Point of Order

Parliamentary Law Unit

Our regular web site is temporarily disabled. When it is up again, you can access it at:

http://www.bd123.com/wsap/units/unitinfo.php?nUnitID=14

Meanwhile, here are the most vital items needed from the regular web site:

This unit is a local study group which meets the 4th Saturday each month at Seattle Public Library, Southwest Branch, located at 9010 35th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126, beginning at 10:15 a.m. for about 2 hours, to study parliamentary procedure, with a focus on Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised. Guests are welcome to visit at no cost. Those becoming regular members pay $10 annual dues, and work toward membership in the National Association of Parliamentarians (www.parliamentarians.org). The unit also presents periodic free public workshops on parliamentary procedure, typically in January, February, September and October.

Questions? Please contact:

Paul McClintock, PRP, cell 206-696-0689, paulmc@gte.net.

Point Of Order Unit

About Us

The Point of Order Parliamentary Law Unit is a local study group of the National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP). This West Seattle unit consists of members with a variety of interests and experience.

Would you like to learn more about holding effective meetings, serving as an officer, improving your group's bylaws, running elections, or other areas of parliamentary procedure? If so, visit us at one of our meetings and consider joining our group.

Annual dues are $10 and membership is open to any NAP member or anyone preparing for NAP membership.

Public Services | Meetings | Officers and Committees | Links | Contact Us

Public Services

The Point of Order Unit has prepared, as a community service, a simple one-page Meeting Procedures Reference Sheet based on the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised. To obtain a copy of the reference sheet by e-mail, please e-mail your request, or you may mail your request with a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Education Committee chairman listed below.

The Point of Order Unit periodically presents free public workshops on parliamentary procedure as a community service. To get information about our next workshop series by e-mail, please e-mail your request, or you may mail your request with a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Education Committee chairman listed below.

The Point of Order Unit periodically e-mails a free Meeting Tip as a community service. See sample. You may subscribe by e-mail. Request archived tips at http://tips.pointoforder.org.

Practical Parliamentary Procedure

Free Public Workshops in West Seattle

• • January 26, 2008, 10:30AM - noon

  • How to be Effective in Conventions—Political or Otherwise

  • By Paul McClintock, PRP

  • February 23, 2008, 10:30am - noon

  • Jurassic Parliament: Robert’s Rules Made Easy

  • By Ann G. Macfarlane, RP, WSAP Parliamentarian

Public workshops are free, start at 10:30 a.m., and end at noon. They are intended primarily for anyone involved in leading or participating in meetings that make group decisions using parliamentary procedure. This includes leaders and members of boards, committees, commissions, local/state/national organizations, and delegates to conventions.

Workshops are scheduled periodically throughout the year in conjunction with the unit's regular meeting schedule, usually the 4th Saturday monthly.

Workshops were held in 2006 on these topics:

January--Meeting Procedures,

February--Bylaws,

March--Elections/Voting,

September--President and Community Associations,

October--Secretary and Treasurer.

Workshops were held in 2007 on these topics:

January--I'm a Dissatisfied Member Because...,

February--Rules of the Organization,

September--Parliamentary Procedure: Frequently Asked Questions,

October--Who's in Charge Here, Anyway? (The Power of the President).

Parliamentary Procedure: Frequently Asked Questions, presented by K. Ann McCartney, PRP, CP-T

October 27, 2007 -- Who's in Charge Here, Anyway? (The Power of the President), presented by Ann Macfarlane, RP

--> The 2008 January and February Workshops will be held in West Seattle:

• • Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98126, 206-684-7455.

Meetings are not sponsored by the Seattle Public Library.

Please email your RSVP so we can have ample handouts prepared. Email us or call 206-938-1906 if you have any questions.

Meetings

Regular meetings are held monthly on the fourth Saturday, except in the months of June and July, unless otherwise ordered by the membership or by a 2/3rd vote of the board, 10:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., in West Seattle; see the meeting schedule below. (Meeting dates, times and locations are subject to change. Meetings are not sponsored by the Seattle Public Library.) Meeting locations:

• • Southwest Branch Library, 9010 35th Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98126, 206-684-7455.

  • High Point Branch Library, 3411 SW Raymond St., Seattle, WA 98126, 206-684-7454.

  • Delridge Public Library, 5423 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106, 206-733-9125.

Each meeting follows the standard order of business in Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) for unit business, and includes an educational program from RONR. This format provides each member with opportunity to both learn and practice parliamentary procedure.

Sun., July 17, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. -- Picnic at Humphreys Residence

Sat., Aug., 2005 -- no meeting

Sat., Sep. 24, 2005 at 10:15 a.m.

Sat., Oct. 15, 2005 at 10:15 a.m.

Sat., Nov. 19, 2005 at 10:15 a.m.

Fri., Dec. 9, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. -- Christmas Potluck & Ornament Exchange at Lewendons

Sat., Dec. 17, 2005 at 10:15 a.m.

Sat., Jan. 28, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. -- Public Workshop: Meeting Procedures

Sat., Feb. 25, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. -- Public Workshop: Bylaws

Sat., Mar. 25, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. -- Public Workshop: Elections and Voting

Sat., Apr. 29, 2006 at 10:15 a.m. -- 5th Sat.; at High Point Branch Library

May, 2006 -- no meeting; moved to 1st Sat. of June

Sat., June 3, 2006 at 10:15 a.m. at High Point Branch Library

July, 2006 -- no meeting

Sat., Aug. 26, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. at/after WSAP fall board meeting in Issaquah.

Sat., Sep. 23, 2006 at 10:30 a.m., public workshop, Delridge Library.

Sat., Oct. 28, 2006 at 10:30 a.m., public workshop.

Sat., Nov. 18, 2006 at 10:15 a.m.

Sat., Dec. 2, 2006 at 6:00 p.m., Holiday Party potluck at Lewendon residence, Kirkland

Sat., Dec. 16, 2006 at 10:15 a.m.

Sat., Jan. 27, 2007 at 10:30 a.m., public workshop.

Sat., Feb. 24, 2007 at 10:30 a.m., public workshop.

Sat., Mar. 24, 2007 at 10:15 a.m., annual meeting.

Sat., Apr. 28, 2007 at 10:15 a.m.

Sat., June 2, 2007 at 10:15 a.m., Delridge Library.

Sat., June 23, 2007 at 10:15 a.m.

July, 2007 -- no meeting

Meeting rooms are reserved (High Point 206-684-7454) for "" --> The meeting schedule, subject to change, is:

• • Sat., Aug. 25, 2007 at 10:15 a.m.

  • Sat., Sept. 22, 2007 at 10:30 a.m., public workshop.

  • Sat., Oct. 27, 2007 at 10:30 a.m., public workshop.

  • Sat., Nov. 17, 2007 at 10:15 a.m.

  • Sun., Dec. 9, 2007 at 2:30 p.m., Holiday Potluck & Ornament Exchange at Lewendons

  • Sat., Dec. 15, 2007 at 10:15 a.m.

  • Sat., Jan. 26, 2008 at 10:30 a.m., public workshop, Southwest Branch.

  • Sat., Feb. 23, 2008 at 10:30 a.m., public workshop, Southwest Branch.

  • Sat., Mar. 22, 2008 at 10:15 a.m., annual meeting

  • Sat., Apr. 26, 2008 at 10:15 a.m.

  • Sat., May 24, 2008 at 10:15 a.m.

  • June, July -- no meetings

Unit Bylaw Calendar

• • Jan 1 - Dues due

  • Jan 1 to Dec 31 - Membership year and Fiscal year

  • Jan meeting - Treasurer presents budget

  • Feb 1 - Delinquent if dues unpaid; $5 unit late fee assessed

  • Feb. 10 - Treas. sends dues delinquency notices

  • Feb meeting - nom. comm. reports; nominations from floor; audit comm. reports

  • Mar 1 - Membership forfeit if dues unpaid; delegate allotment computed.

  • Mar - Annual meeting; reports; nom. from floor; elect officers; appoint bylaws (3+), edu., membership comms; elect delegates to state & NAP conv.

  • April, close of state convention - new term begins for unit officers and committees

  • Aug 1 - New members pay half dues

  • Nov call - Treas. includes dues statements w/ call

  • Nov meeting - Elect nom. comm. (3); appoint audit comm.(2+)

Officers and Committees

Officers

.....President Mike Healy

.....Vice President Robert Moran

.....Secretary Paul McClintock, PRP

.....Treasurer Karen L. King

.....Parliamentarian Robert Dolan

Education Committee

.....Chairman Robert Moran

.....Bobbie Healy

.....Mike Healy, ex officio as unit president

Membership Committee

.....Chairman Bobbie Healy

.....All unit members are on this committee

Bylaws Committee

.....Chairman Kevin Connelly

.....Paul McClintock

.....Bobbie Healy

.....Mike Healy, ex officio as unit president

Nominating Committee

.....Chairman Jacqueline Petrick

.....Karen King

.....Mike Healy

Audit Committee

.....Chairman Robert Moran

.....Paul McClintock

Links

Here are some links of interest to current and prospective members:

• Unit bylaws and rules (html)

• Unit bylaws and rules (PDF)

• National Association of Parliamentarians

• Lesson on Installations and Protocol

• Lesson on Motion Sickness with Amend

• Meeting date calculator

• Paul McClintock, PRP

Contact Us

For more information about the unit, contact unit President Mike Healy (via e-mail or at 206-938-1906).

For corrections or suggestions for this web page, contact Paul McClintock.