Tom G Posted June 15, 2017 at 08:54 AM Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 at 08:54 AM Our by-laws stipulate that the Past President is a voting board member and we have a procedure to fill vacancies caused by resignations. However, we are now in a position that a Past President has resigned, and we do not know how to fill that position (or whether we need to do so). Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Honemann Posted June 15, 2017 at 09:53 AM Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 at 09:53 AM 48 minutes ago, Tom G said: Our by-laws stipulate that the Past President is a voting board member and we have a procedure to fill vacancies caused by resignations. However, we are now in a position that a Past President has resigned, and we do not know how to fill that position (or whether we need to do so). Thanks in advance Well, now you know why it was probably a bad idea to adopt a rule which makes your (immediate?) "Past President" automatically a member of your board. RONR offers no advice in this connection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom G Posted June 15, 2017 at 10:20 AM Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 at 10:20 AM True, thanks. If I only knew then, what .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g40 Posted June 15, 2017 at 02:06 PM Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 at 02:06 PM 4 hours ago, Daniel H. Honemann said: Well, now you know why it was probably a bad idea to adopt a rule which makes your (immediate?) "Past President" automatically a member of your board. RONR offers no advice in this connection. I suppose what you might do is for the current President to resign or be removed from office and then he/she would immediately become the "Immediate Past President". Problem solved!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ed Posted June 15, 2017 at 11:34 PM Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 at 11:34 PM Better yet, just change the By-laws to stop having the Past President automatically be a member of the Board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted June 16, 2017 at 06:08 AM Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 at 06:08 AM IPP is a Bad Idea: And here's some reasons why the position is a bad idea: 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. Not to mention vote against them. 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. Note that except for item 4, the IPP may well be part of the quorum requirement for meetings, even though he never shows up. Our suggestion is to amend your bylaws to eliminate the position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ed Posted June 16, 2017 at 05:03 PM Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 at 05:03 PM 10 hours ago, jstackpo said: 4) The President dies. Note that except for item 4, the IPP may well be part of the quorum requirement for meetings, even though he never shows up. Well, even the death of the IPP it could have issues with quorum. Even if the President dies in office, it could be argued that death made him the IPP - so how could he do the job of IPP now that he has died? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g40 Posted June 19, 2017 at 03:33 PM Report Share Posted June 19, 2017 at 03:33 PM One (of many) great mysteries of organizations is the attraction to making a "past president" and/or "immediate past president" an automatic official of an organization. Despite (to me, at least) the obvious problems of doing so, it is done commonly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Who's Coming to Dinner Posted June 19, 2017 at 06:41 PM Report Share Posted June 19, 2017 at 06:41 PM Perhaps it's an attempt to embarrass the ex-president into sticking around and helping out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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