adam Posted August 29, 2013 at 12:09 AM Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 at 12:09 AM At our last regular board meeting there were two motions passed calling a special meeting: the first to have our attorney present at a special meeting to address questions regarding amendments to our bylaws, and the second to defer approval of the proposed bylaws amendments until the special meeting. Our bylaws require 15 days notice for any meeting of the board, however the date we set for the special meeting was less than 15 days after the regular meeting. Under the circumstances, what business (if any) can be transacted at the special meeting? Separately, our bylaws stipulate the agenda for every meeting--role call, reading of minutes, new members, finance report, committee reports... Do we follow that agenda at the special meeting? Thank you Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted August 29, 2013 at 12:39 AM Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 at 12:39 AM Our bylaws require 15 days notice for any meeting of the board, however the date we set for the special meeting was less than 15 days after the regular meeting. Under the circumstances, what business (if any) can be transacted at the special meeting? None. Separately, our bylaws stipulate the agenda for every meeting--role call, reading of minutes, new members, finance report, committee reports... Do we follow that agenda at the special meeting? This is a moot point for the upcoming meeting, but for future reference, the answer is no. A special meeting can only conduct the business included in the call, so you would not follow the assembly's usual order of business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam Posted August 29, 2013 at 01:00 AM Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 at 01:00 AM Thank you, I suspected as much. Would you provide a reference to where in RONR this is spelled out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted August 29, 2013 at 03:11 AM Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 at 03:11 AM Would you provide a reference to where in RONR this is spelled out? See RONR, 11th ed., pgs. 91-93 for information on special meetings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam Posted August 29, 2013 at 11:33 AM Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 at 11:33 AM Thanks Josh, I mean specifically not conducting business: it seems like a no-brainer, if a meeting doesn't meet the specs of State Law/Bylaws/RONR you can't conduct business. But where does it actually say that? Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted August 29, 2013 at 12:02 PM Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 at 12:02 PM RONR p. 251 (e). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Honemann Posted August 29, 2013 at 12:09 PM Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 at 12:09 PM Try pages 486-87, beginning on line 33, page 486. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary c Tesser Posted August 29, 2013 at 01:40 PM Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 at 01:40 PM ... This is a moot point for the upcoming meeting, but for future reference, the answer is no. A special meeting can only conduct the business included in the call, so you would not follow the assembly's usual order of business.You don't think that if OP adam's statement in Post #1 about what the bylaws say happens at "every meeting" is accurate and complete, it won't supersede what RONR says special meetings are limited to? (I am therefore disagreeing with adam's saying in Post 5 that this is a no-brainer; and I trust we're consciously assuming that, perhaps contrary to Post 5, state law is actually not involved.)(I figure list in the bylaws might also be analogous to placing the day of regular meetings in the bylaws, thus dispensing with the need to send out meeting notices.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted August 29, 2013 at 03:59 PM Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 at 03:59 PM You don't think that if OP adam's statement in Post #1 about what the bylaws say happens at "every meeting" is accurate and complete, it won't supersede what RONR says special meetings are limited to? It is possible (although I think it is unlikely) that the order of business in the bylaws is also meant to apply to special meetings and to permit the assembly to conduct any business at a special meeting. If so, it would supersede the rules in RONR on the subject. This will be an interesting question for the assembly to consider for future special meetings, and the Principles of Interpretation in RONR, 11th ed., pgs. 588-591 may be of assistance in this regard. It seems, however, that this will be a moot point for the upcoming meeting. (I am therefore disagreeing with adam's saying in Post 5 that this is a no-brainer; and I trust we're consciously assuming that, perhaps contrary to Post 5, state law is actually not involved.) Well, as I understand it, Adam is saying that it is a no brainer that the assembly cannot conduct business at a special meeting if the bylaws require 15 days of notice and less than 15 days of notice is given, and I quite agree with that, at least so far as RONR and the common parliamentary law is concerned. If state law is involved, then how that comes into this is a question for a lawyer. (I figure list in the bylaws might also be analogous to placing the day of regular meetings in the bylaws, thus dispensing with the need to send out meeting notices.) I don't see the connection between a special order of business and whether notice of a meeting is required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam Posted August 30, 2013 at 01:25 AM Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 at 01:25 AM Thank you all for your input--I learn something every time I open RONR. Regarding the order of business in the bylaws, (I apologize for not seeing this in the first place) it is "for all regular meetings." Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary c Tesser Posted August 30, 2013 at 05:09 AM Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 at 05:09 AM ... It seems, however, that this will be a moot point for the upcoming meeting. Indeed, especially given adam's follow-up in Post 10.Well, as I understand it, Adam is saying that it is a no brainer that the assembly cannot conduct business at a special meeting if the bylaws require 15 days of notice and less than 15 days of notice is given ...Yes, I caught my misreading once you pointed it out., and I quite agree with that, at least so far as RONR and the common parliamentary law is concerned.Probably be difficult to find someone who doesn't agree with it, unless maybe at 4 in the morning....[Gary c Tesser, on 29 Aug 2013 - 09:40 AM, said:] (I figure list in the bylaws might also be analogous to placing the day of regular meetings in the bylaws, thus dispensing with the need to send out meeting notices.) [back to Josh Martin... Maybe I don't quite have the hang of these brackets:]I don't see the connection between a special order of business and whether notice of a meeting is required.I'm drawing a connection, y'see, between cases in which a statement in the bylaws precludes the organization's doing something that Robert's Rules tells it to do. Per p. 89, when the bylaws prescribe the day on which meetings are held, there is no need to send notice to the members telling them so. Similarly (I'm tellin ya), if the bylaws tell us that "every meeting [will include] role call, reading of minutes, new members, finance report, committee reports", yadda yadda, then this prescription supersedes RONR's requirement, almost by definition. that the notice of a special meeting lay out the business to be conducted there. Fortunately, Post 10 tells us just in time that the bylaws say no such thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jean D. Posted September 18, 2013 at 12:40 PM Report Share Posted September 18, 2013 at 12:40 PM In regards to a church,how does a meeting need to be announced. I've heard it has to be announced two times to be legal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted September 18, 2013 at 02:40 PM Report Share Posted September 18, 2013 at 02:40 PM In regards to a church,how does a meeting need to be announced. It depends. If the dates of regular meetings are scheduled in the bylaws (such as "the first Tuesday of each month"), with the hour and place specified by standing rule, there is no need to announce the meeting at all (although it doesn't hurt). On the other hand, if regular meetings are scheduled by resolution, notice must be sent by postal mail or by a form of electronic communication (such as e-mail) by which the member has agreed to receive notice. Such notice is also required for special meetings. In both cases, the number of days' notice required should be specified in the bylaws (RONR, 11th ed., pg. 10-22). I've heard it has to be announced two times to be legal. RONR doesn't require it. It's possible that your church's bylaws require this. Additionally, for future reference, please post a new question as a new topic, even if an existing topic seems similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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