Who Has Seniority At A Formal Meeting?

[Felder]

HELP NEEDED!

As the President of the local Bush Fire Brigade, I chair meetings at least once a month, sometimes more often. It goes without saying that at these meetings, I am the Big Cheese ( ), but I will also shoot a bit of respect towards the Captain. It is very rare for me to introduce guests at these meetings, but when I do, there is usually only one guest and only one speech.

My problem is that this Friday night, we have our Annual General Meeting. There will be "VIP's" in attendance, and I know that there is some form of etiquette that should be observed as to the order in which guests are introduced and the order in which they speak. But I don't know what that order is.

So who goes first?

We have the local Federal Member (Kerry Bartlett), the local State Member (Bob Debus) and local Councillors. I'm assuming that they should be introduced in that order?

Then from the RFS, we have the Commissioner (Phil Koperburg), the Blue Mountains Fire Control Officer (Mal Koenig) and various other brass in descending order.

So which team goes first? The Pollies or the Firies??:confused:
Or do I introduce Fed Member, then State Member, then RFS Commish, then Councillors, then other RFS brass??

I'm really confused here and would like some sort of advice so that I don't make a complete a rse of myself on Friday night!
Does anyone have experience on these matters?

[Zed]

the entire assembly should remind those self serving pencil neck politico bludgers who feed from the pubic trough that they work for US not the other way round!!! if they fail to see the point they should be blasted with a fire hose up the date from 2 feet.

failing that they should be frozen and fed thru a bandsaw (felder or hammer of course)

the night is a waste anyway - it will be mutual back slapping and bull$hirt all night anyway - self congratulating b@stards. I dont doubt it will be stats review of how many fires "They saved" with thier "hard fought money donations"

koperberg has seniority. then his blokes. pollies should always go last. the @rseholes!

[jmk89]

Hi, Felder.
I don't know the answer, but the NSW premier's department has an Office of Protocol. Why not call them and ask? The worst they can do is say that they don't know (or they do, and they won't tell you!!).

Alternatively ask Commissioner Koperberg's office - I am sure they have had to deal with the question before.

For what it's worth, I think that the "correct" order would be:
1. Federal MP
2. State MP
3. Koperberg etc
4. Councillors
5. Others.

Of course you could just take the anarchist approach recommended by Zed....

[CameronPotter]

Zed's completely unbiased opinions aside, I think that the order is usually based upon who would get most offended/least offended at the order.

Are they sitting at a table at the front or in the audience?

If at a table, then you can introduce them in sitting order (regardless of who is where).

If in the audience, you only really introduce them as they speak.

I would put the fed. member either first or last and the Commisioner either first or last.

That way, they each get a place of respect (i.e. opening or closing comments).

Those two are clearly the two most senior people.

i.e. fed beats state and commisioner beats other firies.

The middle order can probably be jumbled about a bit to keep things interesting and interspersed.

Of course, each office probably has its own protocol saying that their person is the most important!

[Sturdee]

I'm really confused here and would like some sort of advice so that I don't make a complete a rse of myself on Friday night!
Does anyone have experience on these matters?

Send them all an email asking what kind of saws they have in their workshop.

All those who fail to reply or don't have a workshop don't even acknowledge them at the meeting as they are not worthy.

As for the rest I suggest the following order : TS beats bandsaw which beats a chop saw which beats CS which beats a handsaw which beats a chain saw. And if they have a felder they can take your place at the meeting.

Rather simple really.


Peter.

[johnc]

Think of shovelling out a stable and what comes before the shovel. You are quite right, pollies first, Federal, State, Local, The brass in decending order and so forth. I don't think most people listen to hard on the intro's and tune in when everything gets underway and the freeloaders photo opper's are back in their corners.

John.

[BobR]

Hey Zed, why are you holding back. Why don't you say what you really think.

[masoth]

I don't know the municipality you are in, but, if among your guests is the Mayor/Shire President he/she is recognized first - I'm sorry I don't rember the rest.
Ring your local council and ask for the protocol. Actually, it's somewhere on the internet but there's a hell of a lot of readiing to find it.

soth

[masoth]

Here is one official site, but still I don't remember if it contains what you want:
http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/CA256D8000...l+Occasions~&3=~

soth

[dazzler]

The one with the biggest ....HOSE!

[Ashore]

Always start with comedy relief and always leave them laughing, so the clowns go first and last
Federal Minister first state minister last .

[Felder]

The one with the biggest ....HOSE!

A fireman's pole could extinguish a pollies fire anyday, so maybe I will go with Koperburg first.



Masoth's link was the sort of thing I was looking for, but doesn't really tell me where the Commish should be slotted in.

My initial thought was to introduce the pollies first, all the way down to the local Councillors, and then move to the RFS big-wigs. My next line of thinking was to introduce Federal level first, then State, then Local, but that would then mean switching between the pollies and the firies on a few occasions.

It's all too hard for such a minor point. Think I will go with jmk89's advice, unless someone tells me it is completely wrong.

Of course the worst bit about all this is having to travel back to the Blue Mountains for an AGM halfway through the Sydney WWW show! Knock off from the show around 5.30 to race back to the hills to run a meeting that involves 'protocols' before having a few after meeting beverages and then getting up the next morning in time to get back to the show and look bright eyed and bushy tailed.......

Thanks all for your suggestions!

[Zed]

my real understanding is that the captain is always the master of his ship regardless of what admiral is on board; therefore he should go first. Visiting dignitorys should be introduced in order of rank unless they specify they want to be last... ferking wankers!

thus , you do the MC -
1) captain of troop
2) Koperberg, because technically he's the high up host and thus pulls rank on the parasites.
3) Koenig, because technically he's the bridesmaid and thus also pulls rank on the parasites.
4) federal wanker/liar,
5) state *rsewipe/liar,
6) local tongue-masters/wanna-be liars...

however sturdee makes a valid point.

[echnidna]

Ask your local member fed or state, about the protocol.

[Groggy]

Call the Office of Protocols mentioned or call the Federal member's office for advice - they usually know. If it is wrong then you tell him the advice came from his staff. Kinda sweet when they make a fuss and you tell them the advice came from their office.


Federal, State then Shire.
Elected officials come before appointed ones.
I'd have the Fireman last - it may put their nose out of joint but the others usually control the funds.