Robert’s Rules of Order

Does your organization follow Robert’s Rules of Order for board meetings?

While many nonprofits don’t adopt the entire set of Rules, many rely on certain procedures of them in order to run a more efficient meeting.

Henry Martyn Robert was an officer in the army and saw a need for a standard parliamentary procedure.  He found different areas of the country had differing views on proper procedures so in order to have a consistent set of standards for all, he wrote Robert’s Rules of Order in February 1876.  The most recent edition, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised 12 Edition, was released September 1, 2020 and includes the following updates:

• Section based paragraph number to facilitate cross-references and eBook compatibility
• Expanded appendix of charts, tables and lists
• Sample rules for electronic meetings
• Helpful summary explanations about postponing a motion, reconsidering a vote, making and enforcing points of order and appeals and filing blanks
• New provisions regarding debate on nominations, reopening nominations, and completing an election after its scheduled time
• Dozens more clarifications, additions, and refinements to improve the presentation of existing rules, incorporate new interpretations, and address common inquiries

If your organization follows Robert’s Rules, make sure you are aware of the new updates.  The last update was made in 2011.  If your organization does not follow Robert’s Rules, you may still want to review the Rules to see how your organization could adopt certain aspects to run a more effective and efficient meeting.  

Contributed by: Carrie Minnich, CPA, MAcct | Director | DWD CPAs & Advisors