Court Standing Rules
We know that Standing Rules for our local court
- must conform to the National bylaws
- are guidelines for procedures, general policy and expectations for the court and its members
- are needed by everyone
- help make meetings run more smoothly
- help with decision making
- keep our members involved.
Standing Rules should contain
- meeting time and place
- dues information
- donation for use of the hall
- adopt a seminarian information
- charitable contributions
- benevolence gifts (Mass stipends, cards, the rosary, etc.)
- court involvement (committees, fundraisers)
- reception and installation information
- other items pertinent to your court.
Writing your Standing Rules
- Regent appoints a committee chairperson and three other members
- Committee chair gathers needed materials (copies of any previous Standing Rules, copy of National bylaws, and Roberts Rules of Order
- Chair plans a meeting for the committee to compose the Standing Rules
- Chair presents a copy of the rules to the Regent
- Members are presented with a copy of the proposed Standing Rules at a regular court meeting, read and discussed, voted on for acceptance.
Standing Rules should be reviewed
- at the beginning of a new term of office
- when a need arises
- when court finances or other conditions change
- charitable recipients are changed.
Standing Rules can be changed
- by a vote of membership at a regular scheduled meeting
- by a temporarily rescinding by court officers for a short period of time
- by members for a temporary change.
Examples for change include
- day, time, place of meetings
- dues amount
- charities – national, state and local court wishes to support
- recognition of officers
- gifts, donations.
Check the Tools of the Trade (sec. V, 5-14 and 5-15) for more information about Standing Rules.
Include the revision date on each new set of Standing Rules.
All officers and court members and court’s district deputy should receive a copy of the Standing Rules. Have them available at all court meetings.