News

Celebrate Parliamentary Law Month this April

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:59:00 GMT

These words sound so boring and yet are vital: “The correct use of parliamentary procedure protects the rights of the majority, the minority, individual members, absentees, and all of these together, all the while fostering orderly deliberation.”

Turn your meetings around for free

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 23:52:00 GMT

We offer the entertaining audio recording of our recent webinar free of charge during March. College students went "from night to day" in their meetings - learn how they did it and how to fix your unruly meetings.

Get your copy here!

Night and Day Difference

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:17:00 GMT

College students brought chaotic meetings under control and you can too! Join our free live webinar with Wayne Anthony, Director for Student Programs, Edmonds Community College.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 11 am Pacific time.

Wrangling a Disruptive Councilmember

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:21:00 GMT

Robert's Rules can help you wrangle a disruptive councilmember just as it did for the City of Kenmore. Join us for a free live webinar with Mayor David Baker, Ph.D., to learn more.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11 am Pacific Time.

Newly elected? We have just what you need.

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:34:00 GMT

Elected officials can get essential training at AWC workshops Jan. 6-7 Spokane, Jan. 13-14 Lynnwood, Feb. 3-4 Kennewick, Feb. 10-11 Tacoma.

Jurassic Parliament training offered on Saturday.

Webinar on WSTIP Success

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:22:00 GMT

You are invited to a live webinar with Al Hatten, Executive Director of the Washington State Transit Insurance Pool.

On Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 11 am Pacific Time Al will discuss how WSTIP used Robert’s Rules of Order to address and resolve its challenging issues.

AGRiP Goes to Atlanta

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:12:00 GMT

Ann Macfarlane will present "Running Great Meetings Using Robert's Rules of Order" to attendees at the annual governance conference of the Association of Governmental Risk Pools on October 25, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Hospital Boards and Commissioners Meet for Training

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 17:20:00 GMT

Ann Macfarlane will present "Rules of Engagement for Meetings: Effective Process Leads to Quality Results" to hospital board trustees and public hospital district commissioners on Tuesday, October 11, 2011. The Washington State Hospital Association and the Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts present a "Skills-building Intensive" at the Edgewater Inn, Seattle.

Today Is Karen Goroski Day

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 01:37:00 GMT

King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed October 7 as Karen Goroski Day in King County. Karen Goroski, outgoing executive director of the Suburban Cities Association of King County, Washington, has long been a supporter of excellent meeting process in the civic arena. We join our colleagues in thanking Karen for her public service.

New edition of Robert's Rules of Order

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:11:00 GMT

The new edition of Robert's Rules of Order has just been published. Watch our site for news about this book and how to use it in your meetings.

Kenmore City Council Workshop

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:36:00 GMT

Ann Macfarlane presents a workshop on “Robert’s Rules of Order for Council Discussion and Public Comment” to the City Council of Kenmore, Washington on Monday, October 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Council Chambers.

New edition of Robert's Rules of Order

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:37:00 GMT

The 11th edition of Robert's Rules of Order has just been published. Watch our site for more news on the new edition and how to use it in your meetings.

Did PAC-12 really vote "to not expand"?

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:02:00 GMT

Sports news this week raised a question for those of us who love Robert’s Rules of Order. Did the PAC-12 vote on Tuesday "to not expand"? If so, they might need help in using Robert’s Rules. Sports news this week raised a question for those of us who love Robert’s Rules of Order. Did the PAC-12 vote on Tuesday "to not expand"? If so, they might need help in using Robert’s Rules.

One of the basic rules for writing motions – proposals for action – is to write them in positive form. In other words, don’t use the word “not” in setting out what you plan to do.

If your city council doesn’t like the mayor’s proposed appointee to the planning commission, write a motion that says “that Ms. X be appointed to the planning commission,” and then vote it down. Do not phrase your motion this way: “that the council does not approve the appointment of Ms. X.”

If your student senate wants to protest proposed cuts to the university budget, write a motion that says “we deplore these cuts” or “we condemn these cuts.” Do not phrase your motion to say “we do not approve of these cuts.”

And, if you’re a sports body that doesn’t choose to expand, your motion might say “that our conference expand to 14 teams” – and the board would then defeat the motion. This is clearer than saying “that our conference not expand” and then voting in favor, or, even more ambiguous, voting against. If we vote against not expanding, what action have we taken?

Phrasing motions in the positive helps keep everyone clear about what is intended. You can learn more about this in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised 10^th edition, page 100.

Schmoozing in King County

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:32:00 GMT

Ann Macfarlane is attending the Suburban Cities Association networking dinner on Wednesday, September 21. She looks forward to schmoozing with colleagues from the cities of King County, Washington, and hearing Governor Gregoire speak.

Welcome!

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:37:00 GMT

Welcome to our newly updated Jurassic Parliament website. We are quite pleased with the increased accessibility you will have to our content. Please, check it out, and let us know if you run into any diffculties.