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Immediate Past President


Guest Stephen

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Our current bylaws state that the IPP is an officer. However, where the job descriptions outline each officer's responsibilities, there is not one for the IPP. So, can the IPP vote or is it just understood that the IPP really is just there to serve as a consultant type role?

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Our current bylaws state that the IPP is an officer. However, where the job descriptions outline each officer's responsibilities, there is not one for the IPP. So, can the IPP vote or is it just understood that the IPP really is just there to serve as a consultant type role?

It is up to the bylaws to define a role for the IPP (should the organization choose to establish a role for such a person). RONR doesn't outline any official role at all for IPPs, so it won't help with your question. However, if the IPP is an officer, and assuming officers vote (per your bylaws), then the IPP votes just like any other officer.

If your bylaws are ambiguous, RONR provides some principles of bylaws interpretation (pp. 570-573) which may be helpful.

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If the bylaws put the IPP on the board as a "Officer" or even just as a member -- even with no duties at all -- then he, along with all the other members, has a right to vote and do all the other things members can do.

In my personal view, setting up an "official" Immediate Past President (IPP) position is not a particularly good idea. The most telling argument is the real possibility of a close and bitter race for the presidency, with the current president running (for a second term) against an "outsider". And the outsider - the "reform candidate", perhaps - wins but is still stuck with the thorn of the IPP on the Board in a position to snipe at the new president. And perhaps attempt to undermine the new president's plans.

If the erstwhile president is a "good guy" the new president can (usually, depending on the bylaws) appoint him to a pre-existing committee - or even have him chair one, which might put him on the Board - as the new president sees fit. That way the IPP's experience and value can be put to good use, when needed, without the danger of setting up an adversarial situation which would require a bylaw amendment to get out of.

Here's some more reasons

1) The President resigns and wants nothing to do with the organization.

2) The President simply doesn't run for election again because he's had enough, and never shows up at a board meeting.

3) The President is booted out of office for being incompetent, or for something more nefarious.

4) The President dies.

5) The President resigns and moves (wants to help but isn't around).

6) Even worse is the bylaw assignment of the IPP to chair a committee - such as nominating. Then he dies/quits/leaves town, &c. You are then stuck with an unfillable (by definition) vacancy.

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So, can the IPP vote or is it just understood that the IPP really is just there to serve as a consultant type role?

He can vote at meetings of whatever body he's a member of. If his status as "officer" puts him on the board, then he's a member of the board and, as a member, can vote at board meetings If his status as "officer" does nothing, then it's moot.

So, when you ask, is the IPP just "there", what do you mean by "there"?

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