What are the “rules” the RCSC Board applies when members in good standing speak at RCSC Board meetings and the Annual Membership meeting? It appears they can pick and choose from several sources!! I think we, the members, should be well informed of our rights to speak. My understanding is limited to a member who speaks once cannot speak again until all others have spoken and the three minute time limit. What else should we know to be prepared for any RCSC Board attempts to silence members? ***************************************** “Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc. Corporate Bylaws – Amended June 30, 2016 SECTION 1: MEMBERS, MEMBERSHIP AND MEMBER CARDS I. Member Cardholders in good standing may participate in Board/Member exchanges and speak at Board meetings, subject to the Restated Articles of Incorporation, Corporate Bylaws, Board Policies, Cardholders and Guest Code of Conduct, and any Rules and Regulations of the Corporation and Chartered Clubs.” https://suncityaz.org/corp-by-laws/ **************************************** Robert’s Rules for Participating in a Debate - for dummies This article explanation includes this TIP: “In reality, your group always has access to one of the most useful subsidiary motions: the motion to limit debate. It’s not uncommon for a group to adopt a motion to limit discussion to a set period of time, to a set number of speeches for or against, to a shorter time per speech, or to some combination of these options.“ https://www.dummies.com/careers/business-skills/roberts-rules-for-participating-in-a-debate/ RONR. 11th ed., p. 388
What's the saying from the reality show; "expect the unexpected." My guess is they have been counseled to stay calm and let people vent. I also suspect, giving some of the personality types on the stage, at least one of them will bust a blood vessel, lose their cool and try and flex their muscles. For anyone going and signing up to speak to a motion, stay on point, stay calm and be precise. Rambling won't help you. If you are unused to speaking, write down your thoughts. It's perfectly fine to read your questions or comments.
I have spoken on both agenda items and made comments at the end of the meeting. To speak on an Agenda item, you need to sign up prior to the meeting. Before the Board deals with an agenda item, they ask if anyone has signed up to speak on that item. Those that signed up will be called by name. Each individual will have 3 minutes to make their comments. If you ask questions, note that board responses are using your 3 minutes! I have found it better to make my full comments first, and then ask a question or two at the end. 3 minutes goes by fast. After the Agenda Item comments, the board starts their discussion on that item. If a motion is made for the agenda item, they will vote on it. These items typically take a roll call vote, so you see which board members are in favor, and which are against. The last 2 items on the Agenda are typically: Member Comments; then Board Comments. Member comments have not been timed up until June 24, 2012. Now you get 3 minutes. After all members have had a chance to comment once, they allow people to return and comment again. They often will entertain a question to the board. If you attempt to poll the board members individually, the board will shut you down. They don't have to answer your questions. Its Member Comments, not Member Questions. They will answer some questions, but not always. Consider your questions carefully. Asking for too specific an item (specific date, time, person, ...) will most likely be answered with "We don't know" or "We will look into that?" You are wasting everyone's time (in my opinion) if you came with a laundry list of questions that are too detailed. The board is a volunteer organization. They know a lot, but not everything. You should try to get detailed questions answered by Management. If you don't like the answers, bring that to the board. (again, my opinion).
Thank you, BPearson and Michael Wendel. The more I explore the RCSC documentation of Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Amendments, Rules & Policies, etc., the more evident the board’s intended results. Benefit the Members? No!
Lots of good info Michael. But they have started limiting the general Member comments (at the end) to 3 minutes also. They say you can come back after every one else has a chance.
The last meeting, 9/13, was a board special session (not a board meeting). They changed the rules. Only one agenda item. No sign up to comment (on agenda item only). 3 minute limit. There were no General Member Comments at the end. So Thursday will tell. The last General Member Comments were in June. There was no time limit. I hope the same is true this Thursday.
Michael, please refer to youtube video June 24 Meeting, time 1:18:35 - 1:18:50. They limited all Board Meeting General Member comments to 3 minutes at some point this spring.
Several meetings back there was some angst over a member who spoke for a very long time, back when comments weren't timed (end of meeting). That created a stir and the resulting motion was to limit members and board comments to 3 minutes. As i recall Karen spoke out against it and voted against it. I don't remember if anyone else did or not. I have only seen/remember when board members reversed themselves on one of their predetermined votes. A passionate and vocal crowd had made several outstanding arguments. It was shocking to watch, but that was back when they cared what people thought or said.
Technically, and according to proper parliamentary procedure, the motion made at that meeting was only good for that meeting and not future meetings. The reason is because the motion was not presented as a Special Rule of Order, which requires, "Any special rules of order are adopted separately from the bylaws. It is advisable that they be printed in the same booklet with, but under a heading separate from, the bylaws." (RONR 12th Ed. 2:20) Because the motion was not properly documented and cannot be found within any corporate documents listed under special rules of order, the motion simply became a motion to "suspend the rules" which made it only applicable for that one meeting. IF the board had a real parliamentarian, and IF anybody challenged the 3 minute rule in any other meeting, the parliamentarian would advise the chair that there is no 3 minute special rule of order documented, therefore, the rule relates back to the original bylaw that allows for Member Comments with no limits on time. Just say'n!
It's not a suggestion, it's a point of fact. The board has no idea what their rules mean or how too run a meeting... and now you know why they want to basically, eliminate Robert's Rules of Order. They would better serve themselves if they would hire a real parliamentarian. They would properly document these special rules and everybody could read them just as they can read all the other corporate documents. It's just that nobody knows the proper way of doing things! And these are the same people we're entrusting with the corporation's fiduciary responsibilities?
