Official Website: https://robertsrules.com
Here are some notes in Roberts Rules of order that might pertain to your club.
Why Roberts Rules of Order?
Robert’s Rules exist to balance efficiency with fairness. They let the majority act, protect minority voice, and ensure one item of business gets handled at a time.
What is the role of the Parliamentarian?
47:46 Parliamentarian. The parliamentarian is a consultant, commonly a professional, who advises the president and other officers, committees, and members on matters of parliamentary procedure. The parliamentarian’s role during a meeting is purely an advisory and consultative one. Parliamentary law gives to the chair alone the power to rule on questions of order or to answer parliamentary inquiries.”
When can board-related topics be discussed by board members?
This is pretty open. For example, RONR provisions do not prohibit asking a question about a report.What they cover is debate on the floor during a meeting. RONR’s rule is that a report can’t be debated or acted on as a “pending question” until the committee chair has formally presented it in the meeting. That’s a floor-procedure rule about when discussion becomes an official agenda item.Sending an individual board member (or the whole board) an email asking a factual question about a report is a different kind of act entirely. It’s not “debate,” there’s no “motion” or “pending question” involved. And it isn’t happening in a meeting. RONR governs the conduct of meetings. It has essentially nothing to say about private or email correspondence between members outside that context.
What number constitutes a quorum?
This is determined in the organization bylaws (fill in number here).
Basic Meeting Structure
1. Call to order
2. Reading/approval of previous minutes (often waived if minutes were circulated)
3. Officer/committee reports4. Unfinished business (items tabled from last meeting)
5. New business
6. Announcements
7. Adjournment
Making a Motion
A member says, “I move that…” (states the proposal clearly)Another member seconds it (“I second the motion”). This just confirms someone else wants it discussed
The chair restates the motion, then opens it for discussion
After discussion, the chair calls the voteResult is announced (“The motion carries” / “The motion fails”).
Debate Basics
For a club meeting, the chair usually just moderates fairly and keeps things moving
Speak to the chair, not to other members directly
No interrupting a speaker, except for specific procedural points (see below)
Common Procedural Motions
| Motion | Purpose |
Debatable? | Vote Needed ||—|—|—|—|| Amend | Change wording of the motion on the floor | Yes | Majority || Table | Set aside temporarily | No | Majority || Postpone |
Delay to a specific time | Yes | Majority ||
Refer to committee | Send for further study |
Yes | Majority ||
Call the question | End debate, force a vote now | No | 2/3 ||
Point of order | Flag a rule violation | No | Chair decides ||
Point of information | Ask a factual question | No | N/A |
Voting
Most club decisions need a simple majority. Some things (bylaw changes, expelling a member, big financial commitments) may need a 2/3 vote. (Check club’s bylaws)
Common methods: voice vote (“aye”/”nay”), show of hands, or ballot for sensitive mattersPractical Tips for a Rotary-Sized ClubYou don’t need to invoke every technical rule. Most clubs run relatively informal meetings and only lean on formal procedure for major votes (budget approval, bylaw amendments, officer elections)The president/chair’s job is to keep meetings efficient, not run a courtroom.Written motions help for anything with financial or bylaw implications, so there’s no ambiguity in the minutes.
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