Part I: It’s Parliamentary, My Dear: Participating Effectively in Meetings  7

Chapter 1: Following the Rules (Robert’s, That Is) 9

Chapter 2: Defining the Organization: Bylaws and Other Rules  17

Chapter 3: Meetings: Making Group Decisions 35

Chapter 4: Notice and a Quorum  49

Chapter 5: Ordering Business: The Agenda 59

Part II: Motions: Putting Ideas into Action  69

Chapter 6: Main Motions: Proposing Ideas for Group Action  71

Chapter 7: Debate: Discussing the Pros and Cons of Ideas  87

Chapter 8: Making Group Decisions: Voting on the Motion  103

Chapter 9: Subsidiary Motions: Helping to Process the Main Motion  121

Chapter 10: Privileged Motions: Getting Through the Meeting 147

Chapter 11: Incidental Motions: Dealing with the Questions of Procedure  163

Chapter 12: Haven’t We Decided This Already? Motions That Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly  195

Part III: Getting Involved in Leadership  213

Chapter 13: Who’s Going to Do the Work? Following Nomination Procedures  215

Chapter 14: Holding Elections and Making Appointments  227

Chapter 15: Running the Show: Officers and Directors  241

Chapter 16: Gearing Up for the Real Action: Committees  255

Chapter 17: Reporting to Your Organization 267

Chapter 18: Disciplining and Removing Officers or Members  279

Chapter 19: Starting a New Association  289

Chapter 20: The Convention of Delegates: A Special Kind of Assembly  301

Part IV: The Part of Tens  311

Chapter 21: Ten (Or So) Meeting Procedure Myths  313

Chapter 22: Ten Tips for Presiding Officers  321

Chapter 23: Ten Motion Mistakes to Avoid  327

Chapter 24: Ten Custom Rules to Consider  333

Appendix A: Glossary of Parliamentary Terms  341

Appendix B: Sample Agendas, Reports, and Minutes  349

Index  369