April 2015
PRESIDENT’S LETTER by Alison Wallis, CP-T, PRP
“Use what talents you possess, the woods will be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” - Henry van Dyke
Table of Contents President’s Letter
1
Editor’s Exchange
1
Calendar of Events
2
AIP Officers
2
A-ECAIP
3
Teacher Certification Course
4
New Members / Silent Gavels
4
Welcome New Members
5
2015 AIP District 8 Registration 6 2015 AIP District 8 Calendar
7
East Coast Practicum
8
One of the greatest joys of being a member of the American Institute of Parliamentarians is to easily meet and listen to the world’s best experts on parliamentary procedure. Visit a practicum or an annual session where you will be able mingle with authors of outstanding written materials on meeting efficiency. Some lucky members live close enough to attend meetings of an AIP chapter, where cheerful but intellectually satisfying parliamentary education is made available on a regular basis.
And if we step back from AIP’s friendly face, and remember “other types” of meetings, we may see outright bullying. Parliamentary procedure is an extensive body of knowledge, but from beginning to end, a core value is empowerment of the individual. It is never right or just to use parliamentary skills to squelch all expression of unpopular viewpoints. It is never right or just to use one’s position as presiding officer as a bully pulpit to belittle members. It is also not right to allow mistreatment of members in a meeting. Rude or dictatorial members and the chair as well can be curbed by a prompt “Call the Member to Order.”
From the founding in 1958, bright minds with an interest in parliamentary procedure have been attracted to the open minded approach of AIP. Despite the intellectual storehouse, our authors and teachers willing to share valuable knowledge and examples with new and old members. Although our experts are particularly approachable, some people become intimidated from self-comparison to so much expertise.
To participate meaningfully in meetings, it is not necessary to possess comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of parliamentary law. More knowledge should bring more skill and more confidence, but it would be a fatal mistake to wait until mastery comes. Parliamentary procedure is a practical tool and should be used by people of all skill levels.
EDITOR’S EXCHANGE By David C. Morgan
With the cold weather hopefully far behind us, I personally will not be looking for its return anytime soon. My family took a beating from it the last few months. Everything from slips on ice resulting in multiple broken bones, to family members coming down with the flu and pneumonia, that resulting in the hospital stays. I don’t know about you, but green never look as good as it does this spring. I hope to hear from some of the members who may be out and about taking in new adventures in the field of parliamentary law, and will be kind enough to share their experience with us here at the Communicator. My chapter in Abilene, TX is having our annual workshop on 11 April, 2015, this year. I plan to have more information available on the history of the Emery-Abilene AIP Chapter in the near future. Please help make the AIP Communicator a better newsletter by submitting articles, ads, stories, photos, and anything else that could be of use professionally or educationally to members of AIP. Sincerely, David C. Morgan Editor
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April 2015
AIP Communicator