Guest AL Posted June 11, 2010 at 05:23 PM Report Share Posted June 11, 2010 at 05:23 PM We are a non profit youth sports organization - we are getting ready for our upcoming football season - we have both a girls athletic director and boys athletic director - The President asked the girls athletic director for an update regarding coaches, etc which was provided but failed to ask the boys athletic director. At the end of the meeting and prior to the meeting being adjourned, another board member asked the boys athletic director for an update - he would not provide any specifics and talked in generalization. He was asked a direct question regarding how many coaches and who were the coaches for the teams. The board member stated firmly he was not going to answer the question. The President then interceded and said that the boys athletic director had everything under control. Other board members wanted to know the progress as our season is about to start but the President and boys athletic director refused to answer the question. The meeting began to get out of hand and the President adjourned it. Afterwards the President approached the board member that asked the questions in a loud and threatening manner. Other board members jumped between the two and seperated them. What is the proper way of handling the above situation with the board member who refused to answer the question as well as the President who tried to intimidate the board member Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmtcastle Posted June 11, 2010 at 06:02 PM Report Share Posted June 11, 2010 at 06:02 PM What is the proper way of handling the above situation with the board member who refused to answer the question as well as the President who tried to intimidate the board member1. See Chapter XX for "Disciplinary Procedures".2. Tell them to grow up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David A Foulkes Posted June 11, 2010 at 06:18 PM Report Share Posted June 11, 2010 at 06:18 PM 1. See Chapter XX for "Disciplinary Procedures".2. Tell them to grow up.Perhaps not necessarily in that order! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim Goldsworthy Posted June 11, 2010 at 10:41 PM Report Share Posted June 11, 2010 at 10:41 PM Afterwards the President approached the board member that asked the questions in a loud and threatening manner. This isn't a parliamentary problem. It is a psychological problem. It is a behavior problem. It is a people problem.Other board members jumped between the two and seperated them.Oh, geez, Louise! What is the proper way of handling the above situation with the board member who refused to answer the question as well as the President who tried to intimidate the board member?I don't think a page citation from Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR 10th ed.) will apply when nobody is interesting in rational, civil, debate and decorum.My recommendation for those two? - A pair of 12 oz. gloves in Madison Square Garden. Marquess of Queesbury rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted June 13, 2010 at 03:32 AM Report Share Posted June 13, 2010 at 03:32 AM The board member stated firmly he was not going to answer the question. ... Other board members wanted to know the progress as our season is about to start but the President and boys athletic director refused to answer the question. No member is required to answer questions under RONR. Refusing to answer a question violates no parliamentary rule. If the questions are legitimately connected to their duties in office, however, the organization might consider this to be grounds for disciplinary action. See FAQ #20.The President then interceded and said that the boys athletic director had everything under control.If by "intercede" you mean the President interrupted a board member who had the floor this was not appropriate. (RONR, 10th ed., pg. 42, lines 12-16)The meeting began to get out of hand and the President adjourned it.It was not appropriate for the President to unilaterally adjourn the meeting because it "got out of hand" unless the members' safety was in jeopardy (such as if a riot started). (RONR, 10th ed., pg. 84, line 32 - pg. 85, line 2) A member should have raised a Point of Order, and if necessary, appealed from the subsequent ruling of the chair. (RONR, 10th ed., pg. 240, lines 3-7; pg. 247, lines 19-25) A majority vote overturns the chair's ruling. (RONR, 10th ed., pg. 250, lines 9-13)Afterwards the President approached the board member that asked the questions in a loud and threatening manner. Other board members jumped between the two and seperated them. RONR deals solely with conduct in meetings so it has nothing to say about what happened after the meeting. The organization may, however, take disciplinary action if it feels that is appropriate. (FAQ #20; RONR, 10th ed., pg. 630, lines 1-7)What is the proper way of handling the above situation with the board member who refused to answer the question as well as the President who tried to intimidate the board memberWhat to do at this point is entirely up to the organization. Any or all of the parties involved may be disciplined to varying degrees as the organization deems appropriate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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