From Don Niederfrank and Jaimie Orr:

One of the more unfortunately divisive actions of any body is a up-down vote on a controversial and debated resolution. Often no other action is considered. What follows are alternatives from Robert's Rules of Order,Newly Revised, www.robertsrules.com/

Motion to amend. Why not make an effort to construct a document of "common ground", of broader acceptance, perhaps (Dare one hope?) of consensus? Sometimes a case is passionately made and argued in anticipation of opposition and becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. An amendment can be a way of toning down the rhetoric and affirming commonly held assumptions, beliefs and purposes. Even amendments can be amended! But only once. An amendment of an amendment of an amendment is too complicated and out of order. It may take three forms--(a) to insert or add (that is, place at the end); (b) to strike out; (c) to strike out and insert, or to substitute, as it is called, when an entire paragraph or resolution is struck out and another is inserted.

Motion to Commit or Refer. This motion sends the question to a committee to enable the committee to investigate and represent the question in a more acceptable state. A motion may be referred to a "Committee of the Whole" which allows for debate in the assembly. What the group is doing is simply deciding to continue the conversation outside the time constraints of a convention/meeting. The issue can be committed/referred to a standing committee/commission or one to be established. The motion can set ground rules for the discussion. And then, after more time is spent on the issue, it can be brought back to the voting membership by the committee.

Motion to postpone definitely. This motion may have many objects, but for our purposes here it may present members of the assembly time to caucus/converse with one another in an attempt to create greater consensus and harmony before a vote is taken. The postponement is restricted to later in the present meeting or at the next.

Motion to lay on the table. While the intent of this motion is to set aside a motion so that more pressing business may be taken up with a view to return to the motion later, this motion may give the assembly time to consider whether the proceedings might be altered to create/preserve greater unity.

Motion to postpone indefinitely. The object of this motion is to reject the question not merely postpone it, but to do so without risking its adoption. There are many alternatives to dividing the assembly into "winners" and "losers" which can be especially welcome when the question to be voted on is not necessary business but a desire that the assembly express itself as holding certain views.

And last but not least, don't applaud if the motion you support is passed.