When a chairman repeatedly abuses his authority under this and other rules, it is not surprising that insulting remarks are hurled at him - the full bench of the Commonwealth Industrial Court in Wishart v Henneberry (1962) 3 FLR 171 |
| GUIDE FOR MEETINGS AND ORGANISATIONS |
by N E Renton AM (Lawbook Co., Eighth Edition, 2005) |
This eighth edition is some six times as big as the slim yellow book which constituted the first edition in 1961 and which is still fondly remembered by many people. The text has been greatly expanded and updated throughout. Both volumes now feature real life case studies and a glossary of about 180 terms. |
There are virtually no other textbooks dealing with the running of non-profit organisations in a practical sense - yet there are numerous bodies of this type already in existence and new ones are being formed all the time. This very readable volume covers the setting up of new bodies, the drafting of their constitutions, committees, reports, submissions, membership records, accounts, public relations, elections, conferences and miscellaneous other aspects. Other topics dealt with include corporate governance, business plans, management issues, computers, the Internet, guest speakers, organisational newsletters, the taxation provisions governing non-profit bodies, the methods of conducting elections in the corporate world and the goods and services tax. With a Foreword by Ian O Spicer, a Glossary and a very comprehensive Index. 452 pages 9780455220758 RRP $A83.00 |
About one million formal meetings are held in Australia each year. This book is essential reading for all those participating in such meetings - whether as chairman, as secretary or just as an ordinary member. It shows how to make meetings more effective and how to speed them up. It covers in logical sequence and explains in plain language the stages of a meeting, chairing a meeting, motions, amendments, procedural motions, points of order, voting methods, notices, minutes, proxies and standing orders. This book discusses many practical aspects of meetings procedure not covered in Joske. The chapter dealing with shareholders' meetings analyses many matters of interest both to the organisers of such gatherings and to the participants in them. The book also covers electronic meetings and meetings of family trusts, private companies, local government bodies, retirement village committees and strata title bodies corporate. With a Foreword by Ian O Spicer, a Glossary and a very comprehensive Index. 344 pages 9780455220840 RRP $A83.00 |
Book review by Gary Coveney of the Queensland Bar of Renton's famous text. It was published in Hearsay on 2007-10-17.Nick Renton's Guide for Meetings and Organisations has been in publication since 1961. It is now in its eighth edition. For the current edition, the text is helpfully divided into two volumes and deals with all aspects of chairmanship and the running of voluntary associations. In the preface to the first edition, published in 1961, the author wrote: "It is hoped that the book will meet the needs of those who desire meetings to have some degree of formality and who wish to avoid the time wasting, misunderstandings and frustrations which appear to be inevitable when those in charge of meetings are unfamiliar with the correct techniques." From this, it is clear that the author's intention has always been to provide a text of true practical value. It is not uncommon for lawyers to become involved in the affairs of voluntary associations. Sometimes, we are members. At other times, we are called upon to advise a particular committee or even to take the chair of a general meeting. For the latter two roles, Renton's text is likely to provide the practitioner with a considerable amount of useful information on how these organisations are formed and administered. Volume 1 is entitled Guide for Voluntary Associations. It covers a wide range of topics including founding a new body, constitutions, membership, election systems and committees. It also gives some treatment to other matters relevant in the modern context, such as taxation, the Internet and GST. Volume 2 is entitled Guide for Meetings. It deals with all aspects of meetings, including the role of the chair, motions, points of order and voting. It also goes beyond voluntary associations with a chapter on shareholders' meetings. Helpfully, the author includes practical examples of common problems that arise in organisations at the end of each volume, along with suggested solutions. Together, the two volumes are a highly practical and enlightening guide for anyone dealing with the nuances of voluntary associations. They are written in a clear style, with very little reference to case law or legislation. However, this merely serves to emphasise the straightforward and pragmatic flavour of the text. (In a Footnote the reviewer also refers to the author's "highly entertaining" web site.) |
Questions and Answers about Chairmanship and Meetings Procedure are now being featured on this site.
Users are accordingly invited to send Nick Renton pertinent questions dealing with matters not currently analysed in his book.
(The comprehensive indices to the two volumes will help readers to locate the topics already covered.)
CONTENTS: VOLUME 1
1. Founding a New Body
2. Constitutions: Standard Clauses
3. Constitutions: Additional Clauses
4. Constitutions: Other Aspects
5. Membership Aspects
6. Public Relations
7. Reports
8. Submissions
9. Conferences
10. Terminology
11. Election Systems
12. Committees
13. Financial Aspects
14. Miscellaneous Aspects
15. Guest Speakers
16. Newsletters and Magazines
17. Taxation
18. Computers and the Internet
19. The Goods and Services Tax
20. Corporate Governance
21. Management Issues
22. Case Studies and Practical Examples
Appendices:
1. Rules for a Proportional Representation Count
2. Examples of a Voting Count
3. Examples Showing Anomalies of Various Election Systems
4. Should Employees Engage in Outside Activities?
5. Space Fillers
6. The Election of Company Directors
7. Typical Matters to be provided for in Rules
8. Will the Internet kill off existing Organisations?
9. Some Useful Internet Addresses
10. Australian Population and Area
11. The Design of Web Pages
CONTENTS: VOLUME 2
1. Background
2. Stages of a Meeting
3. Chairing a Meeting
4. Motions
5. Amendments
6. Procedural Motions
7. Points of Order
8. Voting Methods
9. Shareholders' Meetings
10. Standing Orders
11. Terminology
12. Miscellaneous Aspects
13. Proxies
14. Special Types of Meetings
15. Case Studies and Practical Examples
Appendices:
1. Specimen Agenda Paper
2. Examples of Badly-worded Motions
3. Illustrative Extracts from Minutes
4. Model Standing Orders
5. Summary of Rules Governing Motions and Amendments
6. List of Further Reading
7. Table of Procedural Motions
8. Fun and Games in the Centre
9. Should Committee Meetings be open or closed?
10. A Model Tribute
11. Cyber Voting to Improve Democracy
12. Some Useful Internet Addresses
WHAT BODIES USE THIS BOOK?The types of organisation that use this book include the following:
In addition the book is used by training organisations such as the Toastmasters and the Toastmistresses. It has also been cited in a number of court cases. |
Compendium of Good Writing a style manual
Enjoy your English! a book for wordlovers
Public Relations: a Matter of Spin
This page http://nickrenton.com/gmo8.htm was last updated on 2009-05-23