See the District Leader page Reports 

Rules of Order

of the District 39 Fall Council Meeting

Louise Houdelette, DTM  District 39 Governor

Presiding Officer Nov 13, 2010 

1.  Order of Precedence

All proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and published policies of Toastmasters International for this meeting.  Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised 10^th edition, shall be the final authority as to parliamentary procedure, insofar as it does not conflict with the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and published policies of Toastmasters International, with their order of precedence as indicated above.

2.  Participation Authority

Only Delegates, Alternate Delegates and Delegates at Large may make motions or participate in discussion on motions.  Before addressing the assembly, a voting delegate shall state his or her name, club number, and shall display a voting ballot.

3.  Credentials Committee Report

The Credentials Committee shall report at the appointed time of this meeting the total number of Delegates registered, in person and by proxies.  During the Credentials report, the Committee will confirm that this meeting has a quorum as defined by the Bylaws of Toastmasters International.

4.  Credentials Requirements

Each club in good standing with Toastmasters International at the time of this meeting is entitled to two (2) votes.  The authority of each Delegate and each Alternate to vote shall be evidenced by proper identification, in the case of the Club President and/or Club Vice President Educational, and/or by any active member of each club by presenting a locally prepared proxy signed by the President and/or Vice President Education of the Club.  District Officers (Delegates at Large) are entitled to one (1) vote.  The maximum number of votes each Delegate (or Alternate) may carry is three (3).

5.  Timer

The Chairman (District Governor) shall appoint an official timer(s) who shall stand and applaud when the time authorized has expired.

6.  Time Limitation for Agenda Items

 Debate or discussion on any item on the agenda shall be limited to a maximum of ten minutes.  Debate may be extended at the discretion of the District Governor to allow additional discussion if fairness to requires. 

7.  Time Limitation for Speakers

No Delegate shall speak more than once on the same question or longer than one minute.  Debate may be extended at the discretion of the District Governor to allow additional discussion if fairness so requires.  This limitation does not apply to point of order and appeal.

8.  Voting Authorization

In addition to Delegates and Alternates from Clubs, District Officers, including Area Governors but not including appointed position holders shall be entitled to one (1) vote when present at this meeting.

9.  Voting Procedure

Voting may be by secret ballot, show of hands, or voice vote.

10.  Balloting Procedure for Elections

The District Governor, the Lieutenant Governor for Education and Training, the Lieutenant Governor for Marketing and the Division Governors shall be elected by a majority vote.  In the event no candidate for a particular office receives a majority vote, the candidate having the lowest vote for that office shall be dropped from the succeeding ballot.  In the case of a tie vote, the choice shall be decided by lot.

11.  Implementation of Secret Ballot Requirement

Election of District Officers shall be by secret ballot unless a secret ballot is dispensed with by unanimous vote.  If there is only one candidate for a particular office, the District Governor shall declare the candidate elected by unanimous consent or acclamation it the District 39 Council approves dispensing with the secret ballot requirement.

12.  Enforcement of Rules and Appeal

The District Governor shall enforce the rules, but a member may appeal a ruling of the District Governor. Following a brief statement by the challenging members, and a response by the District Governor, the District Governor shall put the question and a majority vote (or tie) shall uphold the ruling of the District Governor.  The District Governor may vote on an appeal. 

13.  Motions

All decisions of the meeting are to be made by means of a motion made by a voting Delegate seconded by another voting Delegate, stated by the Chairman, offered for debate (in the case of debatable motions), and then put to a vote by the District Governor.  The maker of the motion shall submit a written text of the motion to the Secretary at the time the motion is stated.  Motions shall be stated in the positive, not in the negative.