And it happens in the “House”

Scott Raymond Lee Stang

Chapter Leadership Training

Ft. Worth, TX

September 25, 2013

AMTA Volunteers of note:

• Scott Raymond: IPP Connecticut Chapter

• Lee Stang: Delegate, Connecticut

• Chris Voltarel: Chair, Chapter Relations Committee

• Ann Blair Kennedy: Member Chapter Relations Committee

• John Combe: Chair HODOC

• Xerlan Deery: Chair Position Statement Review Commission

• Dan Barrow: Moderator House of Delegates

Training Objectives

• What this training is:• Discussion of delegate responsibilities• Identify difference between position statements

and recommendations• Review Parliamentary Procedure and the Art of

Debate• Look at available resources for delegates

• What this training isn’t• Discussion or debate of position statements• Discussion or debate of HOD agenda or

business

Delegate Responsibilities

It’s about RELATIONSHIPS with: • Chapter BOD• Chapter members• House of Delegates

It’s about RESPONSIBILITIES:• Before• During • After the National Convention

Delegate Responsibilities: the National Ones

The National Position Description:

• Initiate member involvement in discussion of matters that may or will come before the HOD…

• Attend all Chapter membership meetings…

• Have working knowledge of HOD materials…

• Ensure Chapter is processing recommendations according to policy…

• Present position statements in the HOD…

• Attend and PARTICIPATE in HOD meetings…

• Report back to the Chapter actions of HOD…

Delegate Responsibilities: the Chapter Ones

Chapters can also assign responsibilities: Examples

• Contact members…

• Serve actively on Chapter committee…

• Attend certain meetings/events while at Convention…

• Assist in running Chapter meetings…

• Write articles for website and/or newsletter…

• Take pictures at Convention for the Chapter…

• Report back to Chapter via…

Resources Available to Delegates

AMTA Website:• http://www.amtamassage.org/chapters/House-of-Delegates.html

• Webinars; Recommendations; Position Statements; Parliamentary Procedures

Chapter Volunteer Intranet• http://www.amtamassage.org/uploads/cms/documents/hod_toolkit.pdf

• Delegate tool kit

• https://www.amtamassage.org/intranet/ documents/ index.aspx?accessGroupId=2&folderId=268

• Delegate Folder under Chapter Volunteer Docs

Resources Available to Delegates

Google Groups: Delegate Forum• https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/delegateforum

• Special forum for delegates to discuss ‘all things delegates’• Position Statements• Recommendations• Questions pertinent to being a delegate

Essentials of the Group:• It is for Delegates• You are invited in by National• There are guidelines for participation• HODOC Chair monitors the group• Authors of Position Statements can answer questions

Be pro-active with Chapter BOD

Need to get information to and from your Chapters:Position Statements/Recommendations

. Ways to do this

• Newsletter• Chapter Meeting

• Special Presentations• Round Table

Discussions• Phone Calls

• Website• Social Media

• Ask the questions• Post opinions

…..

Recommendations and Position Statements

Position Statements

Definition: AMTA position on professional or public policy issues that relate to the mission and goal of the association.

• Not what we think or wish to be true

• Supported by strong evidence and research.

Recommendations

Definition: Suggestions that a member, chapter or chapter board would like to see an action on.

They involve:• AMTA bylaws, or• AMTA mission and goals,

or• Things INTERNAL to the

association or HOD

A closer look at the Recommendation

• Any member can write a recommendation

• Discuss with Chapter and/or Chapter Board

• Submit it to the HODOC for review and comments

• It is debated in the HOD

• An approved recommendation goes from the House to the National Board of Directors for consideration

A closer look at the Recommendation

• The NBOD is not obligated to accept or act on the recommendation; however…

• The NBOD generally reports back to the HOD the following year to report on status of previous recommendations…

• Recommendations may lead to policy and/or bylaw changes OR they may not!

Position Statements

Definition:

• AMTA position on professional or public policy issues that relate to the mission and goal of the association.

• Not what we think or wish to be true

• Supported by strong evidence and research.

A Closer look at Position Statements

The AMTA Vetting Process:

• AMTA Legal Counsel

• AMTA Position Statement Review Commission

• Massage Therapy FoundationCheck to see that:

• Research supports position

• There is enough research

• It is appropriate research

The Authors are Challenged

A Closer look at Position Statements

What are you looking for in the research?

• Are there enough studies?

• Are the studies relevant to the statement?

• Are there enough studies OR

• Are there a lot of small studies, showing the same evidence?

And a few more things

What about those nagging typos????????

Webinars for future education of new delegates and refreshers for seasoned delegates: where to find!????

• http://www.amtamassage.org/chapters/House-of-Delegates.html• Analysis of an AMTA Position Statement• Parliamentary Procedures and Robert’s Rules of Order

Let’s take a BREAK: but a quick one

Now What exactly Happens in the House?

And does it Stay in the House???

Absolutely NOT!!!

The ‘Whats’ of Parliamentary Procedures

• Parliamentary Procedure: a system to conduct business

• Roberts Rules: the rules that we follow to maintain order and efficiency

• Moderator: presides over the HOD meeting

• Parliamentarian: gives advice on procedure

Serves to produce a very interactive and organized House!

It’s run on Motions: the 7 step process

1. Delegate makes motion

2. Another Delegate seconds it

3. Moderator states motion placing it before the House

4. Delegates debate motion

5. Moderator puts it to a vote

6. Delegates cast vote

7. Moderator announces results of the vote

Making motions Debating motions

The Process at work

• A Delegate makes a motion

• Another Delegate seconds the motion

• Moderator restates Motion

Motion up for debate

• I move that the AMTA 2013 House of Delegates Operation Committee provide loaded pizzas to all delegates during the House of Delegate meeting on Thursday, September 26, 2013

• There is now a motion on the floor and we will have Delegates debate the motion

Language of the House

• Point of……..

• Information: a request for information about the business at hand!.

• Order: an objection to a procedure or personal affront!

• Personal Privilege: complaint of room too noisy, cold, excessive talking…

• Caucus

The Process Continues

Getting to the actual vote!!?

• End Debate: How?

• Call the question: Who?• Don’t be too quick to call that question

During Debate: Think about

• Be succinct• Be prepared

• Write it down prior to the meeting• Write it down at the meeting

• Work with fellow Delegates to figure out how to say what you want

• Listen, listen, listen• Be flexible and open minded• Be polite• Speak to the Moderator ONLY

Rules of Engagement

The Voting System

Now: How do we put this to a vote!!?

• Electronic calculations: we don’t have to count hands any more!!

• Weighted votes vs. non-weighted votes

The Voting System

When are they in play?

• Non weighted = business matters• i.e. accepting agenda

• Weighted votes • Recommendations and Position Statements

• Recommendations = majority• Position Statements = 2/3 of weighted vote

Must you vote with your Chapter?

It DEPENDS!

On what you hear in the HOUSE!

BE THE THINKING DELEGATE!

The Wrap Up

So what did we look at today?• Delegate responsibilities before, during and after

convention• Resources available to you on both the website

and intranet• Ways to communicate with your Chapters• The ‘whats’ of position statements and

recommendations• How we debate• The language of the house and system of voting

NOW IT’S TIME TO “ROCK THE HOUSE!”

Presenter, title, email, phone

And it happens in the “House”