Several national clients have asked me recently for advice on “modernizing” their resolutions processes. That has involved looking at what they do, why they do it, and what improvements might make the process more efficient or easier for members to understand. From those conversations comes this article, which discusses the general process. There are as many resolutions processes as there are associations. That’s because each organization is governed by language in its bylaws (sometimes “constitution”) or board policy. If the procedure appears in the bylaws, the process tends to be fixed, since bylaws can be difficult to amend. On the … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Robert’s Rules of Order
Involved With HOAs or Condominium Associations? Make Sure You Have the Correct Copy of Robert’s Rules of Order
For homeowner and condominium associations, membership and board meetings are not routine gatherings. Membership meetings tend to be where directors are elected and governing documents amended. Boards govern the association throughout the year, exercising authority that directly affects owners’ property rights and financial obligations. Because of that, how meetings are conducted matters, both legally and practically. In many states, and in many association governing documents, meetings are required to be conducted in accordance with the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order (sometimes described as the “current” or “latest” edition). When that is the case, having the correct and … 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
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