Article archive / January 1, 2010
Originally published: . Volume 1, No. 5. Source pages: 1, 5.
LPA has retained the services of Mr. Alan Jennings, Professional Registered Parliamentarian, to help the association. He told the Times, “I’m engaged by LPA because there are complex questions for the association to decide and an internal climate of impassioned division of opinion. Everyone should be clear in their understanding that the essence of my engagement is an advisory one, and my client is the Louisiana Psychological Association.” He has indicated that he will work toward the benefit of all members of the association, by following the principles underlying parliamentary law.
In providing guidance, Alan spontaneously quotes from the principles that guide his thinking and efforts, saying that resolving whatever issue at hand “…is based on a regard for the rights: •of the majority, •of the minority, •of the individual members, •of absentees, •and of all these together.” He clarified that this is from Robert’s Rules, the section on “Principles Underlying Parliamentary Law.”
When the Times asked him how parliamentary law could help manage conflict, Alan referred again to Robert’s Rules: “The application of parliamentary law is the best method yet devised to enable assemblies of any size, with due regard for every member's opinion, to arrive at the general will on the maximum number of questions of varying complexity in a minimum amount of time and under all kinds of internal climate ranging from total harmony to hardened or impassioned division of opinion.” He remarked that this quote “… says it all, with such economy of words.”
Written as a companion to the official Rules, Alan has authored Robert’s Rules for Dummies, published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., and available through Alan’s website (http://www.alanjennings.com/rrfd/).
Credentialed by the National Association of Parliamentarians, Alan holds office in the Louisiana Association of Parliamentarians, and is a member of the American Institute of Parliamentarians. Retired executive director from the Louisiana Notary Association, he has assisted several organizations to international recognition. He credits this to the principles of procedure and leadership found in Robert’s Rules. He is most active as a professional parliamentarian and serves his clients at the state and national levels, specializing in bylaws and corporate documentation.
Alan lives in Baton Rouge with his wife of 29 years, an accomplished photographer and artist. They enjoy work and vacation travel time together, and a menagerie of four-legged family members: a terrier, two cats, and Buddy, a big American bulldog who wandered in after Katrina and decided to stay.
Mr. Alan Jennings, center, assists Dr. John Simoneaux at recent CE meeting, as Dr. Levy looks on.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.