This Thursday, February 19, 2026, we mark the 150th anniversary of the first publication of Robert’s Rules of Order in 1876. For 150 years, this book has helped groups hold fair, organized, and effective meetings. That is an extraordinary legacy for a book written by an Army engineer. Who Was General Robert? Henry Martyn Robert was a general in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He was not trained as a lawyer or politician. He became interested in meeting procedure after being asked to preside over a church meeting that quickly became confusing and disorderly. As I discussed in … Continue reading
Category Archives: Parliamentary Law
Running Better, More Legal, Virtual Meetings
In May 2022, my law partner, Harmony Taylor, and I presented a program at the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Annual Conference on running better, more legal virtual meetings for community associations. By that point, most boards and managers had already experienced electronic meetings out of necessity. What remained unsettled was not whether meetings could be held online, but whether they were being conducted in a way that was legal, defensible, and effective. The questions we heard were consistent. Can we meet virtually at all? Does it matter whether the meeting is for the board, the members, or a committee? What … Continue reading
Why I Write Parliamentary Books: Reflections from an Author Chat with the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers
This article is adapted from remarks I delivered during an “Author Chat” with the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers on February 7, 2023. It reflects an edited written version of that presentation, focusing on why I write parliamentary books, how my books differ, and trends I see in modern meetings and parliamentary practice. Why I Write About Parliamentary Procedure Anyone who wants to write about parliamentary procedure should keep their day job. That is not why we write. We write because we find this subject genuinely interesting, because we enjoy teaching it, and because we were taught by others to … Continue reading
You Need the Correct Copy of Robert’s Rules of Order
In most associations, significant decisions are made at board, committee, and membership meetings. Budgets are adopted. Directors are elected. Budgets are adopted. Directors are elected. Governing document amendments and policies are approved. When an organization says it follows Robert’s Rules of Order, it is committing to run its meetings under a recognized, structured system designed to promote fairness, order, and clear decision making. Because of that, how meetings are conducted matters, both legally and practically. Many association governing documents require that meetings be conducted in accordance with the “current edition” of Robert’s Rules of Order. When that is the case, … Continue reading
Points and Requests: The Parliamentary Tools We Use the Most and Understand the Least
This article is adapted from a presentation I gave to the Virtual Parliamentarians Toastmasters Club on December 21, 2025. The session focused on several parliamentary tools that are frequently used but often misunderstood, including Questions of Privilege, Parliamentary Inquiry, Requests for Information, and Points of Order. While these motions rarely get much attention, they play an outsized role in how meetings actually function. What follows is a edited written version of that presentation. Points and Requests: The Parliamentary Tools We Use the Most and Understand the Least It humbles me, especially during the week of Christmas, that people would take … Continue reading
Is Your Dislike of Another Board Member a Breach of Your Fiduciary Duty?
These are trying times. Whether because of the political climate, social media, or the stresses of modern life, poor conduct at meetings has become common. As attorneys and experienced professional parliamentarians, Carole Albright and I assist with many meetings of every size each year. Members, and even directors, seem shorter and snappier than ever. We increasingly hear directors say things like: “I can’t work with that board member.” “I won’t be in the same room as that director.” “Can’t we handle everything by email?” The answer to that last one is no, but the real issue runs deeper. Directors don’t … Continue reading
The Legal Side of Parliamentary Procedure
In May 2023, I had the opportunity to speak at the American Institute of Parliamentarians East Coast Practicum on a topic that comes up repeatedly in real-world meetings but is often misunderstood: the legal side of parliamentary procedure. What follows is an adapted version of those remarks, revised slightly for a reading audience but retaining the substance, examples, and perspective of the original presentation. When people think about parliamentary procedure, they often treat it as a technical skill set, separate from the law. In my experience, that separation rarely holds up in the real world. Parliamentary procedure and legal requirements … Continue reading
The Four Governing Documents That Shape Every HOA and Condo
How They Work Together and When They Need Updating Every community association–whether a homeowners association (HOA) or condominium–operates under a set of governing documents. Together, these documents define how the community functions, what owners may or may not do, and how decisions are made. Although most owners are familiar with the “rules,” few realize how those rules fit into a hierarchy of authority or how and when those documents should be updated. Declaration of Covenants The Declaration (sometimes called the “Covenants,” “CCRs,” or “Restrictions”) is the document filed with the county that created the community association. It is a contract … Continue reading
Dealing with Difficult Members at Meetings
Every board, committee, or membership meeting eventually faces “problem members.” They may be disruptive by design or simply enthusiastic to a fault. Fortunately, presiding officers have proven tools—parliamentary and interpersonal—for steering meetings back on track. The Over-Participator Some members feel compelled to speak on every issue, often multiple times. If your parliamentary authority is Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised or The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, rules can help balance participation: In smaller boards or informal settings, the chair can still enforce balance by inviting comments from those who haven’t spoken. If necessary, the chair should act as a … Continue reading
Ranked Choice Voting & Robert’s Rules of Order
Ranked Choice Voting in the News Ranked-choice voting (RCV) has received growing attention in recent elections. Just last month it was used in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, where voters could rank up to five candidates in order of preference. If no candidate received more than 50 percent of the first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes was eliminated in successive rounds, with those votes redistributed to the next choice on each ballot. That process continued until Zohran Mamdani secured a majority vote and was declared the Democratic nominee on July 1. Why the growing interest in … Continue reading
It’s Time to Reconsider the Motion “to Reconsider Everything”
If you haven’t been involved with the National Education Association (NEA) or a state affiliate, the title of this article might seem odd. But for decades, there’s been a practice where delegates at the national Representative Assembly or state conventions move to “reconsider all new business items” or “reconsider all items voted on until now.” This motion doesn’t actually intend to reopen every past decision. Instead, it takes advantage of a feature of the motion to Reconsider in Robert’s Rules of Order (12th Edition). That motion allows an assembly to revisit a single motion if someone believes a mistake was … Continue reading
Jonathon Woodruff Named Partner at Law Firm Carolinas
Jonathon Woodruff has been named a partner at Law Firm Carolinas, which has five offices in North and South Carolina. A graduate of North Carolina Central University and Campbell University School of Law, Jonathon has experience in both civil and criminal law. He now focuses on representing community associations (HOAs and condominium associations) and supervises the firm’s association assessment collections practice. Congratulations, Jonathon!
Board Codes of Conduct & The Consequence of Violations
As attorneys and professional parliamentarians, Carole Albright and I advise many associations across the country, including some of the largest and most complex. Our work frequently involves helping with governance documents, meetings, and disciplinary matters. In the past decade, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in questions related to board “codes of conduct” (or “codes of ethics”) which tend to fall into two categories: Without turning this into a Parliamentary Law 301 course, we have some general observations. But because no single article can address every type of association, under all state laws, whether incorporated or not, across all industries, these … Continue reading
Know Before You Go to the Mic: Using Points and Requests Correctly
Each year, Carole Albright—also an attorney and Professional Registered Parliamentarian—and I attend numerous conventions, annual meetings, and representative assemblies. Lately, we’ve noticed two major changes in these gatherings: members are more engaged at these meetings than ever, and there seems to have been a generational shift in who’s attending. Since the pandemic, many seasoned delegates familiar with parliamentary procedure are no longer present. In their place are newer, often younger members—enthusiastic, but sometimes unfamiliar with the more formal meeting rules necessary in larger groups following Robert’s Rules of Order (or some version of “Sturgis” or the AIP Standard Code). This … Continue reading
Proper Use of “Friendly Amendments” During Meetings
At meetings conducted under parliamentary procedure, you may hear references to a “friendly amendment.” Despite how common the term has become, Robert’s Rules of Order barely addresses the concept—and did not mention “friendly amendments” at all until the 10th Edition, published in 2000. The current Robert’s describes a friendly amendment as “an amendment offered by someone who is in sympathy with the purposes of the main motion, in the belief that the amendment will either improve the statement or effect of the main motion, presumably to the satisfaction of its maker, or will increase the chances of the main motion’s … Continue reading
“Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track” Now Available on Audible!
If you enjoy audiobooks and spoken word content, you’ll be pleased to know that Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track is now available on Audible! Published by DK Penguin Random House, the Fast Track guide is your go-to resource for running efficient and effective meetings. Designed for both newcomers and seasoned leaders, it provides clear, practical insights into the most commonly used motions, simplified procedures for smaller boards, and strategies to keep meetings productive and on track. The book was an Amazon “Hot New Release” and is a Publisher’s Weekly “Editor’s Pick.” Audible, the largest audiobook producer and retailer in the U.S. … Continue reading
Podium, Lectern, Dais: What’s the Difference?
As Parliamentarians, my law partner Carole Albright and I often find ourselves on stage assisting with the organization and procedure of meetings. In that setting, we frequently hear people use the terms podium, lectern, and dais interchangeably. In reality, they refer to distinct objects with specific purposes. While these are not exclusively parliamentary terms, understanding their proper usage helps maintain clarity. I once heard association staff ask the AV professionals to bring in a “podium” when a “lectern” was needed. Using the correct terms can both prevent confusion as well as show professionalism. Let’s break down the differences between the … Continue reading
The Importance of a Tellers’ Report in Documenting Votes Under Robert’s Rules of Order
Most managers, board member and attorneys in the community association industry have found themselves dealing with a hotly contested vote or election. Sometimes the end of voting is just the start of further challenges, with bickering over who voted, how they voted, and who really won. An effective way to document and report on voting outcomes is through a tellers’ report. If you don’t regularly peruse your copy of Robert’s Rules, you may not know what this is, so this blog will tell you what a tellers’ report is, how to prepare one, and what it can do for your … Continue reading
Do Committee Recommendations Require a Second?
Recently, I’ve been tackling some common procedural myths—those phrases and practices you often encounter in meetings but aren’t necessarily accurate. If you’d like to explore some recent examples, check out these posts: One phrase frequently heard in meetings, particularly board meetings, is: “Because the motion is from a committee, it doesn’t need a second.” But is this actually true? Let’s unpack it. Setting the Record StraightFirst, let’s address the stakes: Regardless of your approach, the parliamentary police won’t show up at your meeting. That said, a presiding officer demonstrates leadership by using proper parliamentary phrasing, which helps maintain professionalism and … Continue reading
“The Language of Meetings” Grammar Girl Podcast
“The Grammar Girl” (Mignon Fogarty) has an award-winning podcast that is also one of the longest running — almost 20 years! She is an author of numerous books as well as a New York Times bestselling author on writing tips. Her Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing is a five-time winner of “Best Education Podcast.” In this episode, she has me on to discuss the meaning of and interesting history of some words associated with meetings, including To find “The Language of Meetings” episode, visit The Grammar Girl Podcast or search “Grammar Girl” wherever you get your … Continue reading