Meetings with Robert's Rules?

Just curious how many of the HOA's represented here use Robert's Rules of Order when conducting their meetings? Seems it would be difficult to get the community, when having the annual meeting, to play by the rules.

The key isn't so much Robert's Rules, but that the meeting Chair go over the guidelines at the beginning of the meeting so everyone understands them. Most people don't know Robert's Rules, and so, they don't follow them, and when they get gaeled down, they get frustrated. The Chair needs to explain the meeting rules at the beginning and then fairly enforce them, giving everyone a chance to say what they want to say at the appropriate time.

Hint: If you know a meting is going to be contentious and possibly get out of control, hire a retired judge to chair it. They know how to handle these things are are very impartial.

Here are a couple of good articles from a parliamentarian's web site:

http://www.jimslaughter.com/commassocrules.htm

http://www.jimslaughter.com/community.htm

Joe

I offer a different view from some posted above. The narrow question is, "How can a meeting be conducted without rules?" Clearly the answer is not very well. But if the meeting requires rules, then what rules and who approves? Should the board decide? Should the members decide? Is it a members' meeting or a board meeting?

The broad answers to the questions, in my view, is that the rules for a members' meeting should be defined in the bylaws. Further, any amendments to the bylaws should require the exclusive approval of the members. This keeps the members in control of their members' meetings.

Rather than "reinventing the wheel", use the "rules" that have the broadest acceptance: Robert's Rules. An official version is maintained by parliamentarians, and is described at their website: The Official Robert's Rules Of Order Web Site at
http://www.robertsrules.com/. This institution maintains a book "Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised" (RONR), and recently has introduced an abbreviated version. They also maintain a RONR Discussion Forum at
http://www.robertsrules.com/cp/Scripts/ASP/forum/. Many of the questions on this discussion (Q&A) forum are from members in property owners associations.

I agree that some members don't understand Robert's; but they likely don't understand any other rules of order either. Most universities have adopted Robert's for university student meetings, and have issued brief descriptions for student use. These brief descriptions are available on the internet. More information is available on Robert's than any other rules of order.

Moreover, RONR is much more than rules for conducting meetings. It fills in the blanks that are typically omitted from bylaws: meeting notices, meeting minutes, details on amendment bylaws, rights of minorities, counting of votes, various reports, just to name a few. All that is needed is to include a provision in the bylaws adopting Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised as the parliamentary authority where not superseded by a provision in the law or governing documents. Suggested language is in RONR. RONR with its many protections for members' rights then becomes part of the bylaws. Attorneys may object since RONR includes those rights for members which the attorneys have to learn. Developer's may not advocate RONR because RONR clearly extends rights to members.

Any association that has 100 members likely has several people who are familiar with RONR for meetings. One or several should be appointed as parliamentarians for members' meetings. Robert's Rules of Order traces its origin to English Parliament. Thomas Jefferson adapted those English rules to the United States Senate. They evolved and were recorded by Colonel Robert 100 years ago. Use the best. Use RONR.