Special meeting vs emergency meeting

[Guest suzy]

What is the difference between a special meeting and an emergency meeting? Can both these meetings be attended by a select group of board members? And is notice supposed to be given to the membership?

Our bylaws simply state that the President shall convene and preside at all membership, special and executive meetings. No further mention about such meetings is in the bylaws.

The President held an in camera meeting without formally notifying the membership. They also deemed that the executive has only the authority to vote on the issue at hand and not the membership. This of course is not in the bylaws.

[Chris Harrison]

What is the difference between a special meeting and an emergency meeting?

There probably is no difference. However, your post only refers to Special Meetings so where does an Emergency Meeting factor into the equation?

Can both these meetings be attended by a select group of board members? And is notice supposed to be given to the membership?

Is this supposed to be a Special Meeting of the Membership or of the Board. In either case all members of the body which is having the Special Meeting have a right to attend and MUST be given notice of the Special Meeting. If they aren't all actions would be null and void (RONR p. 244e).

The President held an in camera meeting without formally notifying the membership.

See the above response.

They also deemed that the executive has only the authority to vote on the issue at hand and not the membership. This of course is not in the bylaws.

The "Executive" only has the authority given to it in the bylaws. You say it doesn't so they don't.

[Josh Martin]

What is the difference between a special meeting and an emergency meeting?

None. They're two terms for the same concept. "Special meeting" is the correct term.

Can both these meetings be attended by a select group of board members? And is notice supposed to be given to the membership?

All members of the body that is meeting must be notified of the meeting. (RONR, 10th ed., pg. 89, lines 15-17)

Our bylaws simply state that the President shall convene and preside at all membership, special and executive meetings. No further mention about such meetings is in the bylaws.

Special meetings cannot be called except as provided for in the Bylaws. (RONR, 10th ed., pg. 89, lines 25-27)

The President held an in camera meeting without formally notifying the membership. They also deemed that the executive has only the authority to vote on the issue at hand and not the membership. This of course is not in the bylaws.

If the meeting was improperly called (which sounds likely), a Point of Order may be raised that all business conducted at that meeting is null and void. (RONR, 10th ed., pg. 244, lines 4-8, 21-23) The chair will rule on the Point of the Order and his ruling may be appealed. (RONR, 10th ed., pg. 247, lines 19-25) A majority vote overturns the chair's ruling. (RONR, 10th ed., pg. 248, lines 9-13)

As for the authority of the membership vs. the executive board, see Official Interpretations 2006-12 and 2006-13 and check your Bylaws.

[hmtcastle]

Our bylaws simply state that the President shall convene and preside at all membership, special and executive meetings.

They also deemed that the executive has only the authority to vote on the issue at hand and not the membership. This of course is not in the bylaws.

What to you mean by "executive"? Are you referring to a person (e.g. the chief executive) or a body (e.g. the executive board or executive committee)?