Committee Recommendations Hit the Table Running

Today, we need boards to act more right-brained (creative and spontaneous), and a little less left-brained (rigid and procedural). For that reason, I have been helping Chairs of boards see that strenuous adherence to Robert’s Rules can be stifling and hinder their progress.

For example, no one has to make a motion for a board to adopt the recommendation of a committee. The Board Chair can assume the motion, especially if the wording in the Committee’s report, proposal, or resolution is clear, and open the floor to discussion on it.

Since a committee has several members and a majority vote put the proposal forward, it in effect has a second that puts it on the table for discussion. Also, since boards of a dozen or fewer people are close and know each other fairly well, their rules of order only ask that someone put forth a cohesive and understandable proposal, or motion. The Chair need not ask for the traditional “second” that large assemblies require before discussion ensues. (Refer to Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, Paragraph 48, Boards; Procedure in Small Boards.)

ALso, a model rules of order for a non-profit board is available on my Website at http://www.danclark.com/articles/index.shtml.