Loss of connection for remote (videoconference) attendee

[Guest Cecelia]

If a member of a board of directors is attending a board meeting by way of a video conference software connection (all can hear this person, and this person can hear all concurrently, organization bylaws permit this) and their connection drops (that is to say, they didn't excuse themselves formally, but their screen freezes and a "not connected" message appears), what is the appropriate action?  Does discussion/debate/meeting process halt until the connection is repaired, or does it continue as though the person whose connection was lost is still "present"? 

[Guest cecelia]

Also, if meeting does halt, how is this accomplished? Does the chair of the meeting make an announcement? What if the chair doesn't see the connection loss, but another member of the board does-what would they do to bring the chair's attention to the problem?

 

[Kim Goldsworthy]

Quote

 

Q1.) If a member of a board of directors is attending a board meeting by way of a video conference software connection (all can hear this person, and this person can hear all concurrently, organization bylaws permit this) and their connection drops (that is to say, they didn't excuse themselves formally, but their screen freezes and a "not connected" message appears), what is the appropriate action?  

Q2.) Does discussion/debate/meeting process halt until the connection is repaired, or does it continue as though the person whose connection was lost is still "present"?  

Q3.) If meeting does halt, how is this accomplished?

Q4.) Does the chair of the meeting make an announcement?

Q5.) What if the chair doesn't see the connection loss, but another member of the board does -- what would they do to bring the chair's attention to the problem?

 

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The Book ("Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised [11th ed., 2010]) does not say.

Any electronic meeting rules will necessarily be customized.

So it is up to you.

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re Q5 -- In general, if any kind of irregularity were to occur, then a member would interrupt proceedings with a question to the chair. The most likely motion to use would be "Question of Privilege" or "Parliamentary Inquiry".

***

Before I give an opinion, I would like to know from you whose fault it is for the transmission failure. -- That is, is the technical glitch triggered on the user's end, or triggered on the meeting-end?

If the glitch is at the user's end, then there is nothing the members present can do about that.

[Transpower]

You could call the chair directly on his/her cell phone and explain the situation.  The chair could ask the members to "stand down" while the technical glitch is being fixed.