[Businessmtg] Business Meeting Chair's Determinations and Suggestions

[Jerry H.]

Dear Biz-Pals,


As I have stated before, I'm not a fan of Robert's Rules (RR), but they do create structure and ASP policy does permit a chairperson to switch from KBDM to RR's at their discretion in some circumstances. This email will attempt to state my positions as the now-acting chair of this Business Meeting (BM) and my reasons for them. Please note that where I end up is very close to our current state of near-agreement. However, getting there is a trip down Robert's Rules lane. Please be patient...

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Robert's Rules (RR) are intended for use in decision-making bodies where all participants are in the same room. In order to participate one must be present within the body. Absentee and proxy actions are not entertained. One must act in the presence of the body. Al-Anon, in my service experience, follows this practice. 


The former chair of this BM received, privately, a suggested motion which was then relayed to the BM by the chair:


"That the current ASP member website asp-afg.org/members be accepted as is by the Business Meeting and be the basis for all future changes [+ requirement of BM approval of those changes (housekeeping changes excepted.)]"


~ It is the determination of this chair that according to RR this motion was not properly made. The motioner did not make the motion directly within the Business Meeting and the chair does not make motions therefor the above motion is not on the table.


In order to salvage what progress we as a body had made I proposed possible language intended to unite us. During the discussions which followed a motion was made and was seconded as follows:


Motion (#15?):

"The ASP website, as currently posted, be temporarily accepted while the Steering Committee, the Business Committee and/or other created committees carefully review the differences between the "old" group conscience approved web content and the "new" posted content for future deliberations on final content"

[Note: The term "Business Committee" was used in error, the intention being "Business Meeting."]


~ It is the determination of the chair that Motion (#15?) was properly made, seconded, and is open for discussion according to Robert's Rules.


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The chair now returns this Business Committee to Knowledge Based Decision Making as defined by ASP Policy.

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The chair suggests that someone make a motion no later than Sunday, October 29th "To postpone discussion of Motion (#15?) to a certain time", the chair suggesting that the time be "...to the December Business Meeting." Second needed. [I think we could all use a little breather.]

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Chair's Note:

Robert's Rules would have required a second and a simple majority vote to pass this or any motion. I don't know how ASP can function effectively under the full requirements of RRs because of the time it takes ASP to officially vote. My former suggestion that we use the Straw Poll option as a substitute for a speedy voice vote wasn't so speedy. Whether using a straw poll was even proper here is highly debatable according to the wording and intent of the motion which formed our use of straw polls. Never-the-less it became abundantly clear that we had a consensus in favor of Jane's request to withdraw her proposed motion and her support of a new motion much like Motion (#15?), (lots of "I agrees").


Since:

A. The chair had imposed Robert's Rules of Order on the Business Meeting.

B. The chair's "proxy" presentation of Jane's original motion was not proper under RR.

C. A properly presented motion was made and seconded [Motion (#15?)].

D. Jane's request for permission to withdraw her motion was moot.

E. However, in the straw poll responses we did discover a large consensus (not unanimous) in agreement with withdrawing that motion anyway and for a replacement motion's language which was very similar to the current motion on the floor (excepting her addition of language specifying that the BM would approve any future changes; which is redundant since this is covered in existing ASP Policy under Motion #4 - that the BM forms the group conscience of ASP)...


...I propose we pick up discussion of Motion (#15?) again in December, get to a vote, and begin the process of addressing how we're going to review our website content.


Please, everyone, it is important that in all discussions that we "Presume Good Will" and stick to Principles, not personalities.


Thank you, gracias, danke,


Jerry H.

10.24.2017

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