Here’s a snip from a blogger in the Northeast Kingdom who is looking forward to the Danville Town Meeting so he can practice his Robert’s Rules chops. This was posted yesterday…
Now I have to say, this sounds catty, but I’ve been waiting an entire year plotting my “Robert’s Rules” strategy for the coming Town Meeting. I sometimes practice it and practice counter-tactics. Every now and then I have to think up a strategy, some of which requires that the Moderator know his “Rules”. If he does, I think I can pull off a move. If not, I’m sunk unless I call a “Mr. Moderator, a point of order” to instruct him in The Rules.
Here’s an example: If anyone, during the discussion of a motion, “calls the question”, the house is immediately polled (no further discussion is allowed) on whether or not they want to end debate and put the question being discussed to a vote. Whether the house votes “yea” or “nay” is immaterial. It allows me to gauge the interest in the debate.
One year. That’s all we have. We have our jobs and our lives and our interests and concerns and the Town Report and dang if we won’t mull and ponder and plot and scheme and as soon as Town Meeting comes, I can tell you right where I’ll be sitting: 3/4 the way toward the back of the bleachers in the gym, sort of to the left (from the moderator’s perspective). And at lunch I’ll have the baked ham and slaw and potato salad and cranberry relish and the rolls and butter and a chocolate milk.
I spent all day Tuesday covering a VLCT workshop for moderators. It was billed as a Town Meeting tune up and it was fascinating. There was a discussion of “calling the question” and the point stressed repeatedly was that no one can call the question until recognized by the moderator.
One moderator shared that a member of his community subtly flashes a copy of Robert’s Rules before the beginning of each Town Meeting, effectively putting the moderator on notice.
One other interesting point from the day…Senator Doyle made a presentation and he polled the audience about their preferences for the pres. primary. A VT Press Bureau reporter was there and reported that the group supported McCain over Obama and Clinton. My impression was different but I guess we’ll have to go back to the videotape for that one. I can say that not a single person supported Huckabee and a few folks shouted out- what about Ron Paul - when Senator Doyle didn’t mention him as an option.
Left by JessCCTV on February 28th, 2008