AORN Congress delegate duties and parliamentary procedure: Saturday, March 29, to Thursday, April 3, 2008

AORN Journal,  Jan, 2008  

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VOTING FOR NATIONAL CANDIDATES

Delegates are responsible for casting ballots to elect national officers, Board members, and Nominating Committee members. This important activity is scheduled for Wednesday, April 2, from 10 AM to 1 PM in the Anaheim Convention Center. Delegates must bring their delegate badges and Expo cards on Wednesday to be eligible to vote. Delegate status is coded on the Expo cards, which will provide delegates with access to the polling area. Attending candidate presentations and participating in interview opportunities are important activities in preparing to vote, and delegates may bring notes from these activities to the polling area.

HOUSE RULES, PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

The Forums will take place Sunday, March 30, from 2 to 3:30 PM, and Wednesday, April 2, from 8 to 9:30 AM. The House of Delegates is scheduled to meet twice during Congress--Tuesday, April 1, from 8 to 9:30 AM, and Thursday, April 3, from 1 to 3 PM. The following guidelines will make the parliamentary process less confusing and intimidating.

RESOLUTIONS. Resolutions (ie, motions) must be submitted in writing to the AORN President 30 days before Congress (ie, by February 29, 2008). Receiving topics in advance helps the President coordinate topics and eliminate duplication. Sending such requests does not guarantee agenda time will be assigned, but it does ensure that the President will review the items.

MAIN MOTIONS, Members also may introduce issues during the Forums. A delegate should use a main motion to introduce new business. Any motion to be presented to the House of Delegates for a vote must first be discussed at a Forum. Main motions must be prepared in quadruplicate so the President, Secretary, executive assistant, and author of the motion all have copies. Copies for the President and Secretary must be given to the President before the main motion is presented to the House. A parliamentarian will only be available immediately following each Forum and each House of Delegates to assist with the writing of motions. Budgetary implications must be included in each motion that is submitted to the President.

SPEAKING AT THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. Only delegates may introduce motions and vote; however, all members have the right to speak. The person making 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.

CHANGING THE MAIN MOTION. Delegates may change the main motion during the debate. This is accomplished by making a motion to postpone, amend, refer, or limit debate. A complete explanation of motions will be published in Congress Resources.

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