This Is a One-of-a-Kind Book

The book challenges nonprofit leaders (and anyone who runs decision-making meetings) to retire Robert’s Rules of Order for smaller groups and adopt an easier method for conducting these meetings—Roberta’s Rules of Order.

Using traditional sailing ships as a metaphor, meetings and governance expert Alice Collier Cochran helps groups make the journey -

From the "shore" that represents the culture of Robert’s Rules:

• procedural formality
• debate
• simple majority rule

To the opposite "shore" of Roberta’s Rules:

• informality
• dialogue
• decision-making options.

In doing so, she helps them to conduct friendlier, more effective meetings and to take the first step toward creating more flexible democratic organizations.

Alice Cochran outlines practical and tested practices for structuring meetings and small groups of about a dozen members. She shows leaders a new way to run more enjoyable meetings, improve the way their organizations are governed, and more successfully achieve their mission and goals.

By reading Roberta's Rules of Order, you'll learn how to apply the following 15 methods:

1. present the situation (problem) before choosing the solution (motion)
2. avoid “going aground” on the rocky ledge of consensus
3. get substantial agreement or concordance with a vote on record
4. balance face-to-face and electronic interaction
5. make progress while engaging people in meeings
6. use group reflection to improve your progess
7. exchange information while energizing the group
8. expect and work with different frames of reference.
9. increase listening by shifting from debate to dialoge
10. use structured conversations to focus discussion
11. energize your board with clear roles
12. inspire support with values in the mission
13. simplify by-laws or develop a team charter
14. create basic operating agreements (policies)
15. customize Special Rules for Meetings and other templates