Authority to appoint a Parliamentarian

[Willie Watson]

We have never had a parliamentarian in our organization. If the presiding officer wants to appoint a parliamentarian does that require approval and if so from whom?  Can the President just say I am going to appoint John Doe as the parliamentarian for the meeting (the bylaws are silent on this issue and we have adopted RONR in our bylaws).

Thanks!

[Tom Coronite]

P 465 ll 30ff states "If a parliamentarian is needed by an organization, the president should be free to appoint one in whom he has confidence. The board or society must approve any fee that will be required, however."

 

[Kim Goldsworthy]

5 hours ago, Willie Watson said:

If the presiding officer wants to appoint a parliamentarian does that require approval and if so from whom?  

Can the President just say I am going to appoint John Doe as the parliamentarian for the meeting?

The body which is meeting has the final word on any non-members being tolerated inside the meeting room, such as a parliamentarian.

Meetings are members-only.

The president cannot impose his chosen parliamentarian on the board (or general membership), unilaterally.

***

However, if the party chosen is already a member of the body which is meeting, then, of course, my above caution won't apply. -- You cannot kick out a true member, just because that member is (also) serving as the parliamentarian.

***

As to payment, consider this:

The president is free to pay, out of his own pocket, the fee of the parliamentarian, if the president thinks that money will be a sticking point.

The organization need not know that private funds are being used. -- Or, the organization might be pleased to know that organizational funds are not being spent.