Robert's Rules in Plain English, 2nd Edition: A Readable, Authoritative, Easy-To-Use Guide to Running Meetings

by Doris P. Zimmerman

Book Overview

A revised edition of the bestselling Robert's Rules in Plain English, which still stands as the most concise, most-user friendly guide to parliamentary procedure on the market today.

If you've ever had to run a meeting according to parliamentary procedures, you know just how difficult it is to keep track of all the rules, much less follow them. Figuring out what to say and how to say it seems an impossible task.

Robert's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060787791
• ISBN13: 9780060787790
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Collins Reference
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.2" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

A necessary companion to Robert's Rules of Order

I had to give a presentation on Robert's Rules of Order, and I considered just buying the original tome and relying on my ability to figure it out. That would have been a big mistake. The complete Robert's Rules of Order contains extensive parliamentary procedure that is only utilized in complex governmental situations. For an overview on only the essential rules as they relate to most applications (Board meetings, clubs, professional organizations), Robert's Rules in Plain English is tremendously valuable and time-saving. I could not have completed my presentation without it.

SIMPLICITY

When attempting to start as a novice on this matter of envolvement with a small board and how to be part of the monthly board meeting I was in total ignorance. I started by researching Robert's Rules of Order. To have to read or find important information tucked inside a 700 + pages was more then I had time for. I went to your web site to see if anything of a simple nature was available in print. Thanks for the information, reviews, and the speedy service in delivery of this book. It was easy to read and exactly what I needed to educate me on the rules of orded for my circumstances.I recommend all those in my situation to buy this book.

Excellent Primer for Church Leaders and Members

This short book is certainly no substitute for the full Robert's Rules of Order, but it is a good way for the reader to get a good grasp and overview of parliamentary procedure. It is tempting to get so bogged down in the particular rules of procedure that the underlying principles of order and efficiency for the assembly are overlooked.The author says in the opening portion of her book, "Parliamentary procedure should be used to help and not hinder decision making. Robert said, 'The assembly meets to transact business, not to have members exploit their knowledge of parliamentary law.'" (p. 6).I recommend reading this work first, then referring to the full volume of Robert's Rules if more detail is needed. For most people however, this work should be all that is required to possess a working knowledge of parliamentary procedure. As a Baptist pastor, I see this book as being particularly helpful to church leaders and members for their participation in business meetings, board meetings, and other decision-making assemblies. The knowledge contained in this volume is well-worth the price!

A Great Beginners Book

This book is amazing for younger people who are starting out learning parliamentary procedure. I am involved in 4-H, and in our county, all officers of 4-H clubs are required to learn parliamentary procedure. I am going to incorporate this book into their training. It is very simple to read, very easy to understand, and the examples are concise and relevent. I would not recommend this book for someone who is older and is involved in serious meetings that require a more in depth knowledge of Robert's Rules, but it works perfectly for my purposes, which is to educate people who have never been exposed to this information before. It is an excellent book for the beginner who is interested in the basics without getting bogged down by the hefty rules and vocabulary of Robert's Rules Newly Revised.

Short, Simple, and Easy to Use for Beginners

This is a short, easy-to-use and understand book about parliamentary procedure. It's well laid out, and the beginning of the book has a good explanation of how and why parliamentary procedure works. It was written with beginners in mind. The order of precedence for motions is painstakingly and clearly laid out for the reader, as well as an explanation of why one motion takes precedence over another. Explanations of exactly what a motion does and an example of its use are included as well. Chapters are also included explaining the responsibilities of the chair, secretary, and treasurer, as well as a guide to setting agendas. That said, this is not, nor was it intended to be, a comprehensive guide to parliamentary procedure. For small or somewhat informal meeting, this book is all you need. For a large, formal group with professional officers, however, a full copy of Robert's Rules is recommended. This book is a great intro to parliamentary procedure, and is all you need to run most meetings. Even with larger groups, this is a wonderful book to keep at your elbow at meetings to use as a reference.