Chapter representation at a convention

[Guest BobM]

In a national organization, local chapters are sending in delegates to vote on decisions to further the entire organization. Our by-laws state that only "official delegates" will be allowed to vote. There is no description of what constitutes an "official delegate". There are some chapters who refuse to vote on sending in delegates. Should these individuals who are willing to spend their own time and money, be seated as delegates without the blessing of the local chapter which is refusing to make a decision?

[Josh Martin]

8 minutes ago, Guest BobM said:

There are some chapters who refuse to vote on sending in delegates. Should these individuals who are willing to spend their own time and money, be seated as delegates without the blessing of the local chapter which is refusing to make a decision?

Do the national organization’s bylaws specify anything about how delegates are selected?

[Greg Goodwiller, PRP]

By its very definition, a convention is "an assembly of delegates" (RONR pg. 600, ll. 2-3), and "delegates are selected by, and from among, the members of each local unit" (RONR pg. 600, ll. 11-12).

Unless your rules define your conventions in some other terms, then no, the assembly does not have the authority to seat individuals as delegates who were not properly (in accordance with your rules) "selected by" the local units.

[jstackpo]

Presumably, each chapter will send the names of their official delegates  --  i. e., the people the chapter selected to go  --  to the National Organization to be included in the full list of "official delegates" from all the chapters.  That combination:  selection and national listing seems to me to be sufficient to define "official".