The Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW) has been using this book since our organizational review in 2006. We have found it extremely helpful in developing our governance policies and useful in guiding the chairs of our standing committees. Thank you for such an accessible resource!
Reviews
A review by former parliamentary correspondent Douglas Leiterman on the Barnes & Noble website:
"Fred and Peg Francis have done an amazing job. Their book is absolutely indispensable
for anyone who conducts meetings or participates in democratic discussion at
any level from parliamentary assemblies right down to small book clubs. What
the Francis' have succeeded in doing is cutting through the forbidding complexities
of running a meeting and reducing them to a simple set of common-sense rules
which anyone can follow. The disappointments which accompany many meetings can
be sharply reduced and democratic participation improved.
"Over the years I have presided or attended hundreds of meetings at the governmental,
business, church and social levels and have often been frustrated by the difficulties
of properly chairing such meetings so that everyone can understand the process,
and the will of the majority can be formulated and prevail. Much of the difficulty
arises from the fact that few have the time or inclination to study the old-style
rule books, and are therefore easily intimidated, even tyrannized sometimes,
by the very few who know them.
"The Francis' book is making an important contribution to democracy. It can be
readily adopted by any group, council, union, or corporation and will be of lasting
benefit. Speaking personally, I have sat through years of parliamentary debate
and appreciate the value, and necessity, of achieving consensus in a democratic
proceeding by having rules and following them. Up until now, the rules have been
exceedingly complex, often confusing, and unsatisfactory at many levels. From
here on in, those groups who adopt Democratic Rules of Order will find significant
improvement in both the tenor of their meetings and the validity of the results."
"This book is an example of how less is more. After struggling with Robert's Rules of Order and various synopses, I was overjoyed to find this common sense guide to conducting meetings. In 27 pages it outlines and defines all the basic rules and procedures for getting things done. The second half of this 72 page book is filled with examples, FAQ's and a summary to help those completely unfamiliar with parliamentary procedure as well as the very experienced. The book clearly represents a labor of love by a couple with decades of practical experience and a desire to help others be more productive in a democratic organization."
— Joel Cannon, Director IQTVRA, San Jose, Califonia, USA