Delegate duties, parliamentary procedure at Congress - Delegate Duties

AORN Journal, Jan, 2002

WHERE TO FIND INFORMATION

Delegates and alternates are encouraged to study proposed statements, bylaws changes, and candidates' statements and discuss the issues with their chapter members. Business-related information is published in this issue of the Journal and in Congress Resources, and updates may be published in Congress News during Congress. Chapter presidents receive a sample delegate confirmation letter and a copy of the responsibility outline in the Chapter Resource Manual each year. This information also can be found on the Chapter Resource Center on AORN Online at http://www.aorn .org/chapters/resource.htm. Chapter presidents should ensure that confirmation letters and responsibility outlines are distributed to each delegate and alternate before Congress.

VOTING FOR NATIONAL CANDIDATES

Delegates representing AORN members at Congress are responsible for casting ballots to elect officers, Board members, and Nominating Committee members. This important activity is scheduled for Thursday, April 25, from 7 to 10:30 AM in Rooms AR1 to AR2 of the Anaheim Convention Center. Delegates must bring delegate badges, delegate voting tickets, and Expocards on Thursday morning to be eligible to vote. Delegate status will be coded on the Expocards, and delegates will present their delegate voting ticket and Expocard to gain access to the polling area. Candidate presentations and interview opportunities are important in preparing to vote, and delegates may bring notes from these discussions to the polling area.

HOUSE RULES, PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

Following a few guidelines will make the parliamentary process less confusing and intimidating. Resolutions (ie, motions) may be submitted in writing to the AORN President 30 days before Congress (ie, March 22, 2002). Submitting topics at this time will help the President coordinate topics and eliminate duplication. Sending such requests does not guarantee that agenda time will be assigned, but it does ensure that the President will review the items.

Members also may introduce issues during the Forums. A parliamentarian will be available to assist with writing motions. Budgetary implications must be included on each motion that is submitted to the President. Any motion to be presented to the House of Delegates for a vote must first be discussed at a Forum.

The House of Delegates is scheduled to meet twice during Congress (ie, Monday, April 22, 1 to 2:30 PM; Thursday, April 25, 1:30 to 3 PM). Only delegates may introduce motions and vote. All members, however, have the right to speak.

A delegate uses a main motion to introduce new business. Main motions must be prepared in quadruplicate so that the President, Secretary, executive assistant, and author of the motion have copies. Copies for the President and Secretary must be given to the President before the main motion is presented and seconded in the House.

The maker of the motion usually is the first person to speak when the President opens debate. Each speaker is limited to two minutes. No member may speak twice to the same motion until all members who wish to speak have spoken. Debate on any motion is limited to 10 minutes.