Don't let the meeting degenerate into trivial discussions of minor issues. You'll lose members to either boredom or the chance to duck out early, pleading other commitments, and there will go your quorum. Likewise, don't allow important discussions to become sidetracked by nitpickers who want to parade their alleged superior knowledge of parliamentary procedure or those who begin to ponderously detail the history of the group whenever someone wants to do something new. Leaders should lead, and in the absence of focused effective leadership, someone — you, if you're not the leader — should try to get the group back on track in a courteous, proper way.

If Things Go Astray

If, during discussion, someone takes the floor to add to a motion, the chair should remind the speaker and the membership that amendments to the original motion can't be made at this time. This doesn't mean that the chair has to rebuke the speaker. The request can be politely phrased and debate continued. Only after debate is completed and the motion has been voted upon can a member add to the motion.

When Interruptions Are Allowed

Interruptions are allowed when there is a call for the orders of the day — a request made for the agenda to be followed or when a prearranged time to debate an issue has been set for some other time. It is also all right for a member to make a point of order, such as when there has been a breach in the rules of the meeting. If there is something that is interfering with the rights of an individual or the group, it is correct to interrupt. Perhaps there is an urgent need to address something happening in the meeting that affects the comfort or safety of a member or the group.

Also, if a confidential matter is being discussed and a member believes it shouldn't be discussed before a guest or the press, it is correct to interrupt to bring this to the chair's attention. Finally, a member can interrupt to make a motion to reconsider a motion. A member can stop debate on an issue by making a motion to object to the consideration of the question. A vote must take place on this, and if a two-thirds majority agrees with the motion, debate is effectively stopped.

It's Decided

Once a group has made a decision on an issue, any attempts to undermine it by making motions contrary to it should be discouraged by ruling them out of order. Some people may have trouble handling the fact that their opinions on a matter aren't those of the majority. But once the majority has voted, discontented members can't be allowed the opportunity to undo what has been decided. These attempts should always be firmly addressed by the chair.