[Fuusm-l] a business meeting is not a facilitateddiscussion

[Ted Goertzel]

I don’t know what Darryl means by “facilitated discussion and decision
making”. It seems to me that facilitated discussion and decision making are
two different things that appropriately follow different procedures.  Like
most organizations we use Roberts rules of order in the congregational
meeting. The elected president of the congregation normally chairs such a
meeting.  This is a procedure designed for decision making. It is quite
different from a facilitated discussion, such as Darryl led in the recent
meeting about the ministers’ performance.
I don’t think we can turn the congressional meeting into a facilitated
discussion with a discussion leader who decides who can talk, what they can
talk about and how long they can talk.
The congressional meeting must be open to everyone and should be on zoom
for those who can’t physically attend. It should require a quorum.  None of
these things applied to our most recent facilitated discussion.




On Fri, Aug 25, 2023 at 2:27 PM Darryl Ting via Fuusm-l <fuusm-l at fuusm.org>
wrote:

> Tom,
>
> I’m generally very much in favor of the new procedure.  The more clarity
> we can bring to our procedures the better.
>
> But I think two issues need to be modified in the proposal.
>
> 1.      New Business item … To preserve the congregation’s access to the
> Congregational Meeting agenda, language needs to specify the process … to
> whom the notification of the New Business item is addressed.  And that the
> item shall be added to the agenda (no Board approval required).
>
> 2.      Congregational Meeting by petition … As a practical matter,
> Congregational Meetings by petition will most likely be about issues that
> require facilitated discussion and decision making.  Not necessarily skills
> the presiding officer may possess.  Please include language that the
> organizers of the petition should provide the facilitator if facilitated
> discussion and decision making is required.  The presiding officer should
> still control the making and voting on motions.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Darryl
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 15, 2023 at 10:51 AM Tom Cunningham via Fuusm-l <
> fuusm-l at fuusm.org> wrote:
>
>> Dear FUUSM congregation,
>>
>> Attached is a proposed Policy and Procedure on  Congregational Meetings.
>> If adopted, its purpose would be to strengthen FUUSM's process of
>> democratic governance by promoting efficient congregational meetings, in
>> which voting members have an informed and meaningful opportunity to vote on
>> FUUSM business.
>>
>> At our meeting last evening, the Board of Trustees decided that we want
>> to move forward with adopting this.   To do so, we decided we will discuss
>> and vote on a motion to adopt the Policy and Procedure at our next meeting,
>> Monday, September 11 at 6:30.
>>
>> As always, anyone interested can attend that Board meeting.  Or, if you
>> prefer, please let any trustee know your thoughts or questions on this
>> proposal anytime before.  (The seven trustees are cc'd individually on this
>> email.)
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Tom Cunningham
>> President, Board of Trustees
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*
>> *I've changed my email address -- please use:   *HoldtheG at proton.me
>>
>> *Thanks,*
>> *Tom*
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>>
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