Speech - Conducting A Meeting (1950)

[Music] every day of the year many groups such as this one gather throughout our nation to discuss and plan the future actions and policies of their organizations such groups usually consist of a chairman other officers and of course the individual members meetings such as this one typifying free speech free assembly and free discussion are the heart of American democracy clubs businesses schools churches and our national government use these assemblies to carry out the will of the majority and yet to protect the rights of the minority wait a minute what's all this now just how does such a nice looking group ever get itself in a mess like this pardon me excuse me please could I quiet please thank you there that's better now take a look at yourselves just what was being accomplished by all that confusion you yes you Mr chairman is this the way you usually conduct a meeting and you each and every one of you this meeting is just as much your responsibility as it is the Chairman's now let's start all over again and let's see if we can't do this thing right remember there is a definite order of business that should be followed and you the meeting will please come to order that's fine but try it a little louder the chairman has to be sure to speak loud enough and clear enough for everyone to understand go right ahead the secretary will please read the minutes of the last meeting the regular monthly meeting of the humanitarian Club was held on January 4th thank you are there any additions or corrections to the minutes there being no Corrections the minutes will stand approved as read are there any committee reports Mr chairman Miss Kennedy the members of the entertainment committee wish to report that they have completed 10 ative arrangements for our spring banquet I wish to submit these plans to you now they are as follows the secretary will please file this report are there other committee reports if not old or unfinished business is now in order at our last meeting discussion of the motion to send delegates to the National Convention in Chicago was interrupted by adjournment would anyone like to discuss this matter now I don't think the value of such a plan would be worth the money hey wait a minute do you learn whoa break it up break it up oh yes I'm still here do you realize that in the last few seconds you've broken almost every rule for stating And discussing a main motion this must be what got you into all the trouble before now let's start again with the Chairman's call for unfinished business unfinished business is now in order discussion of the motion to do you know the exact wording of this motion no then you should ask the secretary to read the motion because the chairman must be certain that the motion is correctly understood by each member at all times discussion of the motion to send delegates to the National Convention was interrupted by adjournment will the secretary please read this motion it was moved and seconded that the humanitarian Club discussion is now in order on the motion as read by the secretary Mr chairman Mr Palmer I feel that our group should should elect three persons to attend the nation well I still think we ought to S no no oh you see Mr chairman you never take sides or state your personal opinion on a question while you're presiding your duty is to stimulate and moderate not argue but I yes I yes nothing Mr chairman Mr Palmer I feel that our organization should elect three person is there any further discussion it has been moved and seconded that our humanitarian Club send three delegates to the National Convention in Chicago all those in favor please raise their right hand all those oppose the same sign the motion is carried new business is now in order Mr chairman Mr Decker I move to some of $ aside from our Trey for huh I'm sorry to interrupt Mr Decker but we can't understand you the rules of good speech are especially important in conducting a meeting remember a mumbled motion is not a good motion oh Mr chairman I move that the sum of $20 be set aside from our treasury for use as a petty cash fund I second the motion it has been moved and seconded that the sum of $20 be set aside from our treasury for a petty cash fund is there any discussion Mr chairman Mr Johnson I move to amend the motion by striking out the words $20 and inserting in their place the word 0 I second the motion it has been moved and seconded that the main motion before the house be amended by Mr chairman huh I Rise to a point of order you what oh well State your point of order my point is that the amendment now proposed makes the main motion read opposite from its original purpose and is therefore out of order Mr chairman my Amendment Mr Johnson you've not been recognized by the chair nor is the point of order debatable unless referred to this group by myself now let's see you mean that by changing $20 to $0 as the amendment proposed we have in effect said there would be no petty cash fund yes I see the amendment last proposed is out of order Mr chairman Mr Johnson I move we adjourn I second the motion well now wait a minute what about the rescue people Mr chairman the motion to adjourn is not debatable it has been moved and seconded that the meeting uh-huh Mr Johnson that was a pretty sharp move wasn't it just because your amendment was ruled out you got angry and since you know a few tricks of parliamentary procedure you decided to gum up the works well I well you can do just that if you want to because parliamentary law is set up to protect the rights of all and sure that's why I did it no Mr Johnson you were angry you weren't interested in the rights of the group as a whole nearly so much as in your own selfish interest and pride now wait a minute oh I don't mean to be tough or to insult you in the least it's just that well each person in a meeting has to realize that he has a responsibility to the group after all a democracy Works through group cooperation in which individual rights are protected by law Mr chairman Mr Johnson I wish to withdraw my motion to adjourn and I further move to amend the original motion by striking out the words $20 and inserting in their place the words $10 I second the motion it has been moved and seconded that the motion be amended by striking out the words $20 and inserting in their place the words $10 is there any discussion Mr chairman Miss Kennedy I move that we vote immediately on the amendment as stated I second the motion it has been moved and seconded to vote immediately on the amendment before the assembly will those in favor of voting please raise their right hands those oppos the same sign there being a 2/3 vote in the affirmative the motion to vote immediately is carried it has been moved and seconded that the motion before the assembly be amended by striking out the words $20 and inserting in their place the words $10 will those in favor please raise their right hands those opposed the same sign the amendment is carried unless there is further discussion we will now vote on the main motion as amend $10 be set aside from our treasury for petty cash fund all those in favor of the motion please raise their right hands those opposed the same sign the motion is carried is there any further new business well that was very well done but if you don't mind let's take a short run through to make sure we understand the most important steps in conducting a meeting go right ahead first a meeting has a definite order of business which includes calling the meeting to order reading the minutes of the last meeting reports of committees unfinished business new business adjournment next let's take a look at the life history of a main motion the motion is made the motion is seconded the motion is stated accurately to the group the motion can be discussed or amended if so desired a member can move to stop discussion on a motion the chairman restates the motion the members vote on the motion the chairman announces the results of voting is there any further business Mr chairman m M white I move we adjourn I second the motion it has been moved and seconded that we adjourn those in favor say I I those opposed no motion is carried meeting's adjured goodon well thank you for helping us out oh that's all all right I probably shouldn't have buted in well I for one I'm glad you did Mr Johnson I thought you might be angry oh I was but you were right I knew some tricks and I used them I kind of thought it was fun it can be but you'll find that the rules are more enjoyable when they're used to get the job done it's the Democratic way and gentlemen one thing I'm sure we all agree on the Democratic way is the right way right right right the