deleting an office

[Guest Kathrynthegr8]

My non profit group needs to be reorganized.Due to current by-laws we had no choice but go thru elections recently.We are now in the process of changing bylaws and want to drop the secretary office.Is it possible?

[jstackpo]

Certainly, as a bylaw amendment.

But be careful what you wish for. Who's gonna take minutes?

[Kim Goldsworthy]

Yes.

You can "legislate out of office" a sitting officer, if you aren't careful.

Or, here, if you are!

[hmtcastle]

My non profit group needs to be reorganized.Due to current by-laws we had no choice but go thru elections recently.We are now in the process of changing bylaws and want to drop the secretary office.Is it possible?

RONR describes the presiding officer and the secretary as the two "essential" officers required at a meeting of a deliberative assembly. They don't necessarily have to be "officers" (that is the President and the Secretary), but, at each meeting, you'll need someone to preside and someone to take the minutes and most organization find it advisable for these office to be formalized.

So if you eliminate the office of secretary, you'll need to elect a secretary pro tem (a temporary secretary) at each meeting and you'll need to designate someone to perform the administrative tasks of the secretary (keeping records, etc.).But if the election is the problem, you're free to make the office of secretary an appointed position. Or even an inherited position!