Tomm

So too be clear, are you saying the rules need to be approved by the entire group by virtue of a discussion and vote rather than by allowing the rules to be made-up by a single person (i.e. chair)?

What's the primary reason why a committees is not considered to be an assembly? I understand there are special rules for committees and some motions that can't be used in a committee, but committees do make decisions even though can only report those decisions to their superior assembly and typically have no authority to implement those decisions unless they were given the power to do so.

I believe Section 6 in the above bylaws states, "No nominations may be made from the floor at the election meeting."

It's called a Member/Board Exchange. The board meets with the Members and allows the Members to address the board with comments, complaints, raise issues of concern and then the board will meet a couple days later along with the general manager and discuss what transpired and at the next Exchange meeting the board announces any decisions or actions that will address the concerns.

Is there a way the members can kinda put the cart before the horse and just call for a special session then suspend the rule that required having to go thru the petition process then somehow ratify those actions?

There was a pretty contentious meeting this morning between the board and membership. Just curious as to the protocol if the entire board of directors (9) were to resign all at once. If there's no board members left to accept the resignations what happens? Since the board is elected by the Members I suppose the only alternative left would be for the Members to hold a special session and elect an entire new board? But the Members can't, according to the bylaws, call a special session without first petitioning the membership to do so which would require 3,000+ signatures! I know this sounds crazy, but the concern of several Members has raised this question.

And that's why I'll change that point to say, "for clarity and future reference those memorandums may include the addition of member comments". Our Board Policies require that committee "summaries," as they are referred to, require a 7 year retention period, so I would think many of points brought up during discussion would benefit anybody looking back at old summaries to determine what the justification may have been for a previous recommendation?

This is basically referring to standing committees. Would it be more appropriate to say that "for clarity and future reference those memoramdums may include the addition of member comments"?

I attend several of our organizations committee meetings as a guest, so I keep my mouth shut! But I have seen so many times the arguments between the committee secretary and chair regarding the so-called "approval" of the memorandums. Several times the secretary, who believes his/her notes cannot be altered by the chair has even threatened to quit the committee!?!? They also believe the notes must be approved and signed by the secretary. There have also been times when the corporate administrative secretary would also sit in at the committee meetings and take the notes rather than the committee's secretary doing so. The corporate administrative secretary would then have the memorandum signed by the committee secretary. So...before I open my mouth, this is what I believe is the correct process that conforms to RONR. 1. Minutes are not taken, only notes, (memorandums in the nature of minutes). These notes can, and in most cases, should also include what was said rather than just what was done. 2. They don't necessarily have to be read at the next meeting, but they can be and corrections can be made without voting on the corrections. 3. These notes do not have to be voted on for approval. 4. These notes do not have to be signed by the secretary. 5. These notes do not have to be retained unless specified to do so within the bylaws. I believe I need to explain to these committee members the fact that committees are not considered to be a form of assembly (50:1) and therefore there is a whole separate set of rules guiding committees that are different from assemblies. The only official document coming out of a committee that requires approval is the report that will be presented to the board or parent assembly. I think it's important to be able to educate some these committees as to the proper significance of those memorandums, which hopefully will ease much of the tension I see. What's sad is many committee members and secretaries think, and argue, that they understand RONR but most don't even own a copy of the book! Can you PLEASE verify or correct any of the above?

The "we" would be the general membership. There was a very controversial issue somewhat rumored about, but nothing official was ever posted to the membership and the issue would most definitely affect the entire general membership. Finally, earlier today the board met in executive session because the issue pertained to a contract/lease agreement with the state. Although I understand that if you're not included in the meeting you will not be notified of the meeting, however, we're only trying to determine or confirm if the meeting was in fact about the rumored issue.

Either request the info from the board president or the corporate office.

Considering that the board is subordinate to the Membership because they are elected by the Membership. If the board holds a special session in executive session, can the Members request to see the notice that went out in the call of the meeting? Granted, we can't know what took place in that meeting but is there a way that we can at least know what the business was?

Does that rule still apply to parliamentarians who are also members in small boards where the chair does still vote?

As I understand this to mean (rise) is, the committee of the whole must first come out of committee then move to limit the time? Would that require the assembly to first motion to suspend the rules?

How do, or can you limit speech in a Committee of the Whole? You obviously don't want to give 500 members an unlimited number of times to speak that are permitted under the procedures for small boards, which applies to committees, and you can't use the motion to limit debate. Can you include in your motion to go into a Committee of the Whole that members can only speak for 2 minutes?