Roberta's Rules of Order: Sail Through Meetings for Stellar Results Without the Gavel: A Guide for Nonprofits and Other Teams

Who is Robert and why do we still follow his rules anyway?

This one-of-a-kind book challenges nonprofit leaders (and anyone who runs meetings) to retire Robert’s Rules of Order and adopt a simpler, friendlier, and more effective method for conducting 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, and decision-making options. In doing so, she helps them to conduct friendlier, more effective meetings and to take the first step toward creating flexible, democratic organizations.

Cochran outlines practical principles for effective meetings and governance. She shows leaders a new way to run effective meetings, improve the way their organizations are governed, and more successfully achieve their mission and goals.

Cochran, a consultant for nonprofit management support organizations, challenges nonprofit leaders to retire Robert's Rules of Order and adopt a simpler, friendlier, and more effective method for conducting meetings. The method incorporates elements of informality, dialogue, and decision-making options beyond majority rule, allowing users to create more flexible, democratic organizations.
Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Who is Robert and why do we still follow his rules anyway?

This one-of-a-kind book challenges nonprofit leaders (and anyone who runs meetings) to retire Robert’s Rules of Order and adopt a simpler, friendlier, and more effective method for conducting 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, and decision-making options. In doing so, she helps them to conduct friendlier, more effective meetings and to take the first step toward creating flexible, democratic organizations.

Cochran outlines practical principles for effective meetings and governance. She shows leaders a new way to run effective meetings, improve the way their organizations are governed, and more successfully achieve their mission and goals.

A provocative challenge to an established method– and an innovative new way to run meetings

" Who is Robert and why do we still follow his rules anyway?" Alice Cochran challenges readers to question why they are still using Robert’ s complicated, archaic, and hierarchical system to run their meetings and pres-ents a better alternative: Roberta’ s Rules of Order, a simplified, friendly, and highly effective way to run meetings.

Alice Cochran (San Rafael, CA) has over 20 years experience in helping nonprofit, private sector, and govern-ment organizations govern more effectively.

Alice Collier Cochran, an independent consultant, conducts workshops on Roberta’s Rules of Order for nonprofit management support organizations such as BoardSource, CompassPoint, and Marin Nexus in California. She has been a member of the board of the San Francisco chapters of the American Society for Training and Development, the Bay Area Organization Development Network, and the local Guild of the International Association of Facilitators.

Figures, Exhibits, and Tables.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

The Author.

Introduction.

Part I: A Gradual Sea Change Toward More Flexibility.

1. Shifting Shores from Robert’s Rules to Roberta’s.

2. Rescuing Democratic Principles from Parliamentary Procedure.

Part II: Navigate Decision Making Through Rough Waters (Northeast Course).

3. Developing Proposals Before Launching Motions.

4. Testing the Current Before Heading for Consensus.

5. Reaching for Concordance When Consensus Is an Obstacle.

Part III: Select Easy Meeting Methods to Get All Hands on Deck (Southeast Course).

6. Balancing Traditional Meetings with Modern Media.

7. Respecting Everyone’s Time by Steering a Steady Course.

8. Ending with Reflection and an Eye on the Horizon.

9. Polishing Up the Dull and Boring Annual Meetings.

Part IV: Stay Focused While Riding the Tide of Diversity (Southwest Course).

10. Expecting and Respecting Different Frames of Reference.

11. Tacking Away from Debate Toward Dialogue.

12. Streamlining Discussions with a Clear Destination.

Part V: Tuning the Governance Rigging (Northwest Course).

13. Building a Strong Yet Flexible Structure.

14. Plotting Your Course with Mission, Vision, and Values.

15. Overhauling Your Bylaws.

16. Staying on an Even Keel with Simple Operating Policies.

Conclusion.

Resources.

References.

Index.