[nfbwatlk] Fw: Resolutions Committee

[Mike Freeman]

Great work, Mike!

Mike Freeman
sent from my iPhone


On Oct 17, 2011, at 11:47, "Mike Mello" <mike at mello.com> wrote:

> Guidelines for Resolution Writing
> 
>    Writing resolutions is a specialized skill. The resolution is one very long sentence directing the organization to take 
> a stand or engage in some action. It can also commend or take exception to actions of other entities. It must not provide 
> direct instructions to any group other than the NFB or its president and board of directors. The actions or other 
> recommendations are contained in the resolves at the close of the resolution. The argument for taking the action is laid out in 
> a series of whereases. Ideally each argument and only one argument should be placed in a single whereas. These should 
> be arranged in the most logical order possible.
> 
>    The most efficient way to write a resolution is to make a simple outline or list of premises which you will turn into the 
> WHEREAS clauses and a similar simple list of phrases for the RESOLVED clauses. In fact, you should begin by 
> determining what your RESOLVED clauses are; that is, how many there should be and what their basic thrust is. You will 
> know how many by the number of entities we need to address or the number of problems we need to fix. After you decide 
> specifically how you want the problem fixed, determine the smallest number of concepts you need to explain to a person 
> unfamiliar with the problem that there is a problem. The best resolutions can be picked up by a person unfamiliar with the 
> issue and hold that person's attention (in other words, are as short as possible) while still actually explaining the problem 
> and the solution or solutions. This method, deciding the ending first and then crafting the arguments to reach it, will result in 
> the simplest and clearest resolution. Then, when you actually write the formal resolution, you can focus on the writing and the 
> style, having already done the thinking part.
> 
>    Here are the punctuation and layout rules for writing resolutions:
> 1. Each argument begins with the word WHEREAS, indented and all caps. BE IT RESOLVED and BE IT FURTHER 
> RESOLVED, which introduce the resolve sections, are also indented and written in caps. Note that WHEREAS is followed 
> by a comma, but the two versions of be it RESOLVED are not.
>    2. Each WHEREAS before the final one ends with a semicolon and the word and. This is true of the RESOLVES 
> as well.
>    3. The final WHEREAS ends with a colon, the words Now, therefore, and a hard return. Please note that Now is 
> capitalized.
>    4. The final RESOLVE ends with a period. This reflects the fact that the entire resolution is a single sentence. 
> Sometimes one is taxed to refrain from writing sentences within WHEREASes, but inserting a complete sentence is not 
> playing the game fairly.
>    5. A blank line separates the elements of the resolution.
>    6. In the beginning of the first RESOLVE surround the year and the state with commas. The formula looks like this: 
>    BE IT RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind in convention assembled this eighth day of July, 2000, 
> in the City of Atlanta, Georgia, ... Note also that the C in City is capitalized.
> 
>    The rather strained form of the resolution makes it sound unnatural and formal. Do not attempt to add to this effect 
> by indulging in jargon and verbosity. Even though resolutions are frequently long, brevity is a virtue. Each argument should 
> be made concisely but clearly. Jargon never helps this process. Substituting utilizefor the short, vigorous word use and 
> always referring to people as persons or individuals are good examples of counterproductive inflation of the pomposity