The need for the understanding of fair and orderly methods of deliberation in South Florida borders on despiration. The massive influx of immigrants,the failure of some of our school systems, the growing number of home owner and condominium associations are fertile grounds for parliamentary training. I sincerely welcome your message board. I know that I'll be in need of your advice.

Edited by author 06-30-2006 11:00 AM
Elated at your website. It is the best regional site in the world. Both highly functional and visually attractive. I used it as exemplary cyberspace to visit in my Member Services Committee report for the annual AIP Meeting.
TRD

Edited by author 07-13-2006 11:16 AM
Any updates forthcoming soon, on our 2007 Regional Conference, planned for Charleston, S.C. ??? I am very interested in learning more about how the 2007 Regional Conference Planning Committee is using previous Regional Conference lesson's learned, and incorporating new ideas, to effectively plan for our upcoming 2007 Conference. I certainly hope, membership recruitment and retention, as well as, new chapter formations, will be a very high priority focus, for our 2007 Regional Conference, in addition to, encouraging more of our Region 5 AIP members, to highly plan on attending and registering for the 2008 National Annual Session, to be held in Region 5, which is awaiting a final AIP National Board decision, with Huntsville, Alabama, as the leading candidate location.

Edited by author 09-29-2006 03:40 PM
Become an active/supportive member of AIP. AIP membership is not just limited to individuals in non-profit organizations or individuals interested in participating on the regional level only. Corporate businesses, government agencies, health organizational representatives, institutions of higher learning, legal professionals, and church leaders, alike, are all encouraged to join, AIP.


http://parliamentary.meetup.com/25/


This AIP Region 5 Meetup Group, is interested in helping to form local AIP charter chapters all over the southeastern United States. If you 'or' if you know of anyone interested, let us know.


Parlimentary procedure takes many different forms and has many different specific rules. Advisors and consultants must be aware of the basics of the parliamentary practice. Such knowledge can enhance credibility, resulting in better meetings, and the difference between legal actions taken versus illegal ones validated.

Edited by author 10-30-2006 08:20 AM
HOW TO BE A BETTER MEMBER --


I believe, better members are those who demonstrate 85% commitment, dedication and responsibility to their organizational memberships. As parliamentarians, we need to advocate the need to incorporate more member related descriptions and definitions in organizational bylaws. We need to ask ourselves, how can we be better members?

I think we should begin to better define the roles of our members. Just paying membership fees, is not enough. Some bylaws delecately address the topic of missing three (3) consecutive meetings, and one loses their membership rights or status. Other bylaws require that members commit at least three (3) hours per week, to their organizations.

Should AIP have similar stipulations for members? Volunteer hours and time, within AIP, is at an all time low, isn't it? Who's expending the most of their energies and time, to AIP? Officer's only? Certified members, only? You tell me?

Unlike elected officers, members don't have a clue as to what their roles should be, because it's not definitively spelled out, anywhere. I say the time has come, for us to officially begin categorically spelling out member roles, in our organizations. Whether it's in our respective bylaws, organizational policies, standard operating procedures and/or standing rules. Roles definitely need to be spelled out, somewhere, don't you agree?

I recommend that we consider the following specific areas: access to networking opportunities, attending our AIP annual meetings, career and professional development, continuing education, contributing articles and papers in our AIP conferences, publications, and websites, participating in local chapter activities, participating in AIP regional conferences, paying annual dues, and so on~~~~

Might these and other examples, be the key to improving member volunteer participation and understanding, of their specific roles?

Edited by author 11-01-2006 02:43 PM
I liked Arthur's message of 10/30/06 regarding member involvement in organizations. Of the many non-profit organizations that I have been involved in over the years, member participation has always been an issue. However, some of the organizations have addressed this issue by assigning members to serve on committees. Bylaws may need to be amended to provide for the necessary committees to get jobs done so that the organization will function properly.

When a member joins an organization he or she can be assigned to a committee immediately. This provides a sense of belonging and ownership in the organization.

In organizations that provide for certification such as AIP, maintaining certification typically requires both service and continuing education points. Service can be in many forms: committee participation, officer role, presentation/speaking engagement.

I have seen bylaws address the issue of officers' attendance or lack thereof by stipulating for example, if an officer misses 3 consecutive meetings then this is considered a resignation unless there is extenuating circumstances approved by the board, such as illness. I don't think the bylaws should REQUIRE members to attend meetings. This could present several problems. Members can choose to be active or inactive, BUT their membership ties them to the actions of the organization. So if they choose to be absent they are still bound to the terms and conditions set by the organization as a whole, and that includes the payment of dues.

The way I look at it my membership in an organization is an investment. I may be more active in some than others. Either way I still want to have some form of communication from those organizations, and be able to communicate with them if I choose. At the local level members should attend meetings regularly. If an opportunity arises for members to attend regional or national meetings then by all means attend!!!

I'm glad that our Region 5 now has several standing committees on which members can serve. And more opportunities for member involvement are on the horizon!!!

Edited by author 11-25-2006 11:51 AM
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions --

Are we keeping up with the buzz, in Region V ??? One such resolution, that has or will be presented to our National AIP Board of Directors is a recommendation to combine AIP with the National Association of Parliamentarians.

Should the AIP Board support the adoption of this resolution ??? At our 2006 Annual Session, this resolution was not presented to our membership attendee's. Why was AIP established in the first place ???

Does anybody really know ???

AIP Region V needs more charter chapters. AIP, in general, needs more members. I am one, who is on the verge of, and will continue to establish more charter chapters in my locale, as well as, throughout our entire southeastern region, including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

AIP membership is now available, at half price, half price~~~~~

All members of AIP, should obtain a current copy of our organization's new brochure. Under the subheader (DUES PAYMENT), it states that our membership year is June through May~~~~~

NOTE:

The rate for regular members (After November 30), is $27.50, half-price.

The rate for full-time students (After Nobember 30), is 22.50, half price.


Now is an opportune time, for all AIP members to enlist non-members to signup, and enjoy the benefits of AIP membership~~~~~ Certainly, there are more benefits for the novice parliamentary members. AIP really needs to begin to address the needs of our non-novice regular members, more~~~~

Dues payments, for our long standing AIP members, 30 years or longer, should be amended to no further payments required. This proposal would require an amendment to our national bylaws or existing policies.

Moving Forward In 2007 --

Happy New Year To All:

On this day, January 1, 2007, may it mark a real new beginning in the lives of our regional members and friends. As most of you can see, this forum discussion page on our website is not being used to a high degree at all, to communicate our desires or ideals, as it relates to our membership within AIP.

Hopefully, in this new year, more of our members and visitors will post additonal messages and topics to be discussed and researched, within this existing forum format. If an alternate format is preferred, then please make that alternate format known.

What would be a laudable (worthy) goal, for us, in this New Year 2007? More members? More educational opportunities? More membership benefits? What?

Edited by author 03-11-2007 08:05 PM

Character Trumps Formality for New Members, Lt. Governor Henderson Says


People care more about our character than anything else. And I'm speaking primarily in the context of, the attributes of a good parliamentarian. Character ranks the highest of all traits associated with our parliamentary profession.

Character to some parliamentarians, is like parliamentary procedure is -- to the general populous -- it's not important or valued at all~~~~~~

Honesty, integrity and other values of character is really what new members of AIP are looking for~~~~~~ Honesty is by far the most popular single trait, that most people outside of AIP is interested in~~~~~

The parliamentary profession is not just about helping individuals and others to get thru their meetings in a timely fashion, it is also about providing our many services to the masses, with honesty, integrity and empathy~~~~

The character test should be the litmus test for all parliamentarians, certified 'or' not-certified. Character matters!!!

Parliamentarians should be astute, compassionate and passionate about upholding all types of rules of order. Empathy for others is a winning quality trait~~~~~~

Character also crosses over into other areas, as well: looks, likability, vision, philosophy, ideology, biography, communication skills, strengths, ethics, optimism, among others.

Nobody's character is perfect, and that's an indisputable fact.

Edited by author 05-08-2007 11:06 AM
In the advent of our 18th Biennial Regional Conference, I write --

This year's conference will be spectacular. It's unfortunate that many of our regional members will not be in attendance. But, that's life, and many of us are no longer in school.

Amazing as it will be, we still have much to learn about each other. Whether members of AIP 'or' not, the rules-of-order binds us~~~~ The rules-of-order should level our playing fields. Knowing what leverage we have, with each other, can make all the difference in the world.

It's important for everybody to know the "ground rules", so that we can properly play our parts, wherever we may be~~~~ There are many reasons why we do, what we do. There are also many reasons why we elect to participate in some things, and not participate in others.

Note: we can't play our parts, if others are not willing to play their parts equitably. And, what is equitably? Fairly? Rightfully? Justly?

Certainly, we can't be expected to support one another 100% of the time, in AIP, family matters 'or' timbuktu. There is at least 20% of us, who give and support AIP activities, conferences ..., and events, at least three months out every year, above and beyond our membership fees~~~~

Anyone who knows anything about parliamentary procedure knows that there is much more to it, than meets the eye. Mastering parliamentary methods is not all there is to parliamentary rules. There are always other ideas and decisions that remain to be made and applied.

This calls for common sense principles. You can't be too strict, all the time. You can't even be too easy-going half the time. Agreeing on a proportional balance, is key~~~~~

And that also goes for giving what you can, to support the organizations that you are affiliated with. Give when you can. And after you've given, then allow others to take the torch~~~~~

Edited by author 06-08-2007 05:35 PM
Here are my farewell thoughts of our 18th Biennial Conference --

An agenda with a specified theme is what went into it. A gargantuan chain of results is what actually came out of it~~~~ Again, I encourage all reader's to consult our amended bylaws link, herein. A large portion of these targeted outcomes can be found, therein.

As your New Governor, of AIP Region 5, it is my responsibility to see that this chain of results are enforced and followed, as adopted. And with the membership's help, this will be our official commitment to each other, right?

In this spirit, let us begin the beguine~~~~ In order to do this, there are the leader's -- and the follower's. Which are we? Which do we wish to be?

And after all is said and done, may we applaud our accomplishments and celebrate our achievements, not because they were completed by one of us, but because these actions were realized by all of us, taking part in some form 'or' fashion~~~~~

FOLLOWING-UP ON AN EARLIER POSTING, HEREIN~~~~


Several month's ago I posted a new message about "How to be a better member". Picking up on that same idea, today I'm asking the same question's slightly differently, in a variety of different other ways~~~~~~

What can I do, to be a better member?

What can I do, to be a better leader?

What can I do, to be a better follower?

What can I do, to be a better example, of good membership?

What can I do, to be a better sport, about decisions not in agreement with my own?

What can I do, to be a better supporter of AIP?

What can I do, to be a better worker? Boss? Co-worker? Husband? Wife? Son? Daughter? Parent? Partner? ...?


In order to address these question(s) -- we need to challenge each other, others around us, and ourselves, to not only ask these same question(s) frequently, but repeatedly, to ensure that we are developing and fostering progress, in many of these directions~~~~~

Before any of us can become better, we have to listen better, mull-over these questions regularly, and thank other's more, for helping us to do better, in each of these example ways, outlined here~~~~~

At first, it will be difficult to respond accordingly, in a better fashion, when we have to relearn how to do something, we're not the best at, yet~~~~~ The key is to involve others, and actually put forth an effort to change~~~~~~

And lastly, we have to continually follow-up, as the need may dictate, and stick with it~~~~

Edited by author 07-15-2007 12:13 PM
CONTACT US --

Individuals, associations, institutions, and corporations interested in improving their personal and professional knowledge and qualifications in parliamentary procedure are encouraged to contact us (i.e., AIP Region 5), especially, if you are located in the Southeastern United States, Peurto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Our parent organization (i.e., the American Institute of Parliamentarians)sponsors the only International Annual Parliamentary Session, of its kind, in the world, and all AIP members are invited to attend.

AIP is also subdivided into eight distinct regions (i.e., seven of which, covers North America and the eighth representing our exteneded worldwide outreach).

Our region, AIP Region 5, sponsors a biennial conference for members and nonmembers, alike, offering added learning and networking opportunties to all who register and attend. We also promote local chapter involvement and learning activities, as well.

Be encouraged to contact us, because we believe we have the exact degree of excellence you should be looking for, when considering joining an association, like us. In the field of parliamentary practice, we promote a series of parliamentary objectives and goals for our members, and the general public, at large.

These objectives and goals are highlighted in our AIP Action Program.

Contact us, read all about us, visit our websites often, and join us, as a member 'or' simply as a guest, all are welcome.

REGION 5 -- MEMBERSHIP QUESTION(S)


Future directions for AIP Region 5, please weigh-in with your seasoned feedback and added input(s): (be encouraged to respond to these questions in this forum discussion format)

1. In our new fiscal year (i.e., 2007-08) what is your preference
     protocol for national, regional 'or' local inquiries, that you may
     have a need to raise to our elected officer's attention?

2. In this new millennium, as a new membership recruitment tool, would
     you be willing to encourage and support an e-grouping regular meeting
     concept and exchange, between interested members?

3. Participation in AIP national programs, do these national programs
     really interest any of you? (i.e., Practicums, Annual Sessions, ...)

4. Participation in AIP regional programs, do any of these regional
     programs really interest, any of you? (i.e, biennial conferences,
     conference planning, membership recruitment, chartering new chapters,
     signing up for regular parliamentary procedure classes, ...)

5. How many members, are not willing to travel out of state or out of
     territory to attend or participate in any regionally sponsored AIP
     activity? (Educational or business-wise)

6. How many members, are fully abreast of what's happening on the
     national AIP level? Regional AIP levels?

7. And finally, how many members, like what's happening on the national
     AIP level? Regional AIP levels?

And finally, if you would have preferred to see other question(s), herein, that were not asked, what question(s) would they be? Your elected officer's are very interested in knowing how we can better serve your needs, our members!