Co-Anything (again...)

[smcgovern]

I am in the middle of putting together a presentation to the Board I sit on (youth sports organization) regarding the fallibility and pure danger of "co-anything," as our Board currently has this issue -- two of its board positions are being shared (and have been in the past).  Our By-Laws are silent as to shared positions (specifically it states, "The Board of Directors shall consist of seven (7) members; the four (4) elected officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer), the Cheerleading Commissioner, the Football Commissioner, and one (1) member-at-large...").  The positions currently shared are Vice President and Cheer Commissioner.

I have done some extensive research into what is admittedly a new world for me and thankfully came across this forum in the process.  I have read many, many of the posts and subsequent comments and gained a wealth of information.  We have other By-Law amendments in the works and will be taking it to a special meeting next month.

That being said, outside of RONR pg. 176,  Mr. Stackpole's brilliant and well-written essay that I found linked on this forum, are there any other articles or directions someone may want to point me in to help me obtain a bit more information before I present this to the Board next week?  Much appreciated!

[Richard Brown]

I think Dr. Stackpole says all that needs to be said in his excellent article on the subject. However, some of our members might know of additional reasons. Stay tuned.

Edited February 15, 2018 at 03:29 PM by Richard Brown

[jstackpo]

SMCGOVERN:

If in spite of our best advice, your group goes ahead and sets up co-somethings, please let us know how it all worked out.

Maybe we will be able to add (to my essay) some more reasons why it is a bad idea.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jbcnnjcq5l9eaux/Problems With co-anything.docx?dl=0

[smcgovern]

7 minutes ago, jstackpo said:

If in spite of our best advice, your group goes ahead and sets up co-somethings, please let us know how it all worked out.

Maybe we will be able to add (to my essay) some more reasons why it is a bad idea.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jbcnnjcq5l9eaux/Problems With co-anything.docx?dl=0

I will certainly follow-up with how it plays out.  Thankfully our President (who was also unaware of the dangers of co-positions) is very concerned about the issue and eager to hear what I come back with.  It's a good thing I enjoy researching and giving presentations, this may be a big one.

[Gary Novosielski]

2 hours ago, smcgovern said:

I will certainly follow-up with how it plays out.  Thankfully our President (who was also unaware of the dangers of co-positions) is very concerned about the issue and eager to hear what I come back with.  It's a good thing I enjoy researching and giving presentations, this may be a big one.

It ought to be enough to point out that both RONR and your own bylaws prohibit shared positions.

(But it seldom is.) 

Sign for co-president's desk:   Half a buck stops here.

[J. J.]

A single member holding two offices is not "co" situation.  A "co" situation is when a single position is held by two people.  

This is a situation of one person holding 2 positions, which is permissible, unless your bylaws say otherwise. 

[Weldon Merritt]

1 hour ago, J. J. said:

A single member holding two offices is not "co" situation.  A "co" situation is when a single position is held by two people.  

This is a situation of one person holding 2 positions, which is permissible, unless your bylaws say otherwise. 

I read smcgovern's post as saying that the two positions of Vice President and Cheer Commissioner were being shared by two members each (i.e., co-Vice Presidents and co-Cheer Commissioners). If so, that is prohibited unless the bylaws provide for it. But after re-reeading the post, I can see where it could be (and more liklely is) a case of one member holding two positions. If that indeed is what smcgovern is talking about, then I agree with J.J.

[Edited to correct J.J.'s initials.]

Edited February 16, 2018 at 12:35 AM by Weldon Merritt

[Richard Brown]

1 hour ago, Weldon Merritt said:

I read smcgovern's post as saying that the two positions of Vice President and Cheer Commissioner were being shared by two members each (i.e., co-Vice Presidents and co-Cheer Commissioners). If so, that is prohibited unless the bylaws provide for it. But after re-reeading the post, I can see where it could be (and more liklely is) a case of one member holding two positions. If that indeed is what smcgovern is talking about, then I agree with H.J.

H.J.??  Perhaps you mean J.J.? 😉

[smcgovern]

15 hours ago, Weldon Merritt said:

I read smcgovern's post as saying that the two positions of Vice President and Cheer Commissioner were being shared by two members each (i.e., co-Vice Presidents and co-Cheer Commissioners). If so, that is prohibited unless the bylaws provide for it. But after re-reeading the post, I can see where it could be (and more liklely is) a case of one member holding two positions. If that indeed is what smcgovern is talking about, then I agree with J.J.

[Edited to correct J.J.'s initials.]

Yes, I apologize, I can see where that could have been interpreted either way.  I was referring to 2 members holding 1 position (we have 2 members standing as co-Vice Presidents and 2 other members standing as co-Cheer Commissioners)

[smcgovern]

19 hours ago, Gary Novosielski said:

It ought to be enough to point out that both RONR and your own bylaws prohibit shared positions.

(But it seldom is.) 

Sign for co-president's desk:   Half a buck stops here.

I do believe that sign would be the icing on my "No to Co-" cake that I will be serving our board next week.

[Gary Novosielski]

Feel free.

[J. J.]

8 hours ago, smcgovern said:

Yes, I apologize, I can see where that could have been interpreted either way.  I was referring to 2 members holding 1 position (we have 2 members standing as co-Vice Presidents and 2 other members standing as co-Cheer Commissioners)

Okay, yes, go to Dr. Stackpoll's article.