And it happens in the “House”

1. And it happens in the “House” • Chapter Leadership Training • Ft. Worth, TX • September 25, 2013 Scott Raymond Lee Stang

2. AMTA Volunteers of note: • Scott Raymond: IPP Connecticut Chapter • Lee Stang: Delegate, Connecticut • Chris Voltarel: Chair, Chapter Relations Committee • Ann Blair Kennedy: Member Chapter Relations Committee • John Combe: Chair HODOC • Xerlan Deery: Chair Position Statement Review Commission • Dan Barrow: Moderator House of Delegates

3. Training Objectives • What this training is: • Discussion of delegate responsibilities • Identify difference between position statements and recommendations • Review Parliamentary Procedure and the Art of Debate • Look at available resources for delegates • What this training isn’t • Discussion or debate of position statements • Discussion or debate of HOD agenda or business

4. Delegate Responsibilities • It’s about RELATIONSHIPS with: • Chapter BOD • Chapter members • House of Delegates • It’s about RESPONSIBILITIES: • Before • During • After the National Convention

5. Delegate Responsibilities: the National Ones • The National Position Description: • Initiate member involvement in discussion of matters that may or will come before the HOD… • Attend all Chapter membership meetings… • Have working knowledge of HOD materials… • Ensure Chapter is processing recommendations according to policy… • Present position statements in the HOD… • Attend and PARTICIPATE in HOD meetings… • Report back to the Chapter actions of HOD…

6. Delegate Responsibilities: the Chapter Ones • Chapters can also assign responsibilities: Examples • Contact members… • Serve actively on Chapter committee… • Attend certain meetings/events while at Convention… • Assist in running Chapter meetings… • Write articles for website and/or newsletter… • Take pictures at Convention for the Chapter… • Report back to Chapter via…

7. Resources Available to Delegates • AMTA Website: • http://www.amtamassage.org/chapters/House-of-Delegates.html • Webinars; Recommendations; Position Statements; Parliamentary Procedures • Chapter Volunteer Intranet • http://www.amtamassage.org/uploads/cms/documents/hod_toolkit.pdf • Delegate tool kit • https://www.amtamassage.org/intranet/ documents/ • index.aspx?accessGroupId=2&folderId=268 • Delegate Folder under Chapter Volunteer Docs

8. Resources Available to Delegates • Google Groups: Delegate Forum • https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/delegateforum • Special forum for delegates to discuss ‘all things delegates’ • Position Statements • Recommendations • Questions pertinent to being a delegate • Essentials of the Group: • It is for Delegates • You are invited in by National • There are guidelines for participation • HODOC Chair monitors the group • Authors of Position Statements can answer questions

9. Be pro-active with Chapter BOD • Need to get information to and from your Chapters: • Position Statements/Recommendations • . Ways to do this ….. • Newsletter • Chapter Meeting • Special Presentations • Round Table Discussions • Phone Calls • Website • Social Media • Ask the questions • Post opinions

10. Recommendations and Position Statements Position Statements Recommendations Definition: Suggestions that a member, chapter or chapter board would like to see an action on. They involve: AMTA bylaws, or AMTA mission and goals, or Things INTERNAL to the association or HOD • Definition: • AMTA position on professional or public policy issues that relate to the mission and goal of the association. • Not what we think or wish to be true • Supported by strong evidence and research.

11. A closer look at the Recommendation • Any member can write a recommendation • Discuss with Chapter and/or Chapter Board • Submit it to the HODOC for review and comments • It is debated in the HOD • An approved recommendation goes from the House to the National Board of Directors for consideration

12. A closer look at the Recommendation • The NBOD is not obligated to accept or act on the recommendation; however… • The NBOD generally reports back to the HOD the following year to report on status of previous recommendations… • Recommendations may lead to policy and/or bylaw changes OR they may not!

13. Position Statements • Definition: • AMTA position on professional or public policy issues that relate to the mission and goal of the association. • Not what we think or wish to be true • Supported by strong evidence and research.

14. A Closer look at Position Statements • The AMTA Vetting Process: • AMTA Legal Counsel • AMTA Position Statement Review Commission • Massage Therapy Foundation • Check to see that: • Research supports position • There is enough research • It is appropriate research The Authors are Challenged

15. A Closer look at Position Statements • What are you looking for in the research? • Are there enough studies? • Are the studies relevant to the statement? • Are there enough studies OR • Are there a lot of small studies, showing the same evidence?

16. And a few more things • What about those nagging typos???????? • Webinars for future education of new delegates and refreshers for seasoned delegates: where to find!???? • http://www.amtamassage.org/chapters/House-of-Delegates.html • Analysis of an AMTA Position Statement • Parliamentary Procedures and Robert’s Rules of Order

17. Let’s take a BREAK: but a quick one

18. Now What exactly Happens in the House? • And does it Stay in the House??? • Absolutely NOT!!!

19. The ‘Whats’ of Parliamentary Procedures • Parliamentary Procedure: a system to conduct business • Roberts Rules: the rules that we follow to maintain order and efficiency • Moderator: presides over the HOD meeting • Parliamentarian: gives advice on procedure Serves to produce a very interactive and organized House!

20. It’s run on Motions: the 7 step process • Making motions • Debating motions • Delegate makes motion • Another Delegate seconds it • Moderator states motion placing it before the House • 4. Delegates debate motion • 5. Moderator puts it to a vote • 6. Delegates cast vote • 7. Moderator announces results of the vote

21. The Process at work • A Delegate makes a motion • Another Delegate seconds the motion • Moderator restates Motion

22. Motion up for debate • I move that the AMTA 2013 House of Delegates Operation Committee provide loaded pizzas to all delegates during the House of Delegate meeting on Thursday, September 26, 2013 • There is now a motion on the floor and we will have Delegates debate the motion

23. Language of the House • Point of…….. • Information: a request for information about the business at hand!. • Order: an objection to a procedure or personal affront! • Personal Privilege: complaint of room too noisy, cold, excessive talking… • Caucus

24. The Process Continues • Getting to the actual vote!!? • End Debate: How? • Call the question: Who? • Don’t be too quick to call that question

25. During Debate: Think about • Be succinct • Be prepared • Write it down prior to the meeting • Write it down at the meeting • Work with fellow Delegates to figure out how to say what you want • Listen, listen, listen • Be flexible and open minded • Be polite • Speak to the Moderator ONLY Rules of Engagement

26. The Voting System • Now: How do we put this to a vote!!? • Electronic calculations: we don’t have to count hands any more!! • Weighted votes vs. non-weighted votes

27. The Voting System • When are they in play? • Non weighted = business matters • i.e. accepting agenda • Weighted votes • Recommendations and Position Statements • Recommendations = majority • Position Statements = 2/3 of weighted vote

28. Must you vote with your Chapter? • It DEPENDS! • On what you hear in the HOUSE! • BE THE THINKING DELEGATE!

29. The Wrap Up • So what did we look at today? • Delegate responsibilities before, during and after convention • Resources available to you on both the website and intranet • Ways to communicate with your Chapters • The ‘whats’ of position statements and recommendations • How we debate • The language of the house and system of voting • NOW IT’S TIME TO • “ROCK THE HOUSE!”

30. And it happens in the “House” Presenter, title, email, phone