Chair, Be Reasonable. RONR is Not a Sledgehammer!
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RONR page 456, lines 13 to 21:
`The president should never be technical or more strict than is necessary for the good of the meeting. Good judgment is essential; the assembly may be of such a nature, through its unfamiliarity with parliamentary usage and its peaceable disposition, that strict enforcement of the rules, instead of assisting, would greatly hinder business. But in large assemblies where there is much work to be done, and especially where there is the likelihood of trouble, the only safe course is to require a strict observance of the rules.'
SECONDING A MOTION: You do not have to agree with the motion, to second the motion!
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RONR Page 36, lines 9 to 15, states:
"A second merely implies that the seconder agrees that the motion should come before the meeting and not that he necessarily favors the motion. A member may second a motion because he would like to see the assembly go on record as rejecting the proposal, if he believes the vote on the motion would have such a result."
Maker of the Motion: Put Your Motion In Writing.
How many times have you heard someone say, "the minutes are incorrect; that isn't the motion I voted on."
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To avoid this problem, it is required by RONR that the Chair restate the motion prior to taking the vote.
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To assist the Chair, put your motion in writing; give the motion to the secretary, parliamentarian, or Chair.
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Chair: If the member does not give you the motion in writing, be sure to restate the motion clearly, and ask the member if that is the correct wording of their motion. Ensure the secretary has recorded the motion correctly; ask the secretary to repeat the motion to you if the motion is complex.
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RONR page 40, lines 4 to 7: "The chair-either on his own initiative or at the secretary's request-can require any main motion, amendment, or instructions to a committee to be in writing before he states the question."