What constitutes a quorum to BEGIN a meeting?

[Guest JGENTRY]

In our meeting, there was a question about whether or not we had achieved a quorum, to even proceed.  My interpretation is that a 2/3 number of all represented states is correct.  Another interpretation is that the number to start a meeting was 2/3 of members present can vote to move into a meeting.  Which one is correxct.  There are 33 active states involved.

[Greg Goodwiller, PRP]

Your organization's bylaws should define a quorum for the organization. If they do not, then a quorum is a majority of the members. 

It sounds as though you might be referring to a convention of delegates, which is a bit different. In that case, if your bylaws are silent, a quorum in such a convention is: "a majority of the delegates who have been registered at the convention as in attendance, irrespective of whether some may have departed" (RONR pg. 21, ll. 23-27).

[Guest Who's Coming to Dinner]

If the quorum is not defined in your bylaws, then it is a majority of members. The chair waits until a quorum is present, and if there is no prospect that one will form, she then calls the meeting to order to announce the absence of a quorum. Only a few motions are in order in such circumstances and no substantial business may be done.

[Richard Brown]

Agreeing with the previous posters, I have no idea where you are getting the 2/3 figure from.  Is that figure in your bylaws?  State law?  If state law and your bylaws are silent, then a quorum is a majority (more than half) of the members.  If this is a convention, then it is a majority of the delegates who have been registered at the convention as being in attendance, as Mr. Goodwiller stated.

What, exactly (don't paraphrase) do your bylaws say about the quorum?

Edited to add:  btw, there is no such thing in RONR as a certain number of members voting to  "move into" an official meeting in the absence of a quorum.  You either have a quorum or you don't.  The quorum requirement cannot be waived.

Edited October 21, 2017 at 07:29 PM by Richard Brown
Added last paragraph

[Gary Novosielski]

I would also note that there is no such thing in RONR as voting to "move into" an official meeting, even in the presence of a quorum.  Quorum or not, voting to start a meeting (or for that matter, to do anything else) can't take place before the meeting is started.