Robert's Rules For Dummies

by C. Alan Jennings

Discover why Robert's Rules "rule"If you belong to any type of organization€”from school board to garden club to bowling league to trade association€”chances are this book can save you many boring meeting minutes. This friendly guide translates Robert's Rules of Order, the essential guide for conducting meetings of all types, into principles you can understand and apply the next time "Billy Bully" tries to dominate the discussion or "Debbie Dictator" issues another edict.If you've ever been frustrated at the way condominium association business was (or wasn't) conducted or fidgeted while PTA members debated whether to have goldfish or pencils as prizes for the elementary school carnival, this is the book for you. Written by a Professional Registered Parliamentarian, it covers everything from the basics of bylaws that establish the real framework of your organization to the requirements for a legal meeting, from how to use an agenda to plan your next meeting

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Business

411 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2004

Reviews

[Peter Krol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some may think me crazy, but I LOVED this book! I read it to help me better grasp Robert's Rules so that I could more usefully participate in our presbytery meetings.

I was fascinated by how Robert's Rules is really set up to serve a deliberative body. I have always thought of Robert's Rules as being unnecessarily constricting. I certainly think that there are times when RR are more hurt than help; but I can see more now how useful they can be when a large body of people need to make business decisions.

For example, I appreciated learning about the motion to "Postpone Indefinitely," which is basically intended to kill a motion (when it is clear that even taking a vote on something would cause more harm than good). Also, when someone has a particular ax to grind and they keep bringing the same things up over and over again, one can simply "Object to Consideration of the Question" which will immediately diffuse the troublemaker.

It was definitely good to have a copy of Robert's Rules in hand to go to for more detail. But reading this book gave me a comprehensive enough picture (and handy reference charts for things) that I don't feel the need to read all of the RR handbook.

[Kevin Parkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about Robert's Rules. Even still, I'm trying to provide this review not on Robert's Rules themselves but instead on this book. And to that I'll say this book is decent (probably 3.5 stars rounded up). I do wish the book could have greater clarity (for example: sometimes he gives examples of what he's talking about, but other time does not; he could have ended each chapter with a summary of key points or opportunities to practice; he could just structure his language better to make things more understandable; etc.).

It's especially decent as a reference book, and he sort of dissuades people from reading it cover to cover. It will be good to keep around in case I need help with a particular aspect of Robert's Rules and could just flip there. But I encourage anyone who's interested in completing that course.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certainly better than reading a copy of Robert's Rules of Orders . The official rules will tell you what a Motion to Postpone Indefinitely is, if you know to look for that. More helpfully, this book will tell you, if you want to kill something without directly, use a Motion to Postpone Indefinitely.

I'm a board president now, so I should know this stuff. I think this would be challenging material to engage with if you didn't already have years of meetings behind you. Or some sort of peculiar passion for parliamentary procedure. For those looking for a good intro, this does the job.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having struggled through Robert's Rules itself and working with several organizations that base their principals and meetings on RRORD, this book breaks everything down into easy to understand concepts. Even better, it uses examples for almost everything. I personally love the "Dummies" series. I've used them for everything from Yoga, statistics (ugh!), computer programming, to everything in between--and now this.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needs references

A good summary of RRONR with excellent and humorous examples. However precise references to the source material is lacking. Still a very good companion piece to Roberts Rules

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who deals with a board, it can be confusing. This has helped me a lot.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helpful !

Robert’s Rules for Dummies has helped me with some good ideas for helping me to understand how our meetings should be run to accomplish necessary business.

[Jeffrey Philips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful

[Gail Gawlik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to the rules. Has a nice sense of humor, too!

[Debra Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

About to be Chair of an organization and needed this lift to move through parliamentary procedures and get some policy passed! Who knew Robert was a Major?

[Sue Newberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to read before you start running meetings using Robert's Rules. Gives some very practical guidance. Really helped the group I chair become more efficient.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am on page 25 of this. It is a typical Dummies book. After reading the other Robert's Rules book, I believe this is superfluous. Nevertheless, it is okay so far.
****

Frankly, if one is going to bone up on Robert's Rules, reading the primary source is probably more useful than a Dummies book. This book, however, was helpful in highlighting several things that are good for one who is involved in formal business structures.

The emphasis was properly placed upon using Robert's Rules to preserve the voice of the minority and the will of the membership. While many use Robert's Rules to stifle debate, take control from the leadership, etc., that is not the intent of parliamentary rules. Knowing that helps when deciding how to proceed. Good advice!

I became a bit lost with incidental motions. They seem unnecessarily complicated. Perhaps this book didn't explain them well, or perhaps they indeed are.

Some of the book seems like fluff. There are lots of lists. Eh . . . seems like filler to lengthen the read.

I attended a Toastmasters training session last January in which there was a session that delved into parliamentary procedures. I found it fascinating. That prompted me to purchase this book. This was the last physical book I purchased. It has taken me nine months to get through it. Well, I read 68 pages and stopped until today. Today I finished it. Since then, Borders where I purchased this, has gone out of business. Ha!

I also note that no group I belong to follows Robert's Rules correctly. Even the Toastmasters groups I belong to seem to shun a lot of this, even if it says it has adopted it.

I have looked into joining parliamentary societies to learn better/more, but the price of those seem exorbitant to me so I have not joined.

This book is a fair overview, but not a replacement for Robert's Rules.

[Jean Oram]

If you need to deal with Robert's Rules of Order this is a great way to get your feet wet and dive in. It has the basics and reasoning for the various rules that you need to follow while chairing a meeting. You'll learn the 'official' way to say "can I get a heck yeah for getting things done tonight?"

[Douglas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apart from Robert’s Rules not being available at the library at the time, I don’t know why I got a “For Dummies” book. Robert’s Rules is brief and doesn’t require this For Dummies title. This book is actually less clear than the book requiring its supposed purpose.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read and to find the topic of interest. It is helpful to have Robert's Rules Newly Revised to go with it. It is hard to say I "finished" the book since I will keep referring to it, but I have gone through it all.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite thrilling!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice resource when you don't want to slog through the "official" book.

[Dr Zorlak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allow each member of your secret society to have a copy of this book, and you're up and running.

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simplifies Robert's. Not the best but okay.