Read Online Act Like You Know by Stephanie Perry Moore - Free Book Online

he was allowing us to still use the space.
    Though my chapter in Texas was smaller, we were big on parliamentary procedures. We used Robert’s Rules of Order; this was the first thing we got trained in after we crossed. My past collegiate adviser believed in running an orderly meeting, but as I looked around the room at my line and Western Smith’s line, I didn’t even see Western Smith’s collegiate adviser anywhere.
    I sat there as the two lines started arguing about whether we should have a party and whether we should go around and help other chapters around with their lines. They were talking over each other. Then they starting saying some truly nasty stuff to each other.
    Bea, in particular, said, “I know we’re suspended, but having a little party to raise a little money isn’t going to kill anybody. The National President isn’t going to know everything we do unless somebody in this room has a direct line to her snitches.”
    â€œOh, so what are you trying to say?” Malloy said with angry veins busting from her skull. “Because I want to do things right so we can get our chapter back in compliance and back on campus. I’m not letting some of y’all pull down this chapter again.”
    Hayden tried cutting in when her line sisters and Malloy’s line sisters were almost at blows. “Everybody just needs to settle down.”
    However, sorors started screaming back and forth. The lines were ready to defend their point. Bea looked at me to join her side, knowing I had been hazed and may hold that against my line, and Malloy stared me down—she knew I truly felt bad about all her line had been through and that now I had second thoughts about hazing being right.
    Actually, I didn’t want to be a part of either group. They obviously needed some order, so I raised my hand. Everybody just stared at me and then quieted down for me to speak, but the chair didn’t recognize me.
    I motioned up front to Hayden. “Do I have the floor, Madam President?”
    â€œYeah, you may say something, Alyx.”
    â€œWell, I know you all are wondering why I didn’t just shout out what I had to say, but you all aren’t working in order. The chair has to recognize you before you can speak. I believe Robert’s Rules of Order is an important book that keeps the feelings down and let’s everybody be heard respectfully. Then you vote on what’s best for the body.”
    â€œAnd how do you know all this?” Trisha asked impulsively, apparently having heard nothing I’d said about protocol.
    Sweetly as I could, I said, “I wish you hadn’t just talked out of turn, but to answer your question, my chapter got trained in it. That’s one of the workshops we had to do—actually, we had to master it.”
    â€œWhy is it even important?” Torian asked.
    â€œWell, because you guys have been shouting at each other, and nobody is really hearing anyone’s argument. As I sat here and listened, you all made good points, but if no side is really hearing what you have to say, it’s ineffective for the chapter. Robert’s Rules also says no one should speak on a motion more than twice.”
    â€œMotion? What’s a motion?” Bea said.
    â€œWell, that’s just it. We’ve been discussing stuff, but there’s been no formal way of placing that item out there for the chapter to officially discuss. To start this meeting, no kind of agenda was even adopted; thus, anything goes, and we’re wasting time.”
    â€œYeah, because I wanted to talk about some things, but the President didn’t put it on the agenda. So we just had to go with what she wanted to talk about,” Bea said.
    â€œWell, that’s because I’m the only one that takes the time to do the agenda,” Hayden said. “I’m not saying it has to be this way.”
    â€œAnd that’s why you are supposed to jot down