Presented by Jim Martin

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VFW School of Instruction
Parliamentary Procedures
Presented by Jim Martin State Judge Advocate
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• Congressional Charter and By-Laws
• And Manual of Procedure and Ritual
• Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
• ARTICLE XRULES OF ORDER
• Sec. 1001 Rules of Order Governing All
• Meetings.

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• The following Rules of Order shall govern all
  meetings. Any procedural matter not provided for
  by these rules shall be governed by Demeters
  Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure. These
  rules may be altered or amended at any regular
  session of the body, upon proposition in writing,
  and by the majority vote of those present and
  voting. Any alteration or amendment of these
  rules provided herein shall be in accordance with
  permitted by Demeters.

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• What is Parliamentary Procedure?
• Parliamentary procedure, or parliamentary
• law, is the code of rules and ethics for
• working together in groups. According to
• the Demeter's it refers to rules, laws,
• regulations of organizations governing the
• orderly, expeditious and efficient transaction
• of business and meetings and conventions.
• Without rules, there would be injustice and
• Confusion.

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• Hence, it is necessary to follow the rules of
• Parliamentary law as it is to follow rules of a
• ball game or card game. All profit and non-
• profit corporations and associations such as
• the VFW and the boards, councils,
• commissions and committees of government
• must observe parliamentary law.

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• Post SHALL hold at least one regular
• meeting each month. The appointed day
• and time for such meeting shall be provided
• in the Post By-Laws. Post members and the
• Department Commander shall be notified of
• any change of regular meetings. You must
• have at least 5 members in good standing to
• make a Quorum, and any member in good
• standing or on official business may visit a
• post meeting. (They have no voice in
• business discussions and no voting priv.)

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• ORDER OF BUISNESS-POSTS
• Opening in due forum
• Commander Recitation of the purpose of the VFW
  (Section 3 of the Charter)
• Roll call of officers
• Read refer membership applications
• Reports of Committees
• Ballot on candidates
• Muster in recruits
• Read Minutes
• Quartermasters Report

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• ORDER OF BUISNESS-POSTS
• Report of Service Officer
• Report on Comrade or families of comrade in
  distress
• Report of committees
• Remember National Home
• Unfinished Business
• New Business
• Good of the order
• Closing due form

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• Rules during meetings
• In meetings of the VFW, members holding
• office shall be addressed as Comrade
• followed by the title of the office they hold.
• All other members shall be addressed as
• Comrade.
• COMRADE COMMANDER
• COMRADE SENIOR VICE
• COMRADE CHAPLAIN COMRADE 10th DISTRICT
  COMMANDER

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• Rules during meetings
• All members present and entitled have a right to
  vote
• Only VFW regulation caps are to be worn at
  meetings (no ball caps)
• No member shall be interrupted while speaking
• On questions of order there is no debate
• A member can change his vote from one side to the
  other as long as it is done prior to the final
  results.

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• Rules during meetings
• The presence, dispensation, and/or consumption of
  alcoholic beverages in VFW meetings rooms during
  VFW meetings is unacceptable and is prohibited.

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• Tips for shortening meetings
• Be sincerebe briefbe seated." Unfortunately
  not all members follow this advice, as a result,
  discussion at meetings can be lengthy and
  repetitive.
• No one speak more than 10 minutes
• No one speak a second time until every one who
  wishes to speak a first time has spoken.
• No one should speak more than twice on the same
  business.

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• Tips for shortening meetings
• Alternate pro and con.
• Encourage new discussion by asking for speakers
  who have not yet spoken.
• Ask for a motion to end discussion
• Set discussion time prior to lengthy issues

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• MEETING MYTHS
• MYTH" We dont use Parliamentary
• Procedure.
• Whether you are aware of it or not,
• VFW meetings (suppose to) follow
• Parliamentary procedure.
• MYTH" The absence of a forum is okay if
• nobody brings it up.
• WRONG! (how many make a forum?)

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• MEETING MYTHS
• MYTH" Discussion First, Motion Later.
• No discussion should occur without being
• Proceeded by a motion to take action.
• MYTH Any one can speak at our meetings.
• Only members of the particular body are
• allowed to speak. Only board members
• have a right to participate in board meetings.
• (others can attend but not participate)

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• The purpose of parliamentary procedure is to
  facilitate the transaction of business and to
  promote cooperation and harmony
• Parliamentary law should be the servant, not the
  master, of the assembly.
• If you want to kill any idea in the world, get a
  committee working on it.
• Whenever you find yourself on the side of the
  majority, it is time to pause and reflect. 
• One man with courage makes a majority.
•  

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