Online Rules of Order

For some years I was the chair of the International One Metre International Class Association (IOMICA) and the International Radio Sailing Association (IRSA). Membership of these associations was world-wide, and "normal" weekly or monthly meetings in person were not possible. Both of these associations were highly politicised, and I researched governance systems and management procedures which would support due process, fair debate, and auditable outcomes. I found just one possible solution, Robert's Rules of Order, but it was firmly tied to in-person meetings. Indeed, the current curator of these rules advised against trying to use them for virtual or on-line meetings.

Over some years, with the help of a number of colleagues. I developed a set of guidelines, based on Robert's Rules, to regulate asynchronous virtual meetings. I believe the work has broad application to any association, organisation, committee, assembly, etc, which wishes to conduct business internationally and electronically while on- or off-line.

There are two documents which deal with the conduct of meetings. One deals with committee meetings where the matters for discussion and action are not specified by and limited to an agenda of previously notified proposals, and one deals with formal meetings where they are. Associated with these two documents is one which deals with decorum.

Page on the Conduct of Committee Meetings and downloadable Word document.

Page on the Conduct of Formal Meetings and downloadable Word document.

Page on Guidelines on Virtual Meetings Decorum and downloadable Word document.