PARLIAMENTARY SOCIETY OF TORONTO
CHAPTER 51
AMERICAN INSTITUTE
OF PARLIAMENTARIANS
Where and When do we meet
and What do we do at our meetings?
- We
meet in downtown Toronto convenient to public transportation. We currently
meet at Metro Hall on John Street, south east of the corner of King Street
West and John Street.
- We
meet on the first Tuesday of each month from September through to May 5:45
to 7:30pm. Our May meeting is a social dinner meeting. The following is
the current year’s schedule:
- September
9, 2008
- October
7, 2008
- November
4, 2008
- December
2, 2008
- January
6, 2009
- February
3, 2009
- March
3, 2009
- April
7, 2009
- May 5,
2009
- Since
our founding in October 1986 we have developed the following format for
our meetings with a major emphasis on learning parliamentary procedure.
- Chair – This position is rotated to
a different member each meeting to give them experience and confidence in
chairing a meeting
- Minutes – the minutes of the previous
meeting are confirmed (and sometimes amended)
- Reports – reports are presented from
the Officers who have information on their responsibilities for the
members
- Unfinished Business – any business from a
previous meetings which needs to be addressed
- New Business – any action that the members
desire to take regarding the Society
- Program – This is one of the most
important parts of the meeting. At the beginning of the year the Director
of Programs canvasses the members to research and present a particular
parliamentary topic at a meeting for the coming year. This gives the
member an opportunity to research a topic in depth using various
Parliamentary Authorities and educates the rest of the members on the
presentation. The presentation is usually done informally, with
questions/comments by other members posed during the presentation.
- Member
Problems – Members are able to bring forward parliamentary issues and
obtain advice from other members
- Hot
Seat – Members are selected for the “Hot Seat” on a rotational basis.
They assume the Chair and try to manage the various motions made by
members. This teaches chairmanship and the practical handling of, at
times, some very challenging parliamentary situations. There is an
evaluation of the session at the end of the session.
- Quiz
– A selected member on a rotational
basis poses questions taken from AIP examinations or educational material
to the members.
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