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This chair wishes she had written this, but alas did not.
She found it in her parliamentary archives and felt is it clever.

Writing a Resolution

Whereas, A resolution is a main motion which is offed in writing and in a prescribed form because of its
importance, length complexity;

Whereas, The action proposed must not be contrary to national, state or local law, or the rules of the
organization which it is offered;

Whereas, A resolution may include a preamble consisting of one of more clauses (paragraphs) begin-
ning with the word “Whereas” which should be capitalized and followed by a comma, the next word
also being capitalized the clause ending with semicolon;

Whereas, The clause beginning “Whereas” gives background information and reasons for the proposed
adoption of the resolution;

Whereas, A preamble should not contain a periods within its structure;

Whereas, The next to the last paragraph of the preamble (and also preceding paragraph, if desired)
should close with “and”;

Whereas, The last paragraph of the preamble should close with a semicolon followed by optional con-
necting word such as “therefore” or “there’re, but it” or “now, therefore, but if (no punctuation);

Whereas, The resolving paragraphs, of which there may be on or more, should each begin with the
word “Resolved” which should be capitalized, and underlined or italicized, followed with a coma, the
next word “That” begins with a capital “T”, each clause ending with semicolon, followed if desired, by
“and”; and

Whereas, The final resolving clause should end with a period; now therefore, be it

Resolved, That if you follow the example demonstrated in this resolution as to form, punctuation and
capitalization, you will have written a properly framed resolution.

Written by Marilyn Werschky of Colorado Springs 1991

Trudy Waldroop
Bylaws/Resolutions Chair 2023-24
E-mail:ILoveBPW@yahoo.com