What is a point of order?
A point of order is a remark about how the meeting is run, not about the topic itself. That is why it goes before the speakers list: if the meeting itself goes wrong, there is no point in talking on.
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1 Topic Sanne Speaking1:42New membership feeThe board proposes going from € 20 to € 25 a year.
- 3 QuestionLotte
- 4 CommentJoris
- 2 Point of orderMehmet
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5 TopicFatimaAudit committee
Everyone sees the same list, live.
What it is for
At the general meeting, Sanne is talking about the new membership fee. Mehmet joins from home on Zoom and can't hear her: the microphone in the room is off. He raises his hand and is sixth on the list. By the time it is his turn, he has missed ten minutes.
That is what a point of order is for. Mehmet says "point of order", the chair lets Sanne finish her sentence, the microphone goes on and the meeting carries on.
Examples of a point of order
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Someone can't be heard. The microphone is off, or the people online can't hear the room.
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The speaking time is up. Two minutes were agreed and the speaker is at five.
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It is no longer about the agenda item. The audit committee is on the agenda, but the talk has moved to the clubhouse.
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The rules aren't followed. A vote starts while nobody is sure what it is about, or while the bylaws say otherwise.
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Someone gets personal. It is about the person instead of the proposal.
Not a point of order: "I disagree" or "What does it cost?". That is about the topic. For that you just put yourself on the list, with a comment or a question.
How to handle it as the chair
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Give the floor right away. Let the speaker finish their sentence, then give the floor to whoever raised the point of order. Not at the end of the list.
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Ask what it is about. In one sentence. A point of order is short.
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Decide. If it is right, fix it: microphone on, back to the agenda item, wrap up the speaking time. If it is really about the topic, say so kindly and put the speaker on the list.
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Carry on where you were. Whoever was speaking finishes. The order of the list stays as it was.
What often goes wrong
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A point of order to jump the queue. Whoever says "point of order" and then gives their opinion skips the list. As the chair, you may send that back to the list.
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Letting the point of order wait. At the end of the list it is too late: by then Mehmet has missed the whole discussion.
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Turning it into a debate. Decide briefly and move on. A debate about procedure takes longer than the problem itself.
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People online can't show it. Teams and Zoom have a raised hand, but it looks the same for a question and for a point of order.
In TalkingStick a point of order stands out
Next to topic, comment and question, TalkingStick has its own button for a point of order. Whoever presses it shows up on the list with a red warning sign, live for everyone, in the room and online. You see it at once and decide when it comes up. A point of order has no speaking time and no replies under it: short, and then on. Once it is handled, you close it.
Try it at your next meetingHow it works
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Create a meeting
Make an account and a room for your group, for example "Board" or "Members meeting". Put the meeting in it on a date.
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Share the code
Participants open the link on their phone or laptop and type their name. They don't need an account. You let them in.
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Give the floor
Anyone who wants to speak joins the list with a topic, comment, question or point of order. You see the queue, start the speaker and the timer runs.
Questions
Can the chair ignore a point of order?
Ignore it, no. Rule it out, yes. The chair listens and decides whether it is really about procedure. If not, the speaker just puts themselves on the speakers list.
What is the difference with a point of information?
A point of order is about how the meeting is run. A point of information is a short question or remark about the topic, like "is that amount right?". A point of order goes before the list; a point of information usually waits its turn.
Can you interrupt someone for a point of order?
Yes, that is what it is for. Do wait until the speaker finishes their sentence, and keep it short.
Is TalkingStick free?
Yes, while it is in testing. If a paid version comes later, you will hear well in advance.
Would your group use this?
TalkingStick is new. Whether I turn it into a complete product depends on your answer. It's three questions.