Roberts Rules are great... if you are a debating in the United Nations. They are fantastic at demonstrating who is on what side of an issue or a power struggle. If, however, you want to avoid creating unneeded divisions, while maintaining the ability to politely discuss differences, following clear procedures that allow for debate, and closure of debate, the New Rules of Order are well worth looking at.

The goal of the New Rules is to build consensus, not to divide groups into winners and losers. The secret is to get people who are not in agreement with the majority, to vote "yes" to what the "sense of the group" is.