SAC Meeting Process and
Robert’s Rules of Order
A Brief Explanation
SAC Chair: David Levy
SAC Vice Chair: Steven Schuelka
Purpose
• To provide a framework for SAC business
meetings
• RRoO sets standards which apply to:
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Meeting process
Motions
Voting
Meeting minutes
Consent agenda
Discussions
Information
Adjournment
Meeting process
• Call to order
• Roll call – establish a Quorum
• Consent Agenda
– Minutes
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Action Items / Motions
Discussion items
Information items
New Business
Adjournment
Motions
• A motion is a formal proposal by a member, in a
meeting, that the group take a certain action
• How to make a motion
– I move that…and then clearly describe the proposal
• It is recommended that the motion take a positive
direction
• Language of motion must be precisely stated as it is the
language that the group votes to approve / reject
– For a motion to be considered by the group it must
be ‘Seconded’ by another member of the group
– Chair restates the motion
Motions
• Debate the motion
– This means the motion is in discussion
– Our practices is to:
• Have open discussion about the motion for clarification,
then:
• Alternate taking for and against the motion until:
• Either all discussion has been exhausted or the Previous
Question is called, then:
– Vote on the motion
• Accept (for the motion)
• Reject (against the motion
• Abstain (a non-vote due to conflict of interest, typically)
– Chair reports the results of the vote
Typical Motions
• Typical types of motions:
– Main motion
– Amendment to a motion
• Must complete before returning to the Main Motion
(which may now be an amended motion)
• Only one amendment is allowed at a time
• Friendly amendment (this is an ASQ practice)
– Previous Question
• Move to end debate and vote on the current motion
– Motion to Postpone
• Requires a time or date to postpone to
– Motion to Commit
• Refer to committee
Typical Motions
– Lay on the Table
• Laying the motion aside temporarily without setting a time for
reconsideration
– Motion to Reconsider
• Can only be made by a member that voted on the
winning side of the motion
– Postpone indefinitely
• This basically ‘kills’ the motion and it may not be brought
back for further debate
• ASQ Practice
– Once a motion is decided, the results belong to the
entire group regardless of the way you voted
individually
Voting
• Only Regional Directors and designated Other
Group Representatives are considered Voting
Members of SAC
– One vote per individual on any motion
• All SAC votes are majority votes unless otherwise
stated in Policy
Voting – SAC Chair
• Chair presides over meeting
• Chair does not participate in debate unless he or she
passes the Chair function to the Vice Chair until the
Motion is completed
• The Chair should only vote when either:
– The vote is by ballot, in which case the chair votes along
with and at the same time as all other members, or
– The chair’s vote will change the result of the vote (a tie
breaker for instance)
Consent Agenda
• In 2014 SAC is adopting the usage of a Consent Agenda
• Consent agenda is a motion to approve or reject a
number of items that do not require debate. Examples of
items on the Consent Agenda are:
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Minutes of the previous meeting
Policies and Procedures
Section name or location changes
Section dissolution
• The items on the consent agenda are provided in
advance for review
• Any item may be removed from the consent agenda by a
request from any voting member
Discussions
• Discussion items are items being brought to SAC
for consideration that do not require approval by
vote during the present meeting
• Example:
– Changes to ASQ Policies, Programs, Strategies
– Introduction to new programs
• Brainstorming and questions for clarification are
encouraged
Information
• This is both historical information and
communication of events or issues that are
coming in the future.
• Typically there is minimal discussion however
questions for clarification are encouraged
Adjournment
• SAC operates utilizing an adjournment by
the presiding officer (SAC Chair or Vice
Chair) without a vote by simple statement:
– Meeting is adjourned