Our present bylaws state our PTO Meetings should be held using Robert's Rules Of Order. In the three years I've attended PTO Meetings, this has never happened. Our meetings are very organized and have never become "out of control". Is it mandatory to include RRO's in the bylaws? We use Operating Procedures to run our PTO Board Meetings, and I can't understand how RRO's could be used effectively in PTO Meetings unless all attending parents knew about them. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks!

Through this forum I encountered 2 websites that were helpful in planning meetings. "robertsrules.com" & "parli.com". Somewhere in the RR website (or one it linked to, I'm not sure which), it said for small groups to use your discretion regarding how strictly to adhere to RR.

I'm in a situation similar to yours. Our meetings have a timed agenda & we stick to it well & the meetings are fun. I'll be a new pres. next year & plan to make few changes in the meetings. I do however want to be sure my Exec. Board is familiar w/RR so if we get in a jam, we can get out of it.

Regarding your by-laws, my interpretation of the web site was that you ARE adhering to RR as long as everyone has a chance to speak out when they want to & business is conducted in a fair manner.

Check out the website and see what you think.

Good luck,

Jo

Our Bylaws stipulate RRO, too, and we use motions, an agenda, and other techniques which I always assumed pretty much summed up RRO. Just to be sure, I recently picked up two books of condensed RRO. (There were at least 6 different books on RRO at our local bookstore). I am surprised by how much more is contained in the rules. I have found some interesting tips that we could apply to our meetings and procedures. I agree, that in a small group like a PTO, you don't want to get bogged down in formality. However, it is nice to know the RRO procedures in case you get into a sticky issue that could cause the meeting to wander or get heated. You might be surprised to find your operating procedures are very similar to RRO. If you find useful tips in RRO, perhaps you could present them at a PTO meeting as a form of enrichment/training. RRO are typically used in other familiar places like neighborhood association, school board, and town council meetings.

Many thanks for your replies. My main concern is that even though the PTO Board will be familiar with RRO, parents attending PTO Meetings for the most part aren't. But now I understand how RRO would help out should a meeting get out of hand. Again, thanks for your responses.

It is very true that you do not want to see any one feel uncomfortable because they may not know procedure for certain things. As president I have always scanned the room before a meeting to identify new faces. At the door I not only have the agenda and other hand outs but also the 8 steps to a motion and a handout on parliamentary procedure. I will offer short explantions when the need arises. By the end of the year the membership is fairly well versed. We also have student members, so often it gives me the opportunity to explain the procedings of something, for their benefit. As chair I may prod things along such as; Do I hear a motion? or Is there a second? Best Wishes

PLW - would you be willing to share a copy of the handouts you provide at your meetings regarding the motions and parlimentary procedures? Many thanks! You can e-mail me a copy if possible (tgdpfort@prodigy.net).