Your Continuing Education Is Our Passion!

Learn something new, refresh your knowledge, and learn from others. This year’s educational sessions all take place on Saturday, September 9, 2023. Choose from more than 20 educational offerings on a variety of topics that tie back to NAP’s Body of Knowledge, which outlines the competencies consultants, leaders, and members need to run effective meetings and organizations.

Time SlotTimePresenter NameWorkshop TitleWorkshop Description
19:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.Carl Nohr, PRPCommittees Are Crucial!Committees play a crucial role in getting things done. Work can be divided up, discussion can be focussed, and stakeholders can be represented. To be effective, committees must be structured correctly within the authority of the organization. The role of the committee must be clear. The members must know their duties, and how to work effectively in a committee as a member or chair. In this workshop, we will cover the material in Domain 4, Leader Section of the NAP Body of Knowledge, and the Committees Section of the Registered Parliamentarians Performance Expectations. Whether you really enjoy or dislike committees, there will be something in this workshop for you!
19:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.David Jackson, PRPNew Delegate OrientationParticipants should be able to: Understand the needs of new delegates & Identify components of a New Delegate Orientation
19:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.Finos B. Johnson, RPBringing Closure: The Qualified, Debatable Motion to AdjournA case study on using the debatable motion to adjourn as an effective means to identify the will of the majority, to protect the rights of the minority, and to avoid any appearance of heavy-handedness in maneuvering a high-profile meeting to a successful and satisfactory conclusion.
19:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.Jim Slaughter, PRPWhat Parliamentarians Need to Know About Homeowner & Condominium AssociationsThinking about serving as parliamentarian to a homeowner or condominium association? What you don't know could hurt you (and your client)! Join attorney and PRP Jim Slaughter for a discussion of how community associations (HOAs/condos) are different than other types of organizations, including governing documents, statutes, and danger areas to avoid.
19:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.Donald Garrett, PRPNavigating the Bylaws Maze: Application, Interpretation, and SuspensionUnlock the secrets of effective governance!  Discover how to decipher and apply the different sections of bylaws, explore proven strategies for interpretation, and learn the rules for when suspending bylaws is allowed. Engaging examples will empower you to confidently navigate the complexities of bylaws, ensuring organizational success and impactful decision-making.
19:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.A Parliamentary Experience: Learning Lab for Presiding OfficersThe Learning Labs experience provides a safe space to practice your presiding skills and serving as a parliamentarian, with constructive feedback from experienced parliamentarians. Beginners and seasoned professionals, alike, will find great value in both labs.

Separate registration required. The labs are available only to in-person attendees. There is an additional fee of $25 to register; the fee will be refunded upon verification of participation.
210:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.Adam Hathaway, PRPSuspending the Rules: When You Need To Do What They Say Can't Be DoneWhen it is desired that the assembly take up a question or do something that would be in violation of a rule that applies, it can be proposed in some cases to Suspend the Rules to permit accomplishment of the desired purpose. This session will explain the Standard Descriptive Characteristics of the incidental motion to Suspend the Rules. It will also cover the rules that cannot be suspended as well as best practices for processing the motion. Real world examples will be used to help illustrate the lesson.
210:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.C.J. Cavin, PRPServing as a Floor ParliamentarianMany of us understand the general role of the parliamentarian, which is to advise the presiding officer and the organization to make the best decision. But do we understand what the role of the floor parliamentarian is? This workshop will discuss what a floor parliamentarian is, how the job is different from the “traditional” parliamentarian, what expectations exist with the client, and professional responsibility considerations.
210:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.Jim Slaughter, PRP, Nancy Sylvester, PRP, and Moderator, Kay Crews, PRPAuthor's CornerJoin us as NAP presents Author's Corner with a once in a lifetime opportunity to take part in a roundtable discussion with Nancy Sylvester, MA, PRP, CPP-T and Jim Slaughter, PRP, CPP-T, JD. The nationally known authors will share their thoughts on such subjects as why they began writing, who their target audiences are, tips on how to get published, how their works may be used in preparing for credentialing, and advice for aspiring authors. Attendees get an opportunity to purchase signed copy of their parliamentary educational materials that include:

Works by Jim Slaughter, PRP, CPP-T, JD.
- The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Parliamentary Procedure Fast Track
- Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules, Fourth Edition
- Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track: The Brief and Easy Guide to Parliamentary Procedure for the Modern Meeting
- Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules, Fifth Edition

Works by Nancy Sylvester, MA, PRP, CPP-T
- The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Robert’s Rules
- Guerrilla’s Guide to Robert’s Rules
210:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.Johnine Clark, PRPIncidental Not AccidentalThis workshop will be an overview of the incidental motions and how, when and when not to best use them.
210:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.Kirby Glad, PRPHow to Have a Successful PRP Business.This presentation covers the ins-and-outs of actually making money as a PRP. We will discuss marketing, price setting, customer service, getting repeat business and referrals. How to turn your hobby into a business. If you already have a successful PRP practice, please come and share the benefit of your experience.
210:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.Sandy Olson, PRPA Parliamentary Experience: Learning Lab for Serving as ParliamentarianThe Learning Labs experience provides a safe space to practice your presiding skills and serving as a parliamentarian, with constructive feedback from experienced parliamentarians. Beginners and seasoned professionals, alike, will find great value in both labs.

Separate registration required. The labs are available only to in-person attendees. There is an additional fee of $25 to register; the fee will be refunded upon verification of participation.
32:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.American College of Parliamentary LawyersParliamentarian v. Lawyer: Presenting the Case for when an organization needs a lawyer rather than a parliamentarian.
32:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.John R. Berg, PRPRONR Applications in Small BoardsPractical application of RONR rules for small board and for committees allow for more time-efficient and fair meetings.
32:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.Lucy Hicks Anderson, PRPGoogle Classroom for Parliamentary ProcedureThe workshop demonstrates how Google Classroom is used as a platform for teaching and mentoring members who are studying to attain a parliamentary credential.
32:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.Professional Standards and Member Discipline CommitteeProfessional Standards Update
32:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.Tamara D. Harris, PRPThe Minutes Say What?Minutes are not He say, She say! Minutes are the official record of the meeting. The minutes record what was "done" and not what was said. The accuracy of the minutes are essential for all organizations and this workshop provides an instructional lesson of what to and not to include in the minutes.
32:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.Sandy Olson, PRPA Parliamentary Experience: Learning Lab for Presiding OfficersThe Learning Labs experience provides a safe space to practice your presiding skills and serving as a parliamentarian, with constructive feedback from experienced parliamentarians. Beginners and seasoned professionals, alike, will find great value in both labs.

Separate registration required. The labs are available only to in-person attendees. There is an additional fee of $25 to register; the fee will be refunded upon verification of participation.
43:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m.Daniel (Dan) Jackson, PRP"Help Me!" I Have a Question!Have you ever sat in a totally ineffective and disorganized meeting? You have a question, want to make a recommendation, and you have concerns about the presiding officer. You want to ask questions and give input, but you don't know how to do it and are fearful that you will not be recognized. What do you do? Do you sit back and endure the "pain" or do you make a parliamentary inquiry, point of information, or even a point of order? Each motion has a specific purpose and a strategy for its use. Come and explore how to use each. Don't forget to bring your "Robert's Rules of Order." The training will be fun and fast-paced.
43:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m.Commission on CredentialingNAP Credentialing Update
43:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m.Eli Mina, PRPBeyond the BookAs professionals in the field of meeting management, we can make the difference that our clients desperately need and deserve, but only if we use as our motto a phrase imbedded in RONR paragraph 47:6: “… any presiding officer will do well to bear in mind that no rules can take the place of tact and common sense on the part of the chairman.” Guided by this phrase, we must resist the temptation to respond to a client’s question by automatically looking for a book-based answer. Instead, we must identify the precise problem that a client is facing, and only then consult a parliamentary manual. All of us love RONR, but we also need pragmatic tool boxes that may go beyond the book.
43:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m.Jennifer Nickel, RPIncreasing Your RONR Ranking ExpertiseSurvey of common resources and search terms to help parliamentarians discover where RONR may be outranked in determining commonly relevant bodies of law applicable in your state. Reviews relevant distinctions between different types of organizations using parliamentarians and common methods that can be used at no cost to discover discrepancies.
43:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m.Susan Eads Role, PRPGetting Down to Business: Forming a Limited Liability Company for Your Parliamentary EnterpriseThis workshop equips attendees with information needed to start up an LLC and covers other considerations, including business licenses, home occupation permits, professional liability insurance, financial institution services, and taxation.
43:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m.Sandy Olson, PRPA Parliamentary Experience: Learning Lab for Serving as ParliamentarianThe Learning Labs experience provides a safe space to practice your presiding skills and serving as a parliamentarian, with constructive feedback from experienced parliamentarians. Beginners and seasoned professionals, alike, will find great value in both labs.

Separate registration required. The labs are available only to in-person attendees. There is an additional fee of $25 to register; the fee will be refunded upon verification of participation.
Register Now