): Amended five times, each updated edition posted on the NAP website.

Dissolutions: At the request of the entities: one Club, one Unit, and one Association were dissolved.

Membership Survey: Defined and Beta tested by the Board, the survey was sent to the NAP members, with good return. The results will be used to improve NAP services to its’ members.

NAP Membership: As of September 1, 2017 there were 3,352 members, an increase in 55 members over 2016.

The membership break down includes the following: 281 PRPs; 82 PRPRetired; 267 RPs; 30 RP-Retired; 2,566 Regular members; 116 student members; 3 Student PRPs; and 7 Student RPs. 2017 Leadership Conference: The Leadership Conference, with the theme, “Preparing for Leadership: A New Perspective,” was held September 7, prior to the 41st Biennial Convention at the Westin Lombard Hotel, Yorktown Center, Lombard, Illinois. The event was attended by 30 registrants. Cynthia Mayo served as Conference Coordinator and Margie Booker as Assistant Conference Coordinator.

2017 41st NAP Biennial Convention The 41st Biennial Convention with the theme, Rising Higher Together, www.parliamentarians.org

19

was held September 8-11, 2017, at the Westin Lombard Hotel, Yorktown Center, Lombard, Illinois. Sadie Bowles served as Convention Coordinator and Deborah Underwood, the Assistant Convention Coordinator.

Mary Remson, Workshop Coordinator; and Edna Arrington, PRP. The Convention was a dynamic with networking, educational workshops, addressing NAP business, including proposed amendments to the Bylaws, and the election of the 2017-2019 Board of Directors. The Convention, was attended by 409 members, delegates and guests. A Youth Day preceded the Convention.

Welcome to the NAP Convention: The President of the Roberts Rules Association, Martyn Redgrave and his sister, the Author’s agent, Barbara Holloway brought greetings to the 41st NAP Convention. The Robert’s Rules Association’s mission is to perpetuate, maintain, update, protect and preserve the legacy of Robert’s Rules of Order.

Bylaw Amendments: The delegates amended the NAP bylaws, including allowing the newly elected board to prepare and adopt the annul budget; the Commission on Credentialing to be elected by secret ballot vote of the delegation; and defining the meaning of youth and students as to dues.

Resolution: The delegation adopted two resolves as follows: Resolved, That the 2017 NAP convention does hereby rescind the action of the 20th NAP Convention 20

National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

in October 1975 entitled, “Discourage the Use of the Term Chairperson;” and Resolved, That NAP members be encouraged to follow the rules outlined in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised and be free to assist organizations and clients in using the terms that these groups feel best suits the needs of their particular assemblies.

Elections: NAP Board of Directors, 2017-2019 The following officers were elected for the 2017-2019 NAP biennium: President: James Jones PRP; Vice-President: Darlene Allen, PRP; Secretary: Kevin Connelly PRP; Treasurer: Wanda Sims, PRP; and Directors-at-Large: Joyce BrownWatkins, PRP; Alison Wallis, PRP; and Ann Rempel, PRP. The following District Directors were elected to serve as the district representatives on the Board of Directors: Roger Hanshaw, PRP, District 2; and Larry Martin, PRP, District 5.

Commission on Credentialing: The following members were elected to terms on the Commission on Credentialing: Frances Jackson – 4-year term Rosalie Stroman – 4-year term Gail Knapp – 4-year term Gayla Stone – 2-year term Installation: On Monday, September 11, 2017, NAP Past President Ron Stinson installed the 2017-2019 District Directors, and Burke Balch, Chairman of the Commission on Credentialing installed the Directors-at-Large and the officers.

Thoughts of a Convention

By Kendra O’Toole

Before attending my first parliamentary convention, I thought parliamentarians would be the models on how to run quick, efficient business meetings. I was certainly convinced otherwise.

However, I realized there are more important things at play in these meetings, like the free exchange of ideas and active participation by our members to help shape the direction of our organization.

From a parliamentary learner’s perspective, to see the different motions and how they work in action during the business meetings is some of the best, live, unplanned learning available.

The 2017 Biennial Convention was my second NAP Convention and many of my feelings remained the same.

The workshops gave me the opportunity to continue learning. I participated in a role-playing workshop on judging for youth organizations. As a youth committee member, attending and participating in that workshop allowed me to understand the passion and hard work that goes into studying and preparing for the competitions – which I have had the opportunity to judge.

As a member of NAP, supporting Career and Technical Student Organizations (or CTSOs, for short) is crucial to see that NAP grows in the future. If we, the members, are not spreading the word about our wonderful organization, especially to the next generation of parliamentarians, we will struggle.

I am excited to see the way NAP will move forward in the future. I have enjoyed being a part of the lifelong learning in which we all engage as parliamentarians. As for the next opportunity on the national level, I look forward to seeing you all in Buffalo at the National Training Conference next year, so together we can continue our parliamentary journey forward.

Kendra O’Toole is a licensed attorney in Massachusetts and focusing on estate planning and elder law. She is partner at Mattson, O’Toole & Reed, LLC. She is the President of the New England Association of Parliamentarians and Vice President of the George Demeter Unit in Westwood, Massachusetts. Kendra is studying for the Registered Parliamentarian exam and looks forward to expanding her knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure. www.parliamentarians.org

21

R eflections on

Convention Left to right: Madison (Maddie) Corner, Mary Golden, Taylr Bahr, Jeremy Copeland, Jeswin (Jes) Vennatt, Kolbe Eoff

Five “Interns” attended the 2017 NAP Biennial Convention held in Lombard, Illinois, September 7-11, 2017.

According to Jan Strand, 2015-2017 NAP Youth Committee Chair, interns is a term that has been used for these students who made arrangements to attend the NAP convention as non-members.

They are all involved with Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) that partner with NAP. Their expenses are funded in part by a grant from the NAP Educational Foundation.

Arrangements were made for the five to take the NAP membership exam on Thursday before the convention. They all passed and became members before the start of the convention. Evan Lemoine arranged for them to be delegates of state associations, so that they were able to attend the convention as full voting members. They also served as pages during the business meeting.

22

National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

Here are their thoughts on attending the convention:

“

If there was one word to describe my experience while interning at the National Association of Parliamentarians meeting in Chicago, it would be exceptional. Upon my arrival, I anticipated the conference being dull, even though I had previous interest of parliamentary procedure. However, every aspect of the conference was engaging and provided me with an opportunity for educational and personal growth.

Being able to observe and participate in a business meeting in a room full of parliamentarians was empowering.

It brought me to the realization that parliamentary procedure is the most effective and concise method to ensure a person’s voice is heard.

The climax of my trip was taking and passing the NAP membership exam, thus giving me a voice in the association. I hope to continue my participation in the organization and maybe even become a registered parliamentarian in the near future.

This conference has inspired me to encourage the implementation of parliamentary procedure, especially in youth.

”

— Maddie Comer, Vice President of Parliamentary Law; Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)

“

On September 7-11, I attended that National Association of Parliamentarians convention with five other Career and Technical Student Organization officers. It was honestly an experience that I will never forget.

The convention was unique in that it was run entirely in parliamentary procedure, which I thought was pretty incredible. Even though I knew a lot about parliamentary procedure already, I learned so much just by watching the meetings. There are many motions that I had never seen in action prior to NAP, so it was amazing to see it all in person. The best part of the convention, in my opinion, was getting to sit for the NAP membership

exam. Getting to vote on bylaw amendments and officers added so much to the experience and I think that from now on, FBLA-PBL should add the NAP membership exam to the list of exams/certifications that members can sit for. Not only would this increase membership for NAP, but it would also give aspiring parliamentarians a chance to get an early start. I also appreciated the night out we had with the Young Professionals and believe that funding towards events like that should be encouraged for future conventions.

Thank you for this once in a lifetime opportunity and I look forward to my future involvement in NAP!

”

— Mary Golden, National Parliamentarian, Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, Inc. (FBLA-PBL) www.parliamentarians.org

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“

Being a complete parliamentary nerd, I have memorized all 1,200 questions from the Registered Parliamentarian’s Study Guide and deciphered Robert’s Rules and its contents five times – an unusual hobby for a kid my age. Consequently, this conference was nothing short of enlightening. Until my experience at the National Association of Parliamentarian’s Biennial Convention, I have never truly had a firsthand look at professional parliamentarians in action. Whether I was paging, taking the membership exam, or attempting to play bocce ball with my fellow interns, this experience was nothing

short of astounding. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy this conference, but I was honored to represent the Future Business Leaders of America.

With the skills developed as an intern, I hope to not only stick with the National Association of Parliamentarians, but I also plan to bring my knowledge of parliamentary procedure back to my local community. Who knows? Because of this internship, someday, I, too, may become a Professional Registered Parliamentarian. Once again, thank you to the NAP and any others who helped to make this once-in-a-lifetime experience possible.

”

— Taylr Bahr, National Parliamentarian, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

“

I would first like to thank the National Association of Parliamentarians for having me.

It was a great experience. I was skeptical at first. I didn’t really know what I’d be doing and I was scared of how it was all going to work.

After the convention I looked back in amazement. I truly learned a lot of things. At times it was confusing, but if I went to any of the Professional Registered Parliamentarians (PRPs), I could ask them questions and they always had a well-informed answer.

I have never known a lot about parliamentary procedure, but after

this convention I at least gained basic knowledge of Robert’s Rules. I always love getting the chance to meet with our fellow Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO).

They were all very nice and I love getting to talk to them about how all of our organizations are different and unique.

All in all, this was the best convention I have been to while being a member with Business Professionals of America. I feel truly honored to have had the chance to go to this Convention.

Thank you again for having me.

— Kolbe Eoff, National Parliamentarian, Business Professionals of America (BPA)

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National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

”

“

Thank you for all the hospitality you showed me during my time at the conference! I felt like I grew as a leader and as an individual.

My knowledge of parliamentary procedure significantly increased during my short time there. I definitely think that this conference is a great opportunity for students everywhere and I think that this internship should

be continued in the following years.

The NAP conference also allowed me to network with other students who had varied interests but one common purpose – to grow as parliamentarians.

The sessions, breakout activities, and planned evening activities all contributed to a great conference experience unlike any other! Thanks again for the continued support and help.

”

— Jeswin Vennatt , Western Regional Vice President, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)

“

It was a great honor to attend the National Association of Parliamentarians Convention. I met so many wonderful people and learned a wealth of knowledge about parliamentary procedure and Roberts Rules.

On my arrival I was met by Miss Janice Strand, and during my time there she was so helpful. Miss Strand introduced me to multiple people helping me make the right network connections. I was also privileged to meet other parliamentarians from Career Tech Student Organizations at the NAP conference. We all became good friends right away and I still remain in contact with them to this day. Many of the NAP members encouraged us to take the membership exam so that we could act as voting delegates. With their help and encouragement, I took the membership test and passed! One of the members was so generous that he paid for my membership dues for the year, I am very grateful for his kindness.

During my time there I also acted as

page in the NAP Convention Sessions.

It was a fun and rewarding experience to serve the NAP members in such a way. Each CTSO officer was given a $50 allowance to spend at the NAP store while at the conference. I was able to buy a new edition of Robert’s Rules and a study booklet to help me prepare to take the Registered Parliamentarians Test. I was very thankful for these items which will help me grow to serve my members better, but also help me achieve my goal of becoming a Professional Registered Parliamentarian.

I had a wonderful time at the NAP Convention and I hope I will be able to attend next year as well.

This Convention deepened my understanding and love for parliamentary procedure. Again, I am so thankful for this opportunity that I had and cannot thank NAP’s members enough for their hospitality and generosity. I hope future SkillsUSA National Parliamentarians will have this same opportunity that I was given. Thank You.

”

— Jeremy Copeland, National Parliamentarian, SkillsUSA www.parliamentarians.org

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Test Yourself

Tongue-In-Cheek

“Punny” Trivia If you were asked what was the favorite location for Gen. Henry M. Robert (HMR) to vacation in the Branson area of Southern Missouri, you’d probably be hard pressed to come up with a real answer. As a purely tongue-in-cheek, fun response, the answer might be Protem, Missouri, an actual community in Taney County, Missouri. A post office there has been in operation since 1875 (the year before HMR published his first “Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies”).

The name actually did come from pro tem, because its first settlers could not agree on a name, and a temporary name was needed (which became permanent).

Now what about some other tongue-in-cheek trivia questions based on the (imaginary, apocryphal) life of Henry M. Robert? See if you can figure out the “punny,” fanciful answers to the following: 1. What would have been HMR’s favorite Glenn Campbell song?

____________________

2. What might have been HMR’s favorite merry-go-round animal to ride?

____________________

3. What size military unit did HMR most enjoy commanding?

____________________

4. What part-time job might HMR have had at the Smith & Wesson plant?

____________________

5. What would HMR do first for his daily morning meal?

____________________

6. What was HMR’s favorite fruit for breakfast?

____________________

7. How would HMR arrange for take-out pizza?

____________________

8. When stationed in San Francisco, what did HMR feel during an earthquake?

____________________

9. Why was HMR not very good at playing baseball? ____________________ 10. So how long would HMR typically stay at a baseball game?

____________________ Answers on page 32

David Mezzera, PRP, is a past president of the California State Association of Parliamentarians, past District VIII Director and currently chairs NAP’s Micro Certificate Project Subcommittee.

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National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

Test Yourself

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

Vocabulary Builder

Use the underlined letters and the definition to complete the word, and then write the answer in the blank provided.

EXAMPLE: men

A motion used to change the wording of another motion.

amend ____________________

1. eal

To cancel an adopted action or vote.

____________________

2. ori vote

More than half the votes cast by persons entitled to vote, not counting blanks or abstentions.

____________________

3. cor

Improper or disorderly behavior.

____________________

4. bly

A body of people assembled for the transaction of business.

____________________

5. ONR

Acceptable abbreviation for the ____________________ book Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.

6. sig

A formal notice, usually ____________________ written, relinquishing an office, a position or membership in an organization.

7. lot

A piece of paper on which a member writes or makes a choice in an election or vote.

____________________

Continued on page 28

www.parliamentarians.org

27

Test Yourself

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

Vocabulary Builder

continued

8. mit or Refer

A motion used to refer a motion to a committee.

____________________

9. sid

To discuss and decide upon a pending motion with or without debate.

____________________

10. tive vote

A vote against the question being considered.

____________________

11. eak

One who has begun to address ____________________ the assembly after obtaining the floor.

12. les of der

Written rules of parliamentary ____________________ procedure which govern an organization. (Two answers) ____________________

13. oll call

Calling the names of members ____________________ or delegates to verify their attendance.

14. ie vote

Same number of votes in the ____________________ affirmative and in the negative.

15. nut

The official record of what is ____________________ done at a meeting; a JOURNAL. Answers on page 32 Shane D. Dunbar, MEd, PRP, PAP, has conducted over 540 parliamentary procedure workshops nationwide.

He has over 16 copyrights dealing with parliamentary procedure instructional materials (including 15 vocabulary builder worksheets) that can be reviewed on www.northwest.net/parli-pro.

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National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

Test Yourself

&

Questions Answers The intent of this column is to provide general answers or advice (not formal, official opinions) about the questions asked. The answers are based on RONR (11th ed.), unless otherwise indicated, and do not take into account such governing authorities as statutes, bylaws, or adopted special rules of order.

Questions should be mailed to NP Q&A Editor, 213 South Main Street, Independence, MO 64050, or emailed to npeditor@nap2.org.

Q

Question 52: I serve as a member parliamentarian for a large chapter of a labor union. The president specifically ignored my advice. What should I do?

Answer: Probably nothing, unless your advice is routinely ignored.

RONR states: “After the parliamentarian has expressed an opinion on a point, the chair has the duty to make the final ruling and, in doing so, has the right to follow the advice of the parliamentarian or to disregard it. But if the parliamentarian’s advice on important procedural issues is habitually disregarded, he may find it necessary, at the end of the present engagement or session, to resign.” RONR (11th ed.), p. 467 This would apply to a member serving as parliamentarian or a non-member parliamentarian. Perhaps it is best to discuss the issue with the president after the meeting to see if there is going to be a long-term problem. If your advice is routinely ignored it may be that the presiding officer has lost confidence in you.

RONR also notes: “If a parliamentarian is needed by an organization, the president should be free to appoint one in whom he has confidence.” RONR (11th ed.), p. 465. Hopefully your society allows the president to appoint a parliamentarian of his own choosing. When the society itself chooses the parliamentarian it’s almost impossible to be sure the president will have confidence in him.

Correction from the Editor

Correction to the answer to Question 49, in the Summer 2017 issue: The opening line should read: “The club does not need to use Amend Something Previously or Rescind.”

The Parliamentary Research Editor regrets the error. www.parliamentarians.org

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Test Yourself

&

Questions Answers

Q

continued

Question 53. The local chapters of our organization elect one member to serve on our state board, which governs our society between annual meetings of all the membership. The board posts the minutes on our website. The minutes show what motion was adopted and sometimes the vote total. We, a group of members including myself, want to have a record of how each board member voted. It there some way we can make the board minutes show how each member voted?

Answer: The method for recording how each member votes is to take the vote by roll call; it is often used in representative bodies (p. 420, ll. 5-9). This is the method of voting that ensures not only the result of a vote, but how each member voted, is recorded in the minutes (pp. 470-71).

In general, an assembly can issue binding instructions to the board, except in those things that the bylaws reserve solely for the board or those things referred to the board by the assembly (p. 482, ll. 25-29). The assembly may generally do this by majority vote.

In this case, however, ordering the board to take all votes by roll call violates a rule in RONR that the standard method for taking votes is by voice vote (p. 409, ll. 27-28). Further, RONR notes that a specific motion would be needed to order a roll call vote (p. 420, ll. 10-26). The assembly, by majority vote, could not adopt a main motion ordering all future votes in the assembly be taken by roll call. This would vary from the standard rules in RONR and would place the method of voting beyond the control of future sessions. The assembly could, by adopting a special rule, require roll call votes (p. 87, ll. 6-11). Adopting a special rule would require either a two-thirds vote with notice or by a vote of the majority of the entire membership (p. 17, ll. ll. 28-31).

Boards operate not only under the assembly’s bylaws, but also under the parliamentary authority and applicable special and standing rule (p. 486, ll. 13-16). A simple instruction to the board by the assembly is not sufficient to require a change in procedural rules expressed in the parliamentary authority.

A special rule of order would be needed.

The assembly may adopt a special rule of order requiring roll call votes on actions taken by the board. For example, a special rule that said, “All votes taken by the board on main motions shall be by roll call votes,” would be in order and would require roll call votes on all main motions considered by the board.

We will also note that the society could amend the bylaws to include such a requirement, though this might be more difficult than adopting a special rule.

Further, in the absence of a bylaw provision or a special rule adopted by the assembly, the board itself may adopt a special rule requiring roll call votes be taken and the results recorded (p. 486, ll. 17-19).

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National Parliamentarian • Fall 2017

&

Test Yourself

Questions Answers

Q

continued

Question 54. At our most recent annual meeting, there was an appeal pending on if a main motion, introduced in new business, violated the bylaws. A member moved to “table” the motion. The chair ruled the motion out of order. After that issue was resolved, no one introduced any additional business and the meeting adjourned. Was the chair’s ruling correct?

Answer: Generally, the General Characteristics for a motion to Appeal, permits application of the motion to Lay On The Table to a debatable motion to Appeal. To this end, RONR, p. 257, ll. 12-19 specifies: … when a debatable appeal adheres to pending question(s) – as in the case of an appeal from a ruling that an amendment is not germane – the subsidiary motions, except the motions affecting debate, cannot be applied to the appeal alone. However, they can be applied to the main question, and if the latter is committed, postponed, or laid on the table, the appeal goes with this main question.

However, concerning the motion to Lay On The Table – as noted on p. 215, ll. 10-15; MISUSES OF THE MOTION. As stated at the beginning of this section, the motion to Lay on the Table is subject to a number of incorrect uses that should be avoided.

It is out of order to move to lay a pending question on the table if there is evidently no other matter requiring immediate attention.

If, in the provided parliamentary scenario, it was evident to the chair that no other matter required immediate attention, the chair ruled correctly and the motion to Lay On The Table was not in order at the time.

Questions & Answers Research Team

Jonathan M. Jacobs, PRP, CPP

Steve Britton, PRP

Roger Hanshaw, PRP

George Mervosh, III, PRP

www.parliamentarians.org

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Test Yourself

Answer Key Tongue-in-Cheek “Punny” Trivia

Vocabulary Builder

from page 26

from page 27-28

1. Galveston 2. A dark horse 3. A division 4. Filling blanks 5. Call for the roll 6. A banana (it has a peel!)

7. He would call to order 8. A motion on the floor 9. Too many strikeouts ** 10. Until the second ** ** Speaking of baseball, there is an interesting tie between Gen. Robert and baseball’s supposed rule codifier, Abner Doubleday, that you may find interesting: Both of them were, in fact, Union generals in the U.S. Army in the mid-1800s, one in the Corps of Engineers and the other in the Infantry. Both are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

1. repeal 2. majority 3. indecorum 4. assembly 5. RONR 6. resignation 7. ballot 8. Commit 9. consider 10. negative 11. speaker 12. rules, order 13. roll 14. tie 15. minutes

NAP Connections

Irene Carter Receives Trailblazer Award On Behalf of NAP President Jim Jones, NAP Secretary Kevin Connelly, PRP, presented Irene Carter, RP, with the Trailblazer Award, at the regular meeting of the EastSide Parliamentary Law Unit in Bothell, WA on September 13, 2017.

Irene has been a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians for 26 years, scoring 100 percent on her membership exam in February 1991. She became a Registered Parliamentarian in February 1996, and served as the president of the Astra Parliamentary Law Unit from 1991 to 1999. Irene was a charter member of the According-to-Robert PLU in 1994, the ABC Parliamentary Law Unit in 2000, and the EastSide PLU in 2001. She served as the president of the Washington State Association of Parliamentarians in 2000. She has been a Washington unit or state delegate to the NAP Conventions in 1993, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017.

Irene is a Life Member of the National Association of Parliamentarians Educational Foundation.

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Photography Information for NP and for Monthly Newsletter

It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. That’s certainly true when it comes to memorializing NAP’s biennial conventions and training conferences. Bob and Jeanette Williams are honored to serve as the photography committee; Bob takes hundreds of photos to help tell the story of each national event.

All photographs are available for viewing and downloading (at no charge – what a great membership benefit!) at parliamentarians.smugmug.com. No log in is required. There is a unique album for each event. Double click on the album photo to view the photos for that event; for example, click on the picture of the Westin Lombard Hotel to see the pictures from the recent NAP convention. If you are looking for a picture of a specific individual, you can enter the last name in the search box in the upper right-hand corner next to the magnifying glass, and all photos captioned with that name will be displayed.

Every effort is made to accurately caption each photo by title (business meeting, workshops, leadership conference, etc.), who is in the photo, and a unique camera image number. If you find a picture lacking names, missing a name, or containing incorrect information (typos can happen), please contact Bob Williams at rrw@prodigy.net; identify the image number and he will quickly fix the error.

Photos can be downloaded for free. The user can choose a size to download: Click a thumbnail to make the selected picture bigger in the right-hand side of the screen. This “bigger” picture is probably good enough for Facebook. Right-click on this bigger picture and choose “save image as” to download to your computer.

For more resolution, the user can left-click the bigger picture to bring it up by itself (no thumbnails can be seen.) There are several small icons on the lower right; click the “three overlapped square” icon and you can choose to save the image as a higher resolution photo which is useful for association newsletters.

If you want to just sit back and see all the photos full screen as a slide show, click the triangle over the picture. Hit the “esc” key to stop the slide show. This may be useful for unit, association, or district meetings.

Enjoy! www.parliamentarians.org

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Recertification Reminder

By Michael Peck, PRP Professional Development Committee Chair

Calling all Registered and Professional Registered Parliamentarians.

How are you progressing on earning and documenting your points for recertification? Does your certification expire in 2017? If yes, then please note the following instructions from the documents located on the NAP website (www.parliamentarians.org) in the Documents section under Member Resources.

Registered Parliamentarian Continuing Education Unit Reporting Form Registered Parliamentarians (RPs) must earn 20 continuing education units (CEUs) every six years to retain their status. Participants will earn one CEU for each hour, calculated on quarterly time intervals. (Example: 1 hour 15 minute lessons will earn 1.25 CEUs.) At a minimum, the lesson should last for 50 minutes. Participants must be present for the entire session time to receive credit. Instructors who present educational workshops may also claim CEUs. Note: The RP renewal information is available online in the Documents section under Member Resources.

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Professional Registered Parliamentarian (PRPÂŽ) Instructions for PRP Renewal What is required to renew?

As provided in NAP Bylaw Article III, Section 1., B., 2., b. and Operational Policies and Procedures Manual, 5.4., there are two requirements to obtain the renewal of the Professional Registered Parliamentarian status within your six-year credentialing period: Under direction of the Professional Development Committee (PDC), successfully complete or teach the two-day professional renewal course, or complete or teach the five required and two elective modules of the professional renewal course, or teach the professional qualifying course.

Submit your documentation to NAP Headquarters on the Professional Renewal Courses/Modules Reporting Form.

Submit to NAP Headquarters an additional 150 points in parliamentary activities during your current six-year period on the PRC One-Hundred-Fifty Points Reporting Form. Keep a record of your educational experiences by using the PRC One-Hundred-Fifty Points Reporting Worksheet.

Note: More information and the necessary forms about maintaining PRP status can be found in the Documents section under Member Resources on the NAP website.

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FCCLA STAR Winners Jan Strand, PRP, Youth Committee Chairman for NAP, presented medallions to the members of the top three teams overall during the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) STAR Events Scholarship and Award Winners Presentation. July 6, 2017, Nashville Tennessee.

• First Place Overall – Okay High School FCCLA, Oklahoma (Senior Category) Karleigh McMahan, Jade Hopkis, Blake Judkins, Bayli Baker, Courtnie Reynolds, Kristyn Anderson, Destiny Drain, Bradley Herbert-Perez • Second Place Overall – Okay High School FCCLA Junior, Oklahoma (Junior Category) Shayni Green, Aaron Harshaw, Carmen Haynes, Macy Anderson, Kinlea Green, Audrey Hopkins, Lexi Erb • Third Place Overall – Hialeah Gardens Sr., Florida (Senior Category) Abigail Colon, Ana Victoero, Evelyn Tapanes, Emmy Salvador, Ashley Polanco, Angelle Rodriguew

First place Overall Winning team: Okay High School FCCLA, Oklahoma, pictured with Jan Strand, Jan PRP, 2015-2017 Youth Committee Chairman for NAP.

Kevin Connelly, PRP, NAP District 7 Director and WSAP Youth Committee chairman, received the 2017 FCCLA National STAR Events Volunteer Award.

Both Jan Strand and Kevin Connelly served as evaluators at the National Leadership Conference STAR events competition for Parliamentary Procedure. They also administered the NAP membership exam to eight prospective members at the Conference, July 2-7, 2017.

2018 NAP Training Conference September 7-9, 2018 Buffalo, NY www.parliamentarians.org

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Association Relations Committee To many people, the concept of leadership is both perplexing and complex. Leaders are passionate about making changes that will progress the association.

They must be consummate and lifelong-learners and pass their knowledge onto others. Leaders are not born, but are developed.

NAP is investing in the future of our unit and association leaders on a national level by creating the Association Relations Committee. New resources will be created for associations and units to utilize. Resources such as templates and kits will be aimed at helping association and units with their activities. Ongoing training and support will be offered to leaders supporting membership expansion. On-demand webinars and leadership sessions will create a dialogue between national and association leaders.

It is my pleasure to be appointed to this committee under Jim Jones, PRP, chaired by Lucy Anderson, PRP. By creating a more interconnected and knowledgeable leadership pipeline, NAP will be creating a stronger association to expand its membership and leaders.

Created by you, for you. What will your role be? — Valoree Althoff, PRP

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Meet our New 2017-2019 Board President James N. Jones, PRP Vice-President Darlene T. Allen, PRP Secretary Kevin R. Connelly, PRP Treasurer Wanda M. Sims, PRP Directors-at-Large Joyce Brown-Watkins, PRP Ann Rempel, PRP Alison Wallis, PRP District Director Representatives Roger Hanshaw, PRP Larry Martin, PRP Parliamentarian Jim Stewart, PRP

2017-2019 Board of Directors (clock from top left); Wanda Sims, Kevin R. Connelly, Roger Hanshaw, Jim Jones, Larry Martin, Ann Rempel, Alison Wallis, Joyce Brown-Watkins, Darlene Allen,

District Directors NAP is divided into eight regional districts, each represented on the NAP Board of Directors by an elected district director. The district directors represent their constituent state and provincial associations, units, and members at large; serve on the NAP Membership Extension and Retention Committee; and coordinate educational activities on a regional basis.

District Director 1 Rosemary Seghatoleslami, PRP District Director 2 Roger Hanshaw, PRP District Director 3 Todd Crowder, PRP District Director 4 Robert Schuck, RP District Director 5 Larry Martin, PRP District Director 6 2017-2019 District Directors (seated from left) Larry Martin, Roger Hanshaw, Vivian Vincent, Kevin Connelly, Rosemary Seghatoleslami, James Lawson, RP (standing) Todd Crowder, James Lawson, NAP President Jim Jones and District Director 7 Robert Schuck.

Kevin Connelly, PRP District Director 8 Vivian Vincent, PRP www.parliamentarians.org

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A Closing Message Every two years a new Board of Directors is elected at the NAP Convention. This smooth transition to a new leadership team brands our Association as a hallmark of democracy. Moving from administration to administration effortlessly and efficiently, allows NAP to build on each biennium with new concepts, new objectives that keep the Association relevant, strong and growing.

I had the distinct honor to be elected and serve as NAP’s President for the 2015-2017 biennium. In this, my final NP message, I would like to re-state my focus and objectives for the term. My emphasis for the past two years was on stabilizing the financial and internal structure of the Association. Upon personal review at the beginning of the biennium, it quickly became apparent that several aspects of NAP’s operations required modernization to be more efficient. Headquarters had been functioning under difficult conditions in many areas far too long – financial, technological, and less than optimal membership services. Therefore, I made the decision to focus my administration on optimizing the operations and services of NAP. It is my sincere hope that the work of the 2015-2017 administration has provided a more solid financial and structural base for the new leadership and the future of NAP. I sincerely thank you for the opportunity to be your NAP President, it was indeed a privilege to personally serve you and the profession we share.

Mary Randolph, PRP, NAP President, 2015-2017

Editor’s Farewell…

It was the pleasure of this editor to assist in the creation of the NP, Vol. 77, nos. 1-4 and Vol. 78, nos. 1-4 from September 2015 to August 2017.

The production of the NP is a lengthy and complicated process that involves the National President of NAP, the Executive Director, the general assistance of headquarters and the creative talent of a layout artist as well as the work of printer and mailing. In addition, there are the contributions of the many authors of long articles, short articles, parliamentary games and quizzes and the challenging work of the parliamentary research committee. All manuscripts are reviewed by the national editing committee and final copy is approved by the NP Editor and the NAP president.

Special thanks go to assistant editor Dana Dickson, RP, always ready to help with whatever I asked and to Jonathan Jacobs, PRP, CPP, and the Parliamentary Research Committee Steve Britton, PRP, Roger Hanshaw, PRP, and George Mervosh III, PRP, and the untiring Parliamentary Review Committee consisting of Betty Turnstall, PRP, and committee members Dennis Clark, PRP, and Beverly Przybylski, PRP. Our authors, too numerous to list here, are the heart of the NP. They covered a wide and important body of material that builds our parliamentary heritage. Thank you all!

Martha Womack Haun, Ph.D, PRP, Editor, National Parliamentarian 2015-2017 38

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In Memoriam*

NP commemorates the following members who have passed from our midst; may they rest in peace: Pat Alarie (TX) Robert Y. Asato (HI) Janet K. Bell (IL) Sharon Giese (AZ) Fritz Herring (MN) Elaine H. Klock (CA) Lee M. Riggan (CA) New Professional Registered Parliamentarians*

NP congratulates the following individuals for attaining the status of Professional Registered Parliamentarian: Jessica Christopher (UT) Thomas DeMeritt (MI) Gretchen Denton (MI) Christina Emmert (IL) Daniel Foster (PA) Frances Jackson (MI) Elizabeth James (TX) Sharon Jones (MI) Keokani Marciel (NV) Joan Price (MI) Paul Rene (FL) Sylvia Rylander (AK) Miriam Simmons (MN) Tonja Stokes (IL) Aaron Taggert (CA) Brandon Walters (SC) Barbara Whitaker (OH)

New Registered Parliamentarians*

NP congratulates the following individuals for attaining the status of Registered Parliamentarian: Robin Browder (DC) C. J. Cavin (OK) Joyce DeCerce (DC) Barbara Elzey (MD) Mary Lou Harden (FL) Tamara Harris (MD) Thomas Havelka (NE) Debra Henry (VA) Atul Kapur (ON) Alice M. Levis (NE) Ken Marciel (NV) Mark Moriarty (FL) Dana Murrell (OK) Shawn Paine (OK) Paul Rene (FL) Kendra Riley (MD) Tonja Stokes (IL) Deana Everett Tollerton (TX) Louise Simpson (TX) Steven W. Walls (DC) David A. Whitaker (NC) Linda M. Young (FL)

* as of October 20, 2017 www.parliamentarians.org

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NAP Connections

NAP 41st Biennial Convention September 8-11, 2017 • Chicago, Illinois

A small work group at the Leadership Conference.

Olivia Headley, Daniel Ross, Lorenzo Cuesta, Tamara Dunning.

PRC Instructors Michael Malamut, Jeanette Williams, Rosalie Stroman, Kirk Overbey.

Bylaws Committee: Roger Hanshaw, Richard Brown, Weldon Merritt, Lucy Anderson, Ron Avedisian.

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Past Presidents Leonard Young, Jeanette Williams, Connie Deford, Ron Stinson, Maurice S. Henderson, Ann Guiberson.

Christina Emmert finally made the high bid for the second edition. Chuck Schultz poses with Christina and Valoree Althoff.

AIP Presdient Kay Crews with NAP President Mary Randolph.

www.parliamentarians.org

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