Where is it mandated that organizations have to follow Robert's Rules of Order?
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I have been President of my HOA for eight years. Our Bylaws do not specify any particular procedure, such as Roberts Rules of Order, for conducting any meeting, either of the Board or of the membership. Nor do Washington State's Chapter 64.38 RCW Homeowners' Associations, nor Washington State's Chapter 24.03 RCW: Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act specify Robert's Rules of Order. We have a very small HOA, with one meeting a year, and one or two of the Board. It certainly seems like overkill to follow these strict parliamentary procedures, as long as we follow the procedures for management in our Bylaws. Where is it mandated that every organization follows Roberts Rules of Orders? Cheerio!
Hi Dorothy,
oh, my, my, my. I suppose if you are the only one driving on the road you don't have to follow the rules of the road. But we usually do because we have been trained to do so. If you use an agenda, that gets you from point A to point B in a meeting, that is using Robert's Rules. As an HOA you do have to take minutes and keep minutes by state law. That also is in Robert's Rules and there is a legal procedure accepted by courts of law for writing minutes. That's also in Robert's Rules. Under state law, boards and members have to hold elections and vote on issues. That's also in Robert's Rules. So is that overkill? It is apparent to this Little Clock that you have not really look at a book on Robert's Rules.
The basic idea behind Robert's Rules is that it protects every one's rights and your rights too. It also establishes manners for a meeting based on courtesy and justice. May I suggest that you read the McConnell's book "Webster's New World Robert's Rules of Order Simplified and Applied." The very first chapter explains these ideas so simply and graciously. I am sure that you would never go visit the Queen without reading up on the rules of decorum, would you? Well, then why attend a meeting without following the rules of decorum? It just makes things nicer, pleasanter and meetings go well, too.
Cheerio!
Little Ben
Question submitted by Dorothy on January 21, 2014