How a Board Works
There is a lot of information available on how a Board is to operate, so to simplify the answer, just remember Parliamentary Procedure. Parliamentary Procedure sets out the rules for how the Board conducts meaningful well organized meetings. The most common aide in following procedure is Robert’s Rules of Order. While this is an excellent guide, it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are some basic rules of parliamentary procedure that can be easily followed by all Association Boards. These include:
- Follow the agenda
- Discuss only one subject at a time
- Give each board member a chance to speak
- Speak only on the issue being discussed
- Speak only when recognized by the chair
- Address questions and comments to the chair
- Decide issues through motions, seconds, and votes
A very helpful guide for parliamentary procedure that we recommend all Board Members read is The A-B-C’s of Parliamentary Procedure.
