Description
Peg Francis, and her late husband Fred Francis, had decades of experience with meetings in school, college, business, church, and community organizations as members and as officers. They saw the urgent need for more justice and stronger democracies and believed that for a democracy to work successfully, the populace itself must understand and practice democratic principles. They brought their skills as former educators to bear to create a set of rules that are easy-to-learn, easy-to-use, and widely applicable in meetings and that promote democracy at a grass-roots level. Always seeking to improve, they were also entrepreneurs who have designed several commercial products including clean-burning wood stoves, rodent-proof composters, and children’s building sets. Peg lives in Victoria, Canada. Foreword by Douglas Leiterman Preface Part 1: The Rules Introduction Fairness and Orderliness Democratic Principles A Democratic Ideal Another Democratic Ideal Degrees of Formality Higher Laws Minority Rights For Maximum Efficiency The Tenth Edition Virtual Meetings To Adopt or Modify These Rules of Order An Impersonal Referee Governing Elements Government Control Constitution Bylaws Standing Rules Rules of Order Executive Board Officers Election Procedures Members Making Decisions Final Authority Equal Rights The Chair Chair’s Authority Formal Chair Informal Chair Addressing the Chair Quorum Agenda Motions and Decisions Mover’s Privilege Amendments Postpone, Refer Voting Tie Vote Larger Majority Vote Informal Discussion Rescind Reconsider Minutes Reports Ratifying a Previous Decision Adjournment Keeping Meetings Flowing Staying on the Subject More Thought, Less Talk Mutual Respect Point of Order Disturbances Differing Opinions A New Chair Committees and Small Meetings Committees Less Formality Special Committees Chairing a Committee Meeting Nondemocratic Meetings Part 2: Further Help Frequently Asked Questions Involving the Chair Involving the Secretary Motions and Other Topics Sample Meeting Flowchart Using Democratic Rules of Order Summary of the Rules Index About the Authors A Note about the Publisher
