Two days wrong!' sighed the Hatter. `I told you butter wouldn't suit the works!' he added looking angrily at the March Hare.
`It was the best butter,' the March Hare meekly replied.
Yes, but some crumbs must have got in as well,' the Hatter grumbled: `you shouldn't have put it in with the bread-knife.'
The March Hare took the watch and looked at it gloomily: then he dipped it into his cup of tea, and looked at it again: but he could think of nothing better to say than his first remark, `It was the best butter, you know.'
After attending the February Central Committee Meeting, I feel like I was at a Mad Tea Party, and I do have the distinct impression that we were Buttered.
Those who have attended in the past will recall the Chair's statements insisting that the Constitution, By-Laws and Robert's Rules of Order be followed by the Body.
I said the statements have been made about the actions of the Body, because it would appear the the Chair does NOT feel such restrictions should apply to it.
There has been in the Past and repeated during the February Central Committee Meeting a complete disregard by the Chair of the Rules of Order, the County Constitution, the By-Laws of the Linn County Central Committee, Robert's Rules of Order and activities that Traditionally occur as part of the Agenda,
There were those attending who patiently waited for the New Business period to rise and make Motions, as has been customary in the Past.
Myself I was primary waiting for the Traditional Call for New Members.
I have been repeatedly assured by the Executive Board during the period of the Past Year that the complete disgrace of our incorrect Membership Lists would be corrected by this just Passed Caucus.
I distinctly discussed with them during my participation in the Compilation of the Forms following the Caucus, that the Membership List should be purged and a New one created out of the Caucus Form As and that those who had previously been added to the Central Committee Lists under the designation in our By-Laws as Assistant Committee Persons, would be required to appear back before the Committee to be put back on the Rolls, myself included.
They decided to leave the Call for New Members OUT?
It would appear that the Chair is curiously selective about what portions of our proceedings that traditionally occur should be followed or feels that this only applies to the Body but not to it.
It would seem that we unwittingly voted to accept an Agenda that only included those items the Executive Board listed,
That was a rather clever Parliamentary Trick, and had that been the only action taken by the Chair it would have been in Order.
BUT
Robert's Rules of Order includes Suspending the Rules, which if voted upon by a Majority would have allowed extra items to be Moved and Voted upon and a Call for New Members made.
The Chair ruled that Motion Out of Order.
When Mr King rose to Challenge the Decision of the Chair and QUOTED Robert's Rules of Order he was Ruled Out of Order and Not Recognized by the Chair.
I present for you the Inconvenient Truth of Robert's Rules of Order for you to read yourself.
When a member wishes to appeal from the decision of the chair he rises as soon as the decision is made, even though another has the floor, and without waiting to be recognized by the chair, says, “Mr. Chairman, I appeal from the decision of the chair.”
If this appeal is seconded, the chair should state clearly the question at issue, and his reasons for the decision if he thinks it necessary, and then state the question thus: “The question is, ‘Shall the decision of the chair stand as the judgment of the assembly [or society, or club, etc.]?’” or, “Shall the decision of the chair be sustained?”
To put the question he would say, “Those in the affirmative say aye,” and after the affirmative vote has been taken he would say, “Those in the negative say no. The ayes have it and the decision of the chair is sustained [or stands as the judgment of the assembly].” Or, “The noes have it and the decision of the chair is reversed.”
In either case he immediately announces what is before the assembly as the result of the vote. If there is a tie vote the chair is sustained, and if the chair is a member of the assembly he may vote to make it a tie, on the principle that the decision of the chair stands until reversed by a majority, including the chairman if he is a member of the assembly. In stating the question, the word “assembly” should be replaced by “society,” or “club,” or “board,” etc., as the case may be. The announcement of a vote is not a decision of the chair. If a member doubts the correctness of the announcement he cannot appeal, but should call for a “Division.
The chair and co-chair shall be empowered to name such other officers as is determined necessary to carry out the aims and purposes of the organization subject to approval of the County Central Committee.
Updated: Sunday, 21 February 2010 6:05 AM CST
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