Meeting Management Insights by iBabs Board Portal Software

In the 1870s, Henry Martyn Robert — an American soldier and engineer — created Robert’s Rules of Order. Initially intended as a way to run church meetings, Robert’s Rules were, at first, inspired by the senate procedure at the time. Now, it’s the most widely-used rulebook for the parliamentary procedure in the United States. But many organisations around the world also use it for their committee meetings and board meetings. What are Robert’s Rules? Robert’s Rules of Order are a set of rules to effectively run a meeting with the following democratic principles in mind: All rulings are run through a vote, where the majority vote rules However, the rights of the minority and absent members are protected Everyone has the right to present, speak and vote All leaders must be voted in, but there’s no hierarchy of power All members have equal rights and responsibilities Impartiality and fairness throughout […]

“The greatest lesson for democracies to learn is for the majority to give to the minority a full, free opportunity to present their side of the case, and then for the minority, having failed to win a majority to their views, gracefully to submit and to recognise the action as that of the entire organisation, and cheerfully to assist in carrying it out until they can secure its repeal.”  — Henry Martyn Robert Henry Martyn Robert was the person who, in the 1870s, created Robert’s Rules of Order as a set of parliamentary guidelines that are still used for US parliamentary procedure today. The latest edition of Robert’s Rules was published in September 2020: Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised. Although a number of tweaks have been made through the years, the fundamentals of Robert’s Rules are still centred around democracy, impartiality and fairness. As a result of Robert’s focus […]

Initially published in 1876 by US army officer and engineer Henry Martyn Robert, Robert’s Rules were created to help organisations to manage their meetings fairly. Originally based on the proceedings of the US Congress, Robert’s Rules are now widely-used around the world in various types of organisations.  With their first publication almost 150 years ago, there have been a range of revisions, amendments and updates made to reflect changes in culture and technology. The 12th edition of Robert’s Rules was published in September 2020 — Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised  (RONR) — and still adhere to the fundamentals of the initial publication: Allowing all members to have their voice heard equally  Using the majority rule  The protection of the rights of all members One important change since 1876 is the implementation of specific interpretations for internet, remote or e-meetings. While many informal (fewer than 12 people in attendance) meetings […]

In order to hold productive meetings, particularly business-critical events such as annual meetings and board meetings, you need a solid and familiar structure. This keeps everyone focused on the common goals and aids the momentum that ensures you get through all the necessary business in the allotted time. One of the ways to ensure this is to use Robert’s Rules of Order — a set of golden rules for running a successful and effective meeting. It is also known as ‘parliamentary procedure’ and, in fact, was originally based on the way the US Congress ran its legislative process. Henry Martyn Robert first published these meeting guidelines in 1876 and there have been multiple editions since. To help you apply the procedure in your organisation, we have developed this guide for how to run a meeting using Robert’s Rules of Order. Keep in mind that what we cover below is the […]

Robert’s Rules of Order (also known as RONR or Robert’s Rules) are a set of guidelines from Henry Martyn Robert’s book. Originally published in 1876, it has since faced 12 editions with revisions based on feedback and cultural changes over the decades. The latest edition was published in September 2020: Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.  “When there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty.”  — Henry M. Robert If you’re new to the rules and ready to implement them in your first meeting, we’ve put together this Robert’s Rules of Order cheat sheet to help you along the way.  And, if you’re trying them out for the first time at a new organisation, consider giving a copy of this to everyone. That way, everyone will be on the same page about what to expect! Meeting […]