MNA Conventions

Past Conventions (click on year)

2003       2004       2005       2006

History and Composition
MNA began in 1905 and held its first Convention and House of Delegates in 1906. A convention has been held every year since, and surprisingly, it has always been held in October.

The MNA Bylaws state: “The House of Delegates shall be the governing body of MNA and shall be composed of the Board of Directors, and delegates elected by the MNA membership”.  This sentence clearly states that it is the House of Delegates that sets the priorities and policies for the Association each year.  The House of Delegates meets annually at the time of the MNA Convention.  Special meetings may be called by eight members of the Board of Directors or upon written request of a majority of the DNAs.

There are twelve (12) Board of Director Delegates who are elected statewide. The Board of Directors are seated at the front of the House of Delegates facing the delegation. Seated with the Board of Directors is the MNA Executive Director, the MNA Parliamentarian and the MNA Court Reporter. The President of MNA presides over the meeting on the House of Delegates. The MNA Executive Director is present to assist with the proceedings but is not a delegate.

Non-delegates are individuals who are attending the convention but were not elected as delegates. They are seated in a section separated from, but adjacent to the voting delegates. Non-delegates may speak to issues at meetings of the House of Delegates, but cannot vote. In 2001, the House adopted a bylaw that allows for DNA Presidents, Commission Chairs, and the Chairs of ABUL and AMPEI, who were not elected delegates a courtesy seat in the House of Delegates with voice but no vote. 

Registration:  All members shall be registered before being admitted to convention business meetings or any convention functions. Registration fees are published in the Minnesota Nurses ACCENT.

Credentials:  All delegates shall be full-time registrants and must be credentialed by the MNA Registration Desk to receive a delegate ribbon. Delegates are required to wear convention badges and ribbons before being admitted to seating in the delegates’ area. DNA Presidents, Commission Chairs, and the Chairs of ABUL and AMPEL, who are not elected delegates, shall have a courtesy seat in the House of Delegates with voice but no vote. They will be given ex-officio ribbons at the MNA Registration desk that will admit them to the delegate seating area.

Recognition:
Any member wishing to speak, shall:

1. Approach a microphone
2. Address the chair
3. Be recognized by the chair
4. Give name, geographical area and delegate status

Motions:

1. The chairperson of a structural unit, who is not a delegate, may move adoption of a recommendation developed by that structural unit. All other motions must be made by a delegate.
2. Only delegates may vote.
3. All main motions, except motions of procedure, offered by an individual delegate, shall be in writing on the form provided, signed by the maker and the seconder and given to the monitoring table in the rear of the House of Delegates for typing and forwarding to the Chair before such motion is presented to the House of Delegates.
4. Any main motion or resolution not published in the ACCENT  shall be referred to the Reference Committee prior to its introduction at the House of Delegates.
5. Resolutions or main motions from structural units meetings during convention must be presented to the Reference Committee before being presented to the House of Delegates.
6. Any Main motion or resolution introduced by an individual delegate, which has not been presented to the Reference Committee must receive a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the House of Delegates for consideration and a two-thirds (2/3) vote for adoption.

Debate:
No member shall speak in debate more than three minutes on the same day to the same question without consent of the House of  Delegates, granted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote without debate. No delegate may speak more than once to the same question except by consent of the House of Delegates. 

No delegate may call the question until at least four people, two pro and two con, have had an opportunity to speak to any issue coming before the House of Delegates.  Non-delegates shall have the privilege of speaking only once to a question.  Whenever possible, the chair will recognized alternately, speakers for or against the motions on the floor.

Communications:
All communication to the platform, or to persons in the assembly, shall be delivered by an official page.

Suspension of Rules:
These rules may be suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote.

Governance:
All matters outside the scope of the preceding rules shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

Microphone Colored Cards 
In addition to Standing Rules, many assemblies have other ways to assist delegates with proper procedure. Several years ago the MNA Parliamentarian recommended the use of microphone cards. This procedure was well received by the delegates and is now used at each meeting of the assembly.

The procedure for using the cards is published in the first issue of the convention publication HOTLINE, and is as follows:

• If you wish to speak in FAVOR of a motion, hold a GREEN card.
• If you wish to speak in OPPOSITION to a motion, hold a RED card.
• If you wish to CALL THE QUESTION, hold a WHITE card.
• If you have a POINT OF ORDER, PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY, OR APPEAL A RULING OF THE CHAIR, hold a YELLOW card.

DEFINITIONS:

CALL THE QUESTION:  Needs a second and is not debatable. If the motion to “Call the Question” carries, debate on the questions stops and the assembly moves directly to voting on the question.  WHITE CARD

POINT OF ORDER: Does not need a second. If a member of the assembly feels the Presiding Officer has made a mistake, the member rises to a “Point of Order” to see if the error can be corrected immediately.  YELLOW CARD

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRE or POINT OF INFORMATION: Does not need a second. The parliamentary Inquire is a request for the chair’s opinion on a matter of parliamentary procedure as it relates to the business at hand and does not involve a ruling.  Point of Information is an inquiry as to facts affecting the business at hand and is directed to the chair or through the chair to a member. YELLOW CARD

APPEAL: Although the duty of ruling on all questions of parliamentary procedure affecting the assembly’s proceedings rests with the chair, any two members, by moving and seconding an APPEAL immediately after the chair has made such a ruling, can require her/him to submit the matter to a vote of the assembly.

Delegate Job Description

Position: Delegate to MNA Annual Convention
Qualifications: Current MNA Member       
Length of Term: Two Years
Accountable To: Your MNA Group (Collective Bargaining; Non-Collective Bargaining-Non-Supervisory; and Supervisory) 
Registration: Delegates must register at MNA registration desk to be credentialed and to receive a delegate ribbon. No delegates are allowed in the voting area without having a delegate ribbon.

Responsibilites:

• Delegates are expected to read delegate packet mailed from MNA 
• Delegates are expected to attend all forums
• Delegates MUST attend all sessions of the House of Delegates
• Delegates should carefully review “Guidelines for Delegates”,  the Reference committee policy and procedures, and the Standing rules; all enclosed in the delegate packet.
• If an emergency arises preventing you from serving as a delegate, you must notify MNA and return the delegate packet to MNA
• Delegates must send in the convention reservation form to MNA
• Delegates must make hotel reservations directly with the facility.

New Delegates:

• New Delegates are expected to attend New Delegate orientation with MNA Board of Directors on Sunday
• Notify MNA registration desk if they wish to be assigned a mentor

Reimbursement: Reimbursement will be determined by the MNA Board of Directors annually