​​FOR ORGANIZATIONS that follow Robert's Rules of Order, most tend to use the newest edition. That's because either a state or federal law or the governing documents refer not to a specific numbered edition, but to the latest edition. For instance, statutes in Connecticut, Hawaii, North Carolina, and Oregon all provide that community association meetings should use the most recent version. The model statutes from the Uniform Law Commission and some association bylaws make a similar distinction.

The new edition is the first since 2011, but don't immediately toss out your 11th edition. The every-10-years-or-so revisions tend to be tweaks, not complete rewrites. The changes are not likely to significantly change how most meetings are run. I note these general differences between the two editions:

❚ Three new subsections in Section 51 (Reports of Boards and Committees): Form and Reception of Committee Reports in General, Disposition of Particular Types of Committee Reports, and Oral Reports; Partial and Minority Reports.

❚ Paragraph and subparagraph numbers have been added to aid in referencing specific provisions (e.g., “RONR (12th ed.) 35:10-12).

❚ An expanded and more detailed index.

❚ A new appendix with 15 pages of sample rules for electronic meetings—certainly a sign of our times.

Online resources from the publisher suggest there are 89 changes between the most recent editions. The book's preface states that there are nine “notable" revisions and 13 “important points" of revision. That would seem to leave 67 other “minor" changes the authors thought should be referenced.

Many of the differences are clarifications or fine distinctions mostly of concern to professionals. The 12th edition adds greater detail or clarification as to:

❚ Different types of electronic meetings and their rules, including possible wording for “Full-Featured Internet Meeting Services," “Teleconference with Internet Voting and Document Sharing," “Some Members Participate by Speakerphone in Otherwise Face-to-Face Meeting," and “Telephone Meeting Without Internet Support"

❚ Executive session practices, the secrecy of discussions or decisions from closed sessions, and lifting secrecy

❚ The process of correcting and approving minutes

❚ The term “ballot" being broadened to include electronic devices

❚ Debate on nominations

❚ The secrecy of ballot votes

❚ Ratification of actions from an unauthorized electronic meeting

❚ When electing a group of individuals to staggered terms, who gets the longest term

❚ What should be included in meeting minutes

❚ The process for “filling blanks" (related to amending), and “close suggestions" no longer used

❚ How subordinate body bylaws must (or need not) conform to those of the superior body

❚ The phrase “one year" term of office possibly being more or less than one year

❚ The duties of a vice president

❚ When a negative vote is “intrinsically irrelevant" and not needed

❚ The adoption of convention standing rules

❚Quorum at conventions related to attendance

❚ When the Chair can “assume" a motion

❚ Timeliness requirements for a Point of Order and greater details on what are “continuing violations"

You can review a more comprehensive list of changes at www.robertsrules.com. More resources on meeting procedures are available at lawfirmcarolinas.com/blog/category/parliamentary-law and www.jimslaughter.com.

James H. Slaughter is a partner with Law Firm Carolinas in Greensboro, N.C., and a fellow and past president of CAI's College of Community Association Lawyers. He is author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Parliamentary Procedure Fast-Track and Notes and Comments on Robert's Rules.​