SAILORMAN

The assembly did not decide the notice was correct. It just decided to ignore any rule that might make it or anything else that happened at the meeting incorrect. Many other objections were raised and all not even treated as a motion. They just ignored them and just moved on. Disappointed and frustrated!

OK Thank you for you patience, This is a 7 member board. The Secretary recorded the meeting audio. With the knowledge of all. We had the special meeting this morning. Once called to order I raised the point of order that the meeting is in violation of our by-laws because the call of the meeting was improper as per RONR and that RONR is our parliamentary authority. I provided copies of the appropriate article of the By-Laws and and sited the appropriate pages and lines of RONR. Chaos ensued and complaints were made that customarily the rules have not been known or adhered to. The chair did not take control. I explained that customs that violate the By-Laws and RONR can not continue and must be abandoned. No vote was properly taken but an apparent majority disapproved of following the rules. I then moved that we agree to follow our By-Laws. More chaos. The chair did not maintain order and when I called the previous question the chair instead improperly motioned to "suspend the rules" for the entire meeting.and to continue with the meeting, which passed 5 to 2 (myself and the secretary against). I then asked, "So you are all going on record as agreeing to ignore the by-laws and RONR ? The reply was yes. The meeting continued and all parliamentary law I pointed out during the meeting was ignored. The board then proceeded to vote to remove an officer and did. (there are no set terms of office) I am dealing with a complete disregard for the rules unless they are convenient for their purposes. I am not an expert but I don't think they can "suspend the ALL rules" for an entire meeting especially if the By-Laws call for adherence to RONR. But, that is what they did. What can I do to prove to them that they are putting the entire organization in jeopardy. What authority can be used to impel them to follow their own By-Laws? 'Respectfully frustrated and with blood pressure levels that will likely land me in a hospital, Sailorman

Thank you, I will post back my results on this after the meeting.

Nothing about a petition. The By-Laws do allow any other 2 director to call a special meeting.

So if the Chair, who has the ability per our rules, calls a special meeting, the board is forced to discuss the issues he alone put forth? BTW thank you for your input!

So what if we haven't adopted or accepted the items in the Call?

We generally only meet twice a year. Thank you all for the advice.

Then why does the next page refer to "ORGANIZATIONS...IN WHICH ADOPTION OF AN AGENDA IS CUSTOMARY"? If it has not been "Customary" to vote on the contents of an agenda in the past (due to ignorance of the rules) how do I change the custom? Should I present the preceding passage and page 372 lines 29-31?

RONR 11th Edition, On page 371 lines 17-19, "By a single vote, a series of ... can be made; such a series is called an agenda." Does this imply that an agenda never voted on is not and agenda and therefore not valid until adopted?

I would be honored to post an update. The meeting is not until March however so everyone will need to be patient

Fair enough. We will see if he thinks of that argument after I make my "Point of Order". Thank you again,

The call did not even state "action item". All it said was date time and place and that members should make travel arrangements to be there. The call came out with plenty of time and the agenda showed up 21 days later which also is well ahead of our deadline for notice. But "the call" was our first notice of the meeting. Is agenda being sent after the "improper call" a notice since we had already been notified?

Again Thank You! and everybody else. I am pretty sure others agree with me. They just don't understand that there are rules that we need to follow no matter what the Chair says.

Thank you, I do plan to try the point of order that the meeting was not properly called, improper notice. If that doesn't work I hope to move that the the agenda has not been adopted and that we amend the agenda (since we will all already be there). If that doesn't work I hope to object when we get to the "action item" on the point of order, that there is no motion on the table. If that doesn't work I will object on the point of order that the motion is to rescind and requires that a vote be taken to even consider the motion. (is that correct?) Wow! My brain is getting tried....

The notice of meeting didn't even say "action item" it just said "I am calling a special meeting on date, time at place. 21 days later the agenda was sent out with only 2 items on it a discussion on X then a vote on X. X is something that was voted on during the last meeting that the chair(alone) did not like. Thank you to you and all who have contributed!

Thank you that is helpful. How do you feel about the sending of the Agenda after the notice, but still well before the meeting as qualifying as proper notice?

This agenda in does not nearly follow the standard order of business. It just starts with discussing the motion being put forth and then voting on it.

The biblical reference had a calming effect. Thank you.

Doesn't the Board need to adopt the agenda at the beginning of the meeting since it was not previously?

So during the meeting I could attempt to amend the agenda and/or object to the question?

Yes I have.

Our By-Laws dictate that RRNR be followed. The President or any 3 other Board Members may call a Special Meeting per our By-Laws and only the amount of advance notice and setting of date and time are mentioned in the By-Laws. Therefore it appears that the call for a "Special Meeting" does not conflict with our By-Laws unless it conflicts with RRNR. This is a small Board of less than a dozen. The agenda of this meeting has not been "adopted" by any other members of the Board. The agenda includes a "motion" in that it proposes "that the assembly take certain action." (RRNR Page 27 Line 19) The agenda even lists it as "Action Item". Neither the reason for the meeting nor the agenda was not included with the notice and call for the meeting. The agenda was provided 21 days after the President called for the meeting. The "motion" made in the agenda has not been seconded. "Guest Who's Coming to Dinner" above, appears to be correct per Page 488 Line 1, that a second is not necessary because we are a small board. However it has been customary for over 20 years that the Chair has alway required a second to any motion. The agenda has not been adopted or ratified. Also not previously mentioned, the agenda states that certain guests will be present which will cause expenditures (these guest's travel, time, and accommodations) be made without prior Board approval as per our previously adopted Policies and Procedures. By the way, if it was not clear, this meeting has not been held yet. The Chair intimidates other members of the Board. But obviously not me. Any constructive comments would be appreciated,

The President or any 3 other Board Members may call a Special Meeting per our By-Laws. Therefore the "meeting" is proper. Our By-Laws dictate that RRNR be followed. The agenda of this meeting has not been "adopted" by any other members of the Board. The agenda includes a "motion" in that it proposes "that the assembly take certain action." (RRNR Page 27 Line 19) The agenda even lists it as "Action Item". Neither the reason for the meeting nor the agenda was not included with the notice or call of the meeting. The agenda was provided 21 days after the President called for the meeting. The "motion" made in the agenda has not been seconded. The agenda has not been adopted or ratified. Also not previously mentioned, the agenda states that certain guests will be present which will cause expenditures (these guest's travel, time, and accommodations) be made without prior Board approval as per our Policies and Procedures. By the way, if it was not clear, this meeting has not been held yet. The Chair intimidates other members of the Board. But obviously not me. Any constructive comments would be appreciated,

The Chair called for a special meeting and created the agenda by "decree" , between regularly scheduled meetings, with no prior knowledge of the Board. There is only the one issue on the ("his") agenda for this meeting. It is to vote on issue X. Issue X is something that he alone just wants try to repeal. I bought the big book. I will get the "In Brief" one too. Thank you everyone for your comments.

The subject was never discussed with the board or any committee prior to putting it on the agenda. It is the chair's own attempt to reintroduce an issue which he was against ( the chair does not act impartially) that the board previously voted for. How do I get it off the agenda? I am pretty new to this and am studying but I don't think many if any of the other board members are versed in Robert's Rules and they are our rules according to the By-Laws. Thank you,