General Assembly

This biennial meeting gives members the chance to vote on resolutions and changes to WSNA’s bylaws—decisions that directly influence our priorities, programs, and policies.

If you’ve ever wanted to guide the direction of your professional association and union, this is your moment. Your voice matters here, and your vote has power.

Members participate during General Assembly by making and seconding motions, proposing amendments to motions under consideration, speaking to issues, and casting votes.

In addition to considering proposed bylaws amendments and resolutions that have been prepared in advance, in some cases, members may introduce emergency resolutions to address urgent or time-sensitive issues.

To help you get familiar with the process, this short video walks through the basics: how motions and amendments work, how to participate in debate, and how to navigate the flow of discussion. It wraps up with a lighthearted skit that brings everything together and shows what it looks like in action.

Attendance

• Attendance at the General Assembly is open to WSNA members and observers.
• Participants are asked to keep noise to a minimum during sessions of the General Assembly. All electronic devices must be set to vibrate only or must be powered off.

Microphones and speaking

• A member who wants to speak in debate or make a motion must go to microphone #1 or #2.
• A member who wants to raise a point of order or a question of privilege, who has a request for information, or who has a parliamentary inquiry must go to microphone #3 and wave the card available from the microphone monitor. Microphone #3 is not to be used for any other purpose unless directed by the Chair.
• The Chair will generally recognize speakers in the order that they have lined up at the microphones but may recognize a different speaker for the purpose of alternating between those in favor and those opposed.
• When recognized by the Chair, a member will state their name and the purpose for requesting the floor—for example, to speak in favor, to speak against, or to make a motion.
• Each speech in debate is limited to 3 minutes.

Non-voting participants

Attendees other than duly accredited WNSA members may be permitted to ask questions and speak to matters before the General Assembly at the discretion of the Chair. When speaking, a nonvoting attendee must comply with the rules applicable to duly accredited members.

Motions

All main motions and motions to amend must be submitted in writing, unless directed otherwise by the Chair. The Chair may require any other motion to be submitted in writing.

Voting

The initial vote on a motion will be a voice vote, a show of hands, or a rising vote, at the chair's discretion.

Resolutions

Debate and amendment of the preamble of a resolution (one or more clauses beginning “Whereas”) is not allowed. If a resolving clause is amended prior to adoption and it requires a change to the preamble, the bylaws and resolutions committee is authorized to amend the preamble.

Emergency resolutions

• An emergency resolution is a resolution that was not submitted prior to the deadline of March 1, 2025. An emergency resolution must pertain to issues whose significance could not have reasonably been known prior to the deadline and must require urgent action.
• An emergency resolution must include the signature of at least 25 duly accredited WSNA members and must be submitted by 10:00 a.m. on the first day of the Convention (Wednesday, April 30, 2025).
• An emergency resolution is referred to the Bylaws and Resolutions Committee without debate. By a two-thirds vote, the committee may decide to not report the emergency resolution.

Other business

A two-thirds vote is required to introduce any original main motion that is not a resolution, is not an emergency resolution, and is not part of a committee report. (An original main motion is one that proposes a question as a new subject and is not procedural in nature.

Robert’s Rules of Order is a time-tested system used in democratic meetings across the country.

WSNA follows Robert’s Rules of Order during General Assembly to keep the meeting fair, organized, and inclusive. These rules guide how members bring forward ideas, participate in discussion, and make decisions together.

Don’t worry if it’s your first time participating in General Assembly or using Robert’s Rules. We’ll have experienced members and staff available to guide you throughout the process and make sure your voice is heard.