Parliamentary Procedure Workshop

Municipal, School Board, Regulatory Organization
Parliamentary Procedure

Join us at the first ever parliamentary procedure workshop held in Peterborough, Ontario on the weekend of April 3 - 4 (Friday and Saturday) sponsored by the American Institute of Parliamentarians. Attached is an application form for your use.

Here are some of the topics to be covered in the workshop. A detailed package will be sent to you later if you are to attend the workshop.

1. The Council or Board Changes its Mind (rescind, amend a previous decision, reconsider). A logical approach to using these motions, when a change in policy or bylaws is required. Including the difficult concept of scope of notice.
2. Action, Accommodation, Accountability: Rules of Order for Canadian Organizations. It will be argued that Robert's Rules of Order are good at finding majorities efficiently but less effective at accommodating dissent or at facilitating good governance and oversight in modern, executive-centred or staff-driven organizations. Drawing on aspects of the Canadian parliamentary tradition practical advice will be offered -- and suggested rules of procedure -- for organizations large and small wishing to adopt the "Three A Pillars" (Action, Accommodation, Accountability).
3. The Terrible Twins - Point of Order and Appeal the Decision of the Chair. These two motions are the bane of the presiding officer. Demystifying these two important motions and how the chair should think about them and deal with them.
4. Amendments Made Easy. Amendments are perfecting motions that are ubiquitous in meetings, yet cause the most grief and confusion. The four types of amendments are covered, including some presiding practice.
5. Abused Motions. The motions to lay on the table, to call the question (previous question), point of information and point of order are four motions which are often incorrectly used (intentionally and unintentionally). How the presider should deal with them when abused.
6. Tips for the Presiding Officer. There are techniques and tools that the presiding officer can use to control the meeting, to provide for an efficient meeting and make the overall meeting experience pleasant for all.
7. Expert Panel of Professional Parliamentarians. Come with questions on procedure and process, the expert panel is prepared with answers. Bring along your procedural bylaw.

The workshop presenters will mainly be professional parliamentarians from Canada and the United States. They have volunteered their time and effort, at no cost to the workshop, to bring this workshop to Canada and to Peterborough in particular. The workshop is endorsed by his Worship Paul Ayotte, Mayor of Peterborough who will attend.

Workshop Principal Presenters

James Jones, CPP-T, President of the American Institute of Parliamentarians. Jim Lives in Chicago.

Jim Lochrie, B.Sc., CPP-T, a past president of the American Institute of Parliamentarians and a workshop presenter for many AMCTO courses in Ontario. Jim lives in Toronto.

Tom Urbaniak, Ph.D., Department of Political Science, Cape Breton University, Sydney, Nova Scotia. Tom is author of the book Farewell, Town of Streetsville, the Year before Amalgamation. Also, to be published, Her Worship: Hazel McCallion and the Development of Mississauga.

Workshop Registration Form

For more information: Jim Lochrie, 416.459.6964 or email jim.lochrie@primus.ca