1915: THE HISTORY OF
 REVISED RULES FOR SMALL BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

In 1915, 38 years after writing his original “Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies,” Henry Martyn Robert published the 4th edition of Robert’s Rules of Order. With great pride, this was the final text to which he participated. He  expanded it greatly; this 4th edition was 75 percent larger than the 3rd edition. Today, with over 6 million copies sold, Robert’s Rules has proven to be an incredibly effective resource for meeting management and organizational development. Yet after 11 editions of improvements, flaws remain.

From 1876 to 1915, regardless of the type, size or setting of the meeting, Robert’s Rules limited debate to two times per speaker per day and for up to 10 minutes each time.

Originally, RONR limited input. In 1915, Robert recognized this flaw, and his document entered a new era. Unfortunately, most people were unaware of these new rules and the growth that would come from engagement in protracted debate and creative problem solving. In at least two ways, that problem remains today: the information is located on page 456, and the subject is not taught in school, college included. This point demands emphasis. I have spoken with hundreds of people who are aware of RONR. Most discovered its existence as I did, in a club in college. When I ask them “in a committee meeting, what happens after someone makes a motion,” invariably most say, “you ask for a second.” When I show them their error--what’s in the book--they demonstrate their shock. How about you?

The absence of a large pool of individuals with extensive experience related to the 1915 rules and other diplomatic skills to go with them is not theoretical. Read a newspaper. Listen to the radio. Watch television. There is a huge gap between the diplomatic skills needed and what we have. On a global scale, humanity suffers. Their absence in Israel/Palestine/Gaza, Russia/Ukraine, and India/Pakistan are three examples. As outsiders, we do not know if there are rules that cover this type of diplomacy, but we do know that we lack the number of people who have become skilled in this subject and not just to settle international disputes. We don’t know how to talk with friends and strangers. Silence, and there is plenty of it, is not golden. Later I will get into this subject, but please be aware that this issue of diplomacy touches every aspect of life.

Revising Robert’s is not unusual. In 1970, the 7th edition was “enlarged more than twofold and totally recast to be made self-explanatory.” The authors, including members of the Robert family, added Newly Revised to the title and it became Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised. They selected the mnemonic RONR, derived from Rules of Order Newly Revised, as a memory aid. Going forward, I use it throughout the rest of this essay.

The major flaw in the current edition relates to its structure. Instead of beginning with small board and committee rules, it starts with intimidating text and complex rules that are designed for a large board or assembly. Look at the title of the first chapter:

“CHAPTER I: THE DELIBERATIVE ASSEMBLY: ITS TYPES AND THEIR RULES.”

A deliberative assembly grows out of committees, not the other way around. RONR makes the mistake of failing to place in Chapter One the basics that are instead in Chapter XVI: BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.

RONR possesses essential information relevant to all areas of an organization. Most members are much more likely to serve on a committee than to serve on a large board or deliberative assembly. In a well-functioning organization people are more likely to serve on a committee and then, in order, to become a member of a small board, a large board, and then an assembly. Small boards and committees should be the seeds of an organization’s success.

Buried on pages 464 and 465 are the Rules for Small Boards and Committees, which are the most practical for groups that actually make decisions and take action. These seven rules are easy to learn. They are the key to the development of any organization.

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