Atul Kapur

You had not indicated earlier that " A mass mailing, as opposed to a meeting, for bylaw amendments is authorized in our bylaws." (or, if you did, I missed it). Any further comments would need you to provide the exact wording of the sections of your bylaws that authorize mass mailings to make decisions and it would be helpful to have the exact wording of the section on amending your bylaws.

I agree that notice is required. However, I am not sure why two weeks is suggested as the cutoff for adequate notice. RONR says "a reasonable time in advance" (p.4, line 29). It would be a matter of judgement whether four days is reasonable.

I had thought about suggesting a SRO, but it wouldn't necessarily solve the issue of debating the topic ad nauseam. A motion to Suspend the Rules which prevent re-introduction of the motion is not debatable. However, the tenacious member could move to Amend the Special Rule of Order, which would be debatable and requires only a majority of the entire membership (or, for completeness, a 2/3 vote with previous notice). All of these options would appear to be moot if a majority is in favour of moving, as indicated by the 4-3 vote mentioned above.

What is the rationale for recording in the minutes a motion that was never seconded? I don't understand why it isn't treated the same way as a withdrawn motion.

From the Glossary of Bourinot's Rules of Order, a Canadian authority:

Thanks. I came across that passage last night. It raises a question about the clause highlighted above. What is the practical distinction between a motion that is not seconded and one that has never been made?

The confusion seems to arise from the Chair's wording that the motion "failed" due to lack of a second. This is inaccurate. Page 36, lines 3-6 make clear that if there is no second, then the motion has never been placed before the assembly (which is done when the Chair States the motion after it has been moved, seconded, and is deemed in order by the Chair). Since the unseconded motion never officially existed, there is no restriction on bringing up the motion again. In short, a motion that was not seconded never officially existed. That is different than it failing.