Robert’s Rules For Dummies, 3rd Edition

Your no-nonsense guide to making sense of Robert’s Rules

The classic Robert’s Rules of Order has a proven track record of helping membership groups apply codes of conduct to serve as a parliamentary authority within a given assembly. Unfortunately, when read on its own, it can prove to be unclear and hard to follow for many organizations—and that’s where this friendly guide comes in. This new edition of Robert’s Rules For Dummies demystifies the often-confusing rules of parliamentary procedure in clear, simple language and shows you how to apply them within your organization in a practical and effective way.

From procedures for proper nominations to handling elections and ballots, from conducting meetings online to voting by mail and email—and everything in between—this hands-on, plain-English guide makes it easier to apply the information in the most recent version of the rules handbook so you and your organization can start benefiting from it today.

• Contains updated content that conforms to changes in business meetings, including special rules for making group decisions in both real-time and non-real-time environments
• Covers new timesaving tips to make meetings more efficient in a world where everyone is pressed for time
• Provides sample agendas, minutes, scripts, and more
• Includes interactive online material for readers on the go

If you want to keep meetings organized, efficient, and on track, Robert’s Rules For Dummies has you covered.

Table of Contents

Part 1: It’s Parliamentary, My Dear: Participating Effectively in Meetings
Chapter 1: Following the Rules (Robert’s, That Is)
Chapter 2: Defining the Organization: Bylaws and Other Rules
Chapter 3: Meetings: Making Group Decisions
Chapter 4: Notice and a Quorum
Chapter 5: Ordering Business: The Agenda

Part 2: Motions: Putting Ideas into Action
Chapter 6: Main Motions: Proposing Ideas for Group Action
Chapter 7: Debate: Discussing the Pros and Cons of Ideas
Chapter 8: Making Group Decisions: Voting on the Motion
Chapter 9: Subsidiary Motions: Helping to Process the Main Motion
Chapter 10: Privileged Motions: Getting Through the Meeting
Chapter 11: Incidental Motions: Dealing with Questions of Procedure
Chapter 12: Haven’t We Decided This Already? Motions That Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly

Part 3: Getting Involved in Leadership
Chapter 13: Who’s Going to Do the Work? Following Nomination Procedures
Chapter 14: Holding Elections and Making Appointments
Chapter 15: Running the Show: Officers and Directors
Chapter 16: Gearing Up for the Real Action: Committees
Chapter 17: Reporting to Your Organization
Chapter 18: Disciplining and Removing Officers or Members
Chapter 19: Starting a New Association
Chapter 20: The Convention of Delegates: A Special Kind of Assembly

Part 4: The Part of Tens
Chapter 21: Ten (Or So) Meeting Procedure Myths
Chapter 22: Ten Tips for Presiding Officers
Chapter 23: Ten Motion Mistakes to Avoid
Chapter 24: Ten Custom Rules to Consider