Officers Institute
PARLIAMENTARIANS
Regional Conference Cycle 2009
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Agenda
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Welcome
Introductions
Meditation
Objectives
Leadership in Delta
Duties of the Parliamentarian
Review of Parliamentary Procedure
Exercises
Leadership Development Plan
Closing
Evaluation
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Objectives
 To increase awareness of the Delta
Leadership Competencies needed to be
a successful leader in the Sorority
 To increase knowledge of the roles and
responsibilities of the office
 To assess leadership strengths and
identify areas of growth
 To create a development plan that will
increase leadership capabilities and
effectiveness
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Definition of Leadership
Leadership in Delta Sigma Theta is the
responsibility to inspire and empower a
team of sorors whose objective is to
design and implement visionary goals and
objectives. It is the extraordinary ability to
mobilize and motivate that team of sorors
so that, individually and collectively,
measurable outcomes are achieved.
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Principles of Servant Leadership
Our National President, Soror
Cynthia M. A. Butler-McIntyre has
adopted the concepts of Servant
Leadership, ‘leadership with a
servant’s heart’, and she encourages
us to consider and emulate its
characteristics and principles.
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The Delta Leadership Competencies
The Delta Leadership competencies
describe what it takes to successfully
play a leadership role in Delta and can
help you better understand what skills,
abilities, and behaviors are most
appropriate for Delta leaders.
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Delta Leadership Competencies
 Visioning
 Strategic Agility
 Ethics and Values
 Leading Others
 Communication
 Interpersonal Savvy
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Delta Leadership Competencies
 Business and Financial Acumen
 Planning and Organizing
 Problem Solving and Decision Making
 Political and Organizational Savvy
 Personal and Professional Development
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Leadership Self Assessment
What is your assessment of your
leadership characteristics and
skills? Please complete the
Leadership Self-Assessment.
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Leadership Self Assessment
No soror is strong in all eleven
areas. The goal is to understand in
what areas you need to be strong
and then, develop your skills and
abilities in those areas.
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National Structure
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Regional Structure
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Chapter Structure
Chapter President
Chapter Executive Board
Committees
Scholarship
Finance
Membership
Program
Planning
Heritage/
Archives
Nominating
Social
Action
Members
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Delta’s Governing Documents
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Corporate Charter
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Constitution and Bylaws
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Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition)
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Chapter Management Handbook (2007)
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Ritual (1996)
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Code of Conduct
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Protocol and Traditions
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Chapter Rules of Order
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Chapter Policies and Procedures
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Heritage and Archives Manual
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Conduct of Ritualistic and Ceremonies Protocol for Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, Inc.
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Delta’s Administrative Resources and Tools
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Administrative Procedures for Membership Intake

Pyramid Study Guide
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Advisor’s Handbook
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Chapter Mailings/Updates
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Financial Information Booklet
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Membership Intake Program
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Chapter Compliance Checklist
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Chapter Role Definitions
What do you think are the
roles and responsibilities
of your office?
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The Chapter
Parliamentarian
and
Parliamentary Procedure
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What Is Parliamentary Procedure?
A set of rules for maintaining
order in an organization that:
• Provides an approved and uniform
method of conducting meetings in a
fair, orderly and expeditious
manner.
• Allows everyone to be heard and to
make decisions without confusion.
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What Are
Robert’s Rules Of Order?
 The foremost authority on parliamentary
procedures
 Used to ensure that meetings are fair
and efficient
 Provides common rules and procedures
for deliberation and debate in order to
place the whole membership on the
same footing and speaking the same
language
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Why Should I Know
Parliamentary Procedure?
 Time tested method used by Delta
Sigma Theta to conduct business
 Empowers you as a member of
your chapter
 Prepares you to be more effective
when participating in your business
meetings
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Key Players In
Parliamentary Procedure
 President
 Secretary
 Parliamentarian
 Members
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The Parliamentarian…
 acts as a consultant in that she advises the
president and other officers, committees, and
members on matters of parliamentary
procedure in accordance with Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, Inc. Constitution and Bylaws,
Local Chapter Rules of Order, and Policy and
Procedures, and Robert’s Rules of Order,
Newly Revised (10th Edition).
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The Parliamentarian . . .
 calls the attention of the chair to
any error in the proceedings that
may affect the substantive rights of
any member.
 may serve as the chairperson of
the Chapter Rules of Order and
Policies and Procedures
Committee.
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The Parliamentarian’s Relationship
to the Chapter President
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President should appoint the
Parliamentarian;
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President should confer with the
Parliamentarian before the meeting opens in
order to anticipate any problems;
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After the Parliamentarian has expressed an
opinion on a point, the President has the duty
to make the final ruling and has the right to
follow or disregard the Parliamentarian’s
advice.
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Ten Basic Rules Of Parliamentary
Procedure
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The Rights of the Sorority Supersede
the Rights of the Individual Soror.
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All Members are Equal and Their Rights
are Equal.
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A Quorum must be Present to do
Business.
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The Majority Rules.
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Silence is consent.
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Two-thirds vote rules.
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Ten Basic Rules Of Parliamentary
Procedure
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One question at a time and one speaker
at a time.
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Debatable motions must receive full
debate.
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Once a question is decided, it is not in
order to bring up the same motion or
one essentially like it at the same
meeting.
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Personal remarks in debates are always
out of order.
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Basic Parliamentary Procedures
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Seek recognition by raising your hand.
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Wait to be recognized by the chair.
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State your motion.
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Chair restates your motion.
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Chair opens the floor for debate.
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Chair puts the question to a vote.
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Chair announces the vote.
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Parliamentary Procedure
to Expedite Business
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President should assist sorors in
phrasing/framing motions;
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President should restate the motion on the
floor when discussion is wandering;
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President should state that the Treasurer’s
report will be filed for audit because it is not
adopted; only the Annual Auditor’s Report is
voted on;
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Committee Reports are not adopted; only
their recommendations for action should be
acted upon;
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Use general consent whenever possible.
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Basic Types Of Motions
 Main Motions
 Subsidiary Motions
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•
The motion to Amend is the most frequently used and
most important of the subsidiary motions. The motion
to Amend also can cause the most confusion in a
group.
To Amend a motion means to change the wording of a
motion to make it clearer, more complete, or more
acceptable before voting upon the motion.
 Incidental Motions
 Privileged Motions
 Restorative Motions
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EXERCISES
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My Leadership Development Plan
 Identify areas of strength
 Identify areas of development of
leadership skills
 Create a plan of action to improve
your leadership skills
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Closing
Thank you for attending our
workshop.
Please complete all evaluation
forms and return to the facilitator
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The Leadership Academy
2008-2010
Elsie Cooke-Holmes, Co-Chair
Pamela E. Smith, Co-Chair
Crystal T. Barker
Schean G. Belton, Esq.
Stephanie M. Cooper
Deloris Johnson Drakes
Lisa Farmer-Cole
Soraya Williams Farver
Charlotte M. Freeman, Ph.D.
Renee LaVerne Harper
Beverly Harris Schembri
Sandra F. Mack, Ed.D.
Juanita B. Massenburg
Gwendolyn Mosley
Mandy Mullens-Williams
Mabel Lake Murray, Ed.D.
Mildred Porter-Duncan
Norma Sermon Boyd, Ed.D.
Jennifer R. Smith
Glenell S. Smoot
Hellenna L. Terrell, Ed.D.
Barbara Woods, Ph.D.
Stephanie Flowers, Staff Liaison
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