For the past several weeks I have been intensively involved as a facilitator and participant in efforts to — as some have put it — “turn the crisis of the community council into an opportunity” for improved governance on the Island. As a result of this experience (along with occasional attendance at the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council and other public meetings over the last two decades), I have come to several observations, perceptions and a proposed action step.
When I have attended meetings about governance, I have seen many serious, caring and thoughtful citizens who want the best for our Island community and our modest governance system. I have watched and listened to a number of wise elders and many other dedicated citizen-activists who are doing their best to shape our community council according to their strongly held values and principles.
At the same time, I have seen this wide array of citizens frequently constrained, limited and slowed by the use of parliamentary rules (specifically Robert’s Rules of Order and some narrowly drawn and interpreted bylaws) in many situations. Unfortunately, the application of these rules often prevents the open expression of public opinion and the free-flowing give-and-take crucial to tackling complex and challenging issues.
In addition, I have watched a few individuals use these rules and points of order as deftly wielded weapons to deter and defeat those with differing opinions and intentions. This parliamentary maneuvering often trivializes the issues at stake and frustrates the people who are stretching to bring their time, energy and effort to these meetings.
I understand the need for clear operating rules in public meetings, especially when formal decisions must be made and actions taken. However, I believe that we can never have an effective, broadly democratic, town-hall-style governance system with an interested and engaged citizenry if we adhere slavishly to these formal and rigid parliamentary rules throughout all of our meetings.
Too many Vashon citizens come to too many meetings where they are deterred from providing their input and actively participating in the shaping of the decisions and actions that would serve their interests. They often end up feeling that they have wasted their time and are loathe to come back for more frustration in future meetings. This is one reason why relatively few people regularly attend meetings of the community council and other public entities on the Island.
Just as a recent example, more than 80 people who attended the VMICC meeting on Sept. 20 had to sit largely in silence while a small minority of vocal participants struggled their way through a maze thrown up by the unusual situation and the constant referral to Robert’s Rules of Order and rigidly applied bylaws. I respected the leadership that Craig Beles, the meeting’s facilitator, brought to this most difficult gathering and the intentions of many who spoke that night, but we were completely stymied from moving into the give-and-take on the larger concerns and issues that motivated many to show up.
My primary suggestion is that we craft a “special rule of order,” allowed for under the bylaws, for selective use at community council and board meetings. This special rule would allow for the suspending of Robert’s Rules of Order for certain periods of time. As a result, everyone could take the time and space for better opinion-gathering, educational give-and-take, thoughtful deliberation, creative problem-solving and conflict resolution. In the short- to medium-term, I am sure some kinds of facilitation using more modern, creative and flexible ways of working with people would be needed to show the way to these more effective processes.
From my recent experiences at our Sunday governance forum meetings, I am confident that I could bring some of this initial facilitation on a volunteer basis at times; I also believe there are several others on Vashon who could bring their experience and expertise to this challenge.
Over time, I think that savvy board members and other capable citizen leaders and participants could learn how to apply these approaches along with their own instincts for effective democracy. With a clear mandate from the council as a whole, these natural leaders and facilitators could help us achieve better meeting processes and results in the years ahead.
Like others who are speaking out and writing in these pages, I want Vashon to have a truly democratic governance system that will be far more effective in determining our public will and conveying our wants to King County and the Legislature. Many of us will have to do many things to accomplish this goal. However, I think that taking this early step to periodically free ourselves up from crippling rules and disempowering tactics (still within an orderly framework for formal voting and decision-making) is essential to getting us where we want to go.
I hope those Vashon citizens who share this perspective will come to the upcoming council meeting and express your opinion in words and votes.
— John Runyan is an educator and consultant about leadership and organization development.
John Runyan’s motion to allow a “special rule of order” is slated to come before the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council at its next meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 18, at McMurray Middle School.
