The How, Why, and What Ifs of NAP Units

By Tannis Nelson, PRP

Do you want to become a Registered Parliamentarian or a Professional Registered Parliamentarian? Or, if you are already credentialed, do you want to improve your parliamentary knowledge and skills? Participating in a unit of the National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP) can assist you in continuously expanding your parliamentary knowledge and in your efforts to become and/or remain a credentialed member .

Units of NAP provide excellent opportunities to increase your knowledge and understanding of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR), meeting structure, bylaws, quorum, and other parliamentary topics . Units can address the special desires and specific needs of their members more frequently and more informally than larger state associations . To better understand NAP Units, this article will focus on how units are formed, reasons to join a unit, and when and how one may consider starting a unit .

Often, a unit arises out of a group of individuals who have discovered they want to learn more about parliamentary procedure and begin holding study sessions . NAP Units may be chartered by at least five members of NAP. These units may meet in person or electronically as provided in NAP’s bylaws . Therefore, an NAP Unit gets to decide if they want to meet only in person, only want to meet electronically, or meet with the option of either in-person or electronically . For many individuals, an electronic unit is much more convenient both in time and travel . An electronic unit can be for a specific community or extend membership to any NAP member . These are decisions the unit gets to make .

Units may provide in their bylaws for individuals who have not yet joined NAP, these individuals are provisional members and are typically studying and trying to build their confidence to take the membership exam . The rights of provisional members may be limited by the unit’s bylaws; however, they may participate fully in all educational programs . Frequently, those who are already NAP members may join a unit to assist them in preparing for the registered or professional registered exam . Unit programs and educational offerings will be invaluable to the new credentialing requirements as of January 2024 for the Registered Parliamentarian (RP) and Professional Registered Parliamentarian (PRP) credentials .

A unit offers the fellowship of others with like interests; however, members are expected to participate in the unit’s activities, and ultimately follow Jefferson’s advice, “we learn by doing”. Unit members can learn from each other and also strengthen their presentation skills . A unit can assist in nurturing and building the self-confidence of its members . While a member may feel intimidated presenting to large, state association meetings, a unit can offer an encouraging setting where the member feels supported and can enhance their knowledge and skills .

Participating in a unit can build leadership since there are many more opportunities for service as a committee member, committee chair, or officer . Leadership in a unit prepares a member for additional service in their state association, district, and at the national level . Many of NAP’s associations and national leaders began their parliamentary journey by joining a unit in their community .

Alison Wallis, PRP, President of NAP, emphasized during her remarks at the close of the 2023 Biennial Convention one of her priorities as we advance the principles and practice of democratic decision making is to increase NAP membership . Starting a Unit offers the opportunity to connect with individuals who may have been elected to serve as an officer in a civic club, church, parent-teacher group, or other local organization . Suddenly, they realize they know very little about presiding, following the organization’s governing documents or the parliamentary authority, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) . These individuals are usually highly motivated to join a group that can support them in learning skills that will assist them in having successful meetings . More often than not, they will also encourage other members of their organizations to join .

What if you’re unable to locate a NAP Unit in your area? Hopefully, you’ll consider starting one . You can begin by inviting individuals who are leaders in civic clubs, churches, parent-teacher groups, and others who may utilize RONR to gather for a study session . Contact your state association, as many associations have standing committees who will be happy to assist you in your efforts with the NAP membership exams and organizing to form a unit . NAP offers complete, detailed instructions on how to charter a unit . You may download the instructions from the NAP website Documents section, the New Unit Kit files, which will include the “Request for Approval of New Unit Bylaws”, “Application for Unit Charter” and “Sample Unit Bylaws”. You may access using the documents section of the website .

If you want to follow Thomas Jefferson’s sage advice and “learn by doing” you may want to join and participate in a NAP Unit . In the words of Sir Ken Robinson, a renowned British author, speaker, and international advisor on education, “Most great learning happens in groups . Collaboration is the stuff of growth . ” NP

Tannis F. Nelson, PrP, is President of the North Carolina Association of Parliamentarians and a member of the Tar Heel Electronic Unit. She has served on a number of NAP standing committees including the Professional Standards and Member Discipline Committee and is a current member of NAP’s Bylaws Committee.