resignation of president

[Guest Doug]

If the President resigns before their term is up, do they still assume the role of Immediate Past President when the term of their Presidency expires?

[hmtcastle]

If the President resigns before their term is up, do they still assume the role of Immediate Past President when the term of their Presidency expires?

He becomes the immediate past president as soon as his resignation is accepted.

[Guest Doug]

He becomes the immediate past president as soon as his resignation is accepted.

So the person who was serving on the Board as Immediate Past President would be off the Board by virtue of the fact that there is now a new Immediate Past President - the one who recently resigned. Is that correct?

[hmtcastle]

So the person who was serving on the Board as Immediate Past President would be off the Board by virtue of the fact that there is now a new Immediate Past President - the one who recently resigned. Is that correct?

Presumably. Though you'll have to interpret your own rules.

And you may not be surprised that few, if any, on this forum think it's a good idea to grant any ex-officio status to the immediate past president. The scenario you describe is not the worst thing that could happen.

[jstackpo]

Here are some of those "worst things"...

In my personal view, setting up an "official" Immediate Past President (IPP) position is not a particularly good idea. The most telling argument is the real possibility of a close and bitter race for the presidency, with the current president running (for a second term) against an "outsider". And the outsider - the "reform candidate", perhaps - wins but is still stuck with the thorn of the IPP on the Board in a position to snipe at the new president. And perhaps attempt to undermine the new president's plans.

If the erstwhile president is a "good guy" the new president can (usually, depending on the bylaws) appoint him to a pre-existing committee - or even have him chair one, which might put him on the Board - as the new president sees fit. That way the IPP's experience and value can be put to good use, when needed, without the danger of setting up an adversarial situation which would require a bylaw amendment to get out of.

Here's some more reasons

1) The President resigns and wants nothing to do with the organization.

2) The President simply doesn't run for election again because he's had enough, and never shows up at a board meeting.

3) The President is booted out of office for being incompetent, or for something more nefarious.

4) The President dies.

5) The President resigns and moves (wants to help but isn't around).

6) Even worse is the bylaw assignment of the IPP to chair a committee - such as nominating. Then he dies/quits/leaves town, &c. You are then stuck with an unfillable (by definition) vacancy.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

If the President resigns before their term is up,

do they still assume the role of Immediate Past President

when the term of their Presidency expires?

If you are asking a question about Robert's Rules of Order, then the answer is "unknown."

The Book never mentions such a term as "past president", never mind "immediate past president".

***

Using only a dictionary, I personally am satisfied that the answer is "Yes, such a president is the immediate past president."

The phrase "immediate past president" does refer to no more than one past president, and cannot be re-applied to another past president.

***

But I also reply, "No, the president who resigns does not gain his title 'when his term is up' (as you say), but gains the title the very instant his resignation is official and final."

That is, the president does not become IPP ...

(a.) when somebody's term is up.

... but the president does becomes IPP ...

(b.) when the current president has had his resignation acknowledged by the organization.

There is no "term" involved, in the timing

There is only "the hour of the resignation" involved, in the timing.

The moment the resignation is accepted -- "wham!" -- you got yourself a new IPP.

And, of course, the previous IPP is out of the office.

The old IPP must suffer a sudden departure, where a resignation of a current sitting president is accepted.