Parliamentary Pointers for Presiding People

One of the toughest things to learn as a Master Councilor, or as any presiding officer for that matter, is that silly little book called Robert's Rules of Order. Let's be honest, the language is goofy, it's tough to remember, and it rarely makes a whole lot of sense. However, it is an important tool, and one that all presiding officers should make use of. In an effort to help you put that book to better use, here are some tips and thoughts on how best to use parliamentary procedure in your Chapter.

As a presiding officer, you’ll be responsible for maintaining order. You’ll want to be familiar with the rules of Parliamentary Procedure. Information can be found in the Resources section of www.pademolay.org, or you might want to check your library for a copy of Robert’s Rules. Better yet, see if you can find a simplified version like The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Robert’s Rules (not that we’re calling you an idiot, but we sure found it easier to understand, so...)

Who’s in charge here?
A good presiding officer takes charge. You usually have the right, for example, to:

• Call for order and silence.
• Call meetings to order, recess, or adjournment.
• Determine the order of the agenda.
• Say who speaks, and when.
• Limit the time for discussion on an issue, or the number who may speak to it.
• Call for a vote, and choose the method of voting (voice, hands, written, etc.).
• Declare the outcome of votes.
• Rule on whether actions or speakers are in or out of order.

With power comes responsibility, so make sure you’re being fair, and everyone is being given the chance to be heard.

So what’s the down side?
Yes, sorry, there are limits to your authority. For example, you may not:

• Make any motions yourself (you may “entertain” or ask for them to be made).
• Participate in debate (you may provide information, but not opinion)
(If you just have to have your say, you must turn over the chair to someone else to do so.)
• Vote on motions, except to break a tie.
• Authorize action of the group without a properly passed motion.
• Act outside of the accepted Parliamentary rules.

Be aware that some of the authorities listed above can be overridden by a vote of the members, so all authority has limits. Again, act fairly!

What do I need to know?
Here’s a few key ideas:

• Do not consider/debate any topic until there is a motion on the floor. Open, unstructured discussion is for committees and planning sessions, not for stated meetings.
• Generally, you may not allow a second motion to be made while another is being considered. Call it “out of order” until the first motion is voted upon.
• Familiarize yourself with some key ideas like how to amend a motion, and the precedence of motions.
• Find someone to advise you on procedure. Appoint a Parliamentarian.

Hopefully this short article gives you some quick pointers on how to best use Robert's Rules. Do you like this stuff? Head on over to http://parliamentarians.org/ and check out the National Society for Parlimentarians! You too could become a certified expert in Parliamentary Procedure!

Yo JO!

This week I have been updating the website to prepare for Convention 2010 and the election of State Officers for the next year. While doing this task my mind turned to an area that interests me... history. Who are all of those men that served as State Master Councilor? What about all of the others who were elected but never became SMC? So, I dove in to the PA DeMolay history file and came up with some fun facts in relation to the PA DeMolay State Officer Corp.

18 Chapters in PA DeMolay have had one SMC. Of the 18 Chapters that can claim one, only six of those are still active PA DeMolay Chapters today (Susquehanna, Lincoln, Westmoreland, Somerton, Delaware Valley, George Washington).

7 Chapters have had two SMC's, only two of which are still active Chapters (Joppa and Templar.)

3 Chapters have had four SMC's, Elizabethtown, Friendship-Bray, and Lancaster. Lancaster Chapter has since closed and been reborn as Lancaster-Phoenix Chapter. Elizabethtown is unique in that they have had four SMC's in an eight year period.

Pilgrim, Erie, and Allentown Chapters can each claim 5 SMC's to their credit. Erie was unique in this case in that they had 4 SMC's by 1959, and did not have another until 2007!

Lorraine Chapter stands alone at having six SMC's, all of them since 1957.

The Chapter with the most SMC's is Reading Chapter with 7 since 1956.

The office of Deputy State Master Councilor was established in 1987, and since that time 23 people have held the title. Of those 23 only 5 have not gone on to be State Master Councilor.


Since 1987 only one person elected to the office of State Treasurer has gone on to be State Master Councilor. This number can be deceptive however, as not all persons elected to the State Officer Corps intend to be SMC someday!

Of State Master Councilors elected since 1980, 19 of 31 have been from Chapters on the eastern side of the State. 8 of the 31 were from decidely Western Chapters, with the remaining 4 being from other areas of the Jurisdiction.

So what's the point of all of this? Well, there isn't really one... it's just some random intersting facts, and I hope you enjoyed them!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

"I do so promise and vow."

Each year, participants in the Key Man Conference set aside time to focus on some of the things that make DeMolay different from “just another club.” In 2000, they focused on the obligations taken by each member at his initiation. It is our hope that as you work to commit the obligations to memory, each of you will be impressed once again with the call they make to upright, purposeful living. It is also our hope that you will not only practice the words of the obligations, but their principles as well, as you relate to your chapter members and advisors.

Contrary to what some may think, the obligations are not one of our secrets. If they are, there is something wrong. Whether we ever speak the actual words of the obligations in public settings, their content is very public, and should be “no secret” to those around us by the different way that we, as DeMolays conduct our lives.

As an emblem of those obligations, view the stained-glass window which is among the historical items maintained by DeMolay International in Kansas City. The window was made in the early 1960’s as a memorial to “Dad” Frank S. Land. It depicts a young man kneeling at a DeMolay altar as if taking his obligations. An ALTAR represents a place of worship, and reminds us that all our vows are taken before God, and are, in truth, promises made to Him as much as to others. The young man in the picture is clothed in a WHITE ROBE. A similar robe may once have been worn by a candidate for degrees. It represents purity of action and intent. Both hands are on THE BIBLE, representing a most solemn vow, and representing a DeMolay’s submission to a higher moral code, and not merely to personal or public opinion regarding right and wrong. KNEELING is a traditional symbol of humility, and willingness to serve others. The CROWN OF YOUTH is set upon the altar, emphasizing the opportunity afforded to youth for self-improvement, and reminding us of the seven cardinal virtues set as jewels in that crown. The SCHOOL BOOKS, as always, represent the public schools as the cradle of liberty, and are a symbol of freedom of conscience. The words on the window do not appear anywhere in DeMolay ritual or ceremony, but are, nonetheless, a fitting reminder for each of us, whenever we speak or hear the obligations we took, to reaffirm in our own heart and mind, “I DO SO PROMISE AND VOW.”

Have you lived like a DeMolay this week?

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

Eskimo Wisdom

Today we bring you a special guest posting from "Dad" Brent Richards.

“Unless you’re the lead dog, the view is always the same.” Eskimo Proverb

On a dog sled team, the lead dog is absolutely vital to the success and safety of the sled… the rest of the team will follow where he leads, stop when he stops, continue while he presses on, give up when he quits. Almost any strong dog can be put in the traces with minimal training, and will quickly learn to “pull his weight” and follow along. The lead dog, on the other hand, must be experienced, well-trained, and obedient, or the whole team will be in trouble. The lead dog is responsible for leading the way, and keeping the sled on a safe path. The other dogs simply watch him, and do what he does. Think about this... what does the lead dog see, versus what the other dog sees. The lead dog sees:
Changing scenery
Approaching dangers
Upcoming turns in the path
Challenging stretches of trail to prepare for
Steep hills
Weak patches in the ice
Fallen trees or other obstacles in the path
Other sleds approaching
Wolves, bears or other predators to avoid
The goal/finish in the distance

What do the other dogs see?

The lead dogs tail

The roles of leaders and followers in life are not all that different. There’s lots of challenges to being a leader. It’s hard work. But there are also lots of payoffs. A true leader:

o Gets the satisfaction of knowing he’s made a difference.
o Accomplishes far more by enlisting the help of others.
o Shares the burden of the work, and achieves greater success than any one person could alone.
o Saves himself and others from unnecessary pain and frustration by his good choices.
o Learns more by leading than he ever could by following.
o Develops and invests his natural talents.
o Earns the respect and affection of his peers.
o Develops more leaders from the people around him to continue the work.
o Learns difficult but rewarding life lessons, like self-sacrifice and learning by failure.
o Lives a far more rewarding and exciting life than he could by just being a follower.
o Develops deeper relationships and friendships than he otherwise would.
o Draws attention and rewards from employers and others in authority, and advances in leadership positions in various parts of his life.

And much much more… What will you choose in your life? Will you be a leader? Or are you content with the same old view?


"Dad" Brent Richards is a Past State Master Councilor of Pennsylvania DeMolay. He is a Chevalier and member of the Legion of Honor. He is also a Welshman... but we won't hold that against him.

Jacques DeMolay Federal Credit Union

The Knights Templar were an interesting group, not only for their battles and religious devotion, but also for how progressive they were in the field of banking. What?!? Banking? Yes, we know it sounds boring, but the Knights Templar were the world's first international lenders! I recently found a website with a nice overview of these practices at http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/crusades/knights-templar-banking.htm , which I reprint here for you to read:

"The Knights Templar Order became an extremely powerful entity during the Medieval times and era. When a man joined the Knights Templar he took an oath of poverty and his wealth and lands were donated to the Knights Templar order. The first donation of land was given to the Templars in 1127 by Count Thybaud of Champagne at Barbonne-Fayel, fifty kilometres north-west of Troyes. Further donations of money and land were given to the Knights Templar order by nobles and Kings. The Knights Templar were also given certain privileges, for example, King Alfonso I of Spain granted the Knights Templar exemption of tax on a fifth of the wealth taken from the Moors. Various Popes also gave privileges to the order. The Knights Templar order therefore became extremely wealthy and became involved in Knights Templar Banking activities."

"The Knights Templar banking activities led to their involvement with Usury. Usury was a form of money lending where an initial charge was made for a loan, or interest was charged on the repayments. The increase of the Knights Templar wealth in turn led to becoming involved in banking which in turn brought even greater wealth into the Knights Templar order. Their financial power due to their banking activities led to great political power in all of the countries in Europe of the Middle Ages."



"The Knights Templar banking activities increased their financial wealth and political power. Powerful monarchs went to the Knights Templar treasurers to obtain loans to finance their interests which included financing the cost of mounting a war. This was the case of King Philip IV of France (1268-1314) who was already heavily in debt to the Knights Templar when he requested a further loan to finance a war. The request was refused and a furious King Philip mounted an attack on the Knights Templar order. Pope Clement V initiated enquiries into the order and thousands of Knights Templar were arrested across Europe on charges of heresy. Anyone found sheltering a Templar was under threat of excommunication. This led to the decline of the Knights Templar Banking activities and the order itself."

So there you have it. If the Knights Templar hadn't become the scary "Repo Men" of the middle ages, they might just still be around! Now, where I can get a check card from Knights Templar National Lending and Trust... hmmm...

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth C. Anthony