DD 056-060.999 (Tony) Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised IN BRIEF (060.42 Rob)

by Henry M. Robert III, William J. Evans, Daniel H. Honemann, and Thomas J. Balch
Have you ever been in a committee meeting and ever ask the guy being nominated for chairman if he wants to be nominated?
If yes- then you need Robert's Rules.
Have you ever had the urge to yell "Thirds" after an issue has been seconded?
-If yes- Then you need Robert's Rules.
Has you chairman ever dissolved the Committee is exchange for his own personal Empire?
-If yes- then you don't need Robert's Rules, but to stop watching so much Star Wars.

I hate committee meetings. Primarily because I had zero degrees of understanding of the Robert's Rules of Order. So, when I had a chance to read this book for my Dewey book for the 056-060.99 requirement, I decided why not a better time than now to learn about them. Sadly, I was more interested in the drama of the future of the National Tennis League and it's fictitious committee used in the example for the applications of Robert's Rules; than the actual rules themselves.

But no matter how boring the rules are, it is critical for anyone involved with meetings and organizations, even local government, to have an understanding of the proper way to address and behave when an issue of importance arises.

Getting up in the face of your co-chairs and threatening to sue if you don't have things go your way is not the way to do it. (Even if it did work to prevent a garbage dump from being built in my backyard.) Some decorum is required.

However, it is interesting to note that one gentleman in the 1870's took it upon himself to write out the rules and regulations which govern a host of organizations and government bodies throughout the USA. But who governs him or his three generations of children who have worked to update the rule book and its previous nine editions? Kinda scary when you think about it...like that wrinkly guy in Star Wars did.

Anyway...

It is important to note that this book, Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised: In Brief is not a sanctioned rulebook, but merely a "Cliff's Notes" of sorts to guide people into the proper ways and procedures of Robert's Rules. And believe me, I don't think I could read all 637 of the non-brief version. The first four parts of the book are very clear and easy to understand rules about how to introduce yourself, call for a vote or amendment, how to recall a vote, and explanation of limits and privileges. Parts five and six, get a bit more technical and boring. However, it covers how to nominate, be elected and operate as part of a convention.
There's quite a bit a repetition here too. And it gets boring pretty quick.

And for the Star Wars lover in you, there's a explanation of what just really is a vote of no confidence. Sadly, Robert's Rules do not explain just why Episode I stunk so bad or just how stupid an entire galaxy could be to nominate Jar-Jar Binks to the selection committee for a new chancellor/Emperor.