Help Your Chapter
Parli Like a Pro The Basics: Everyone has an equal voice, which is expressed through a vote. Proxy voting is not allowed, so a member is not allowed to give his/her vote to another member. Only one issue should be discussed at a time. Only one person should be speaking at a time. All members have the right to attend meetings, make motions, debate, and vote. A quorum must be present at all time. The quorum is the smallest number of members you can expect to come to efficiently conduct business, but you don’t want too small of a number that a minority is able to override the goals of the majority. Write an agenda before the meeting: it keeps meetings running efficiently. The secretary usually works with the president to coordinate the agenda, which can be sent out to members prior to the meeting. The order of a typical agenda goes as follows: Call to Order Roll Call Reading of the Minutes Treasurer’s Report Other Officer Reports Committee Reports Unfinished Business New Business Date of Next Meeting Adjournment During the meeting, the secretary is responsible for taking minutes. Minutes are a record of what was done, not what was said. Secretaries should be impartial, and should not let personal opinions reflect in the minutes. The order of typical minutes goes as follows: Call to Order Roll Call/Attendance Approval of the Minutes Officer Reports Unfinished Business New Business Announcement Adjournment Signature of the Secretary
For the member, it’s important to know how to make a motion. 1) The chair recognizes a member to speak. 2) The member makes a motion, “I move that. . .” 3) The chair asks if there is a second to the motion (if a second is needed). 4) The motion is seconded. 5) The chair repeats the motion as stated and opens the floor to discussion (if the motion is debatable). 6) When everyone has had the chance to speak, the chair restates the motion and puts it to a vote.
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Important Notes: After a debatable motion is made, the chair should recognize the member who made the motion if he/she wants to exercise the right to speak first. When the chair states the question debate follows, when the chair puts the question a vote is taken. The chair should never vote, unless the vote would break a tie or the vote is taken by ballot. Generally, a two-thirds vote is required when the motion takes away the rights of members (ex: limit or extend limits of debate) or when the motion changes something that has already been done (ex: amend something previously adopted).
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at FBLAParl@Fbla.org!