PARLIAMENTARY SOCIETY OF TORONTO
To become a member of the
Parliamentary Society of Toronto you must first be a member of the American
Institute of Parliamentarians (AIP). The current membership dues, which are
paid in US dollars, are approximately $70 ($45 US) per year for regular members
under 30 years of age, $86 ($55 US) for those 30 and older. Full-time students
can join for $31 ($20 US) per year. Dues can be paid by check or credit card,
or pay
online at the AIP's secure Internet site.
To join the Parliamentary
Society of Toronto is then just a further $12 CDN per year. Dues can be paid by
cheque or cash to the Treasurer of the Society.
Being a member of AIP gives you
access to many valuable resources.
·
Practicums
- These 3-4 day intensive workshops are helld twice each year, Virginia in June
and California in January.
·
Annual
Session - A different AIP Region hosts the Annual Session each year. Along with
the business meetings, each session also offers interactive training in
parliamentary procedure.
·
Bookstore -
AIP’s bookstore offers valuable books, charts, pamphlets, and other helpful
materials.
·
The
Parliamentary Journal - Members of AIP receive a subscription to the
Parliamentary Journal, a quarterly journal offering scholarly and educational
articles about parliamentary procedure.
·
The
Communicator - AIP members also receive the Communicator, a quarterly
newsletter which keeps members up to date about upcoming events and also offers
helpful parliamentary procedure information and resources.
·
Membership
Directory - Along with names and addresses of all AIP members, the directory
includes AIP’s action plan, bylaws, code of ethics and other important
organizational documents.
The American Institute of Parliamentarians
has several extensive certification programs, ensuring that members so
designated have met the highest possible standards of parliamentary knowledge.
Certified Parliamentarian (CP)
An applicant for Certified Parliamentarian
must have been a member of AIP for at least one year, must obtain a grade of 80
or above on a written examination, and must earn 20 service points in areas such
as Parliamentary Education, Service to AIP, and Professional Services.
The written examination contains multiple
choice, short answer and essay questions on parliamentary procedures covered in
Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, The Standard Code of Procedure,
Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure, and Fundamentals of
Parliamentary Law and Procedure.
Written examinations are offered in June. The
examination is closed book and must be proctored, but can be taken at the
applicant's chosen location. Proctored exams are also offered at the
Practicums.
Certified Professional
Parliamentarian (CPP)
An applicant for Certified Professional
Parliamentarian must be a Certified Parliamentarian in good standing, must
obtain a grade of 90 or above on an oral examination, and accumulate an
additional 30 service points.
The oral examination covers the current
editions of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, The Standard Code of
Parliamentary Procedure, along with Riddick's Rules of Procedure, and Demeter's
Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure. In addition to demonstrating a
thorough knowledge of these manuals, the examinee must also demonstrate
expertise in presiding.
Oral examinations are offered three times
each year: at the Annual Session (August) , the Richard M. Lucas Memorial
Practicum (January), and the Floyd M. Riddick Williamsburg Practicum (June).
Designated Teacher of
Parliamentary Procedure (CP-T or CPP-T)
CPs and CPPs are eligible to apply for the
teacher designation.
Applicants must complete a teacher education
course offered by Education Department of the American Institute of
Parliamentarians and must show evidence of at least 15 hours of successful
teaching experience.
