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This summary of some essential rules for conducting a meeting is designed to assist archeologists with no training or background in Robert’s Rules of Order.

I have served as the unofficial parliamentarian for the Council of Texas Archeologists since the organization was re-established in the mid-1970’s. Many folks have probably been perturbed at one time or another by my insistence upon following at least a semblance of the rules of proper conduct during CTA meetings even though our by-laws specify that Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall govern the conduct of meetings. However, the rules are meant to provide for orderly conduct of meetings, and to insure that all members are fairly allowed to voice their opinions on matters of business brought before the Council.

I allow for bending the rules when necessary or expedient to move along with business. Only once (in 1994 or 1996, I think) did I ever encourage a blatant fracturing of the rules. This ocurred when a quorum was not present, so I called for a suspension of the rules and the president started the meeting. We attained a quorum well after the meeting started and before any votes were required, but under a strict application of the rules, the meeting was not legal.

My training in parliamentary procedure came during high school. As a farm boy studying vocational agriculture, I was very active in the Future Farmers of America. Part of our study was in the basics of how to conduct a meeting. I became a member of the "Chapter Conducting" (parliamentary procedure) team during my sophomore or junior year and competed at the chapter, district, area, and state level. We didn’t win state, but we did well in the others.

The procedures I have outlined here are adapted from Helps in Mastering Parliamentary Procedure by Wilbur F. Stewart (1959) and A Handbook for Conducting F.F.A. Meetings by Kenneth Lee Russell (1952), with modifications drawn from my own experiences in the years since high school. I hope they help our presiding officers and members in the efficient conduct of the Council’s business. The terminology is directed toward CTA usage, but I have provided for more general usages in other settings where appropriate. For those wishing an in-depth treatment of the subject, I suggest you consult The New Robert’s Rules of Order, 2nd Revised Edition, by Mary A. De Vries (1998) for a very readable modernization of General Robert’s rules that maintains his original organization of topics.