Elected officer assumes their position

[Guest Frank C.]

Our organization has its election of officers at our January general meeting. Then at our February

General Membership meeting, the elected officers are installed into their positions and the past officers

terms end effective at that meeting. If an elected officer misses their installation into their elected

position, they can be installed at the next (March) membership meeting. Our by-laws do not cover what period

of time the elected officer has until they forfeit their elected position. If they decide to decline the position

we then have a special election to fill the position. What is a reasonable amount of time to allow the elected

officer to decide if they are going to assume their elected office on the council ?

[hmtcastle]

What is a reasonable amount of time to allow the elected officer to decide if they are going to assume their elected office on the council ?

They should announce their decision the moment they're notified of their election.

[Tim Wynn]

Our by-laws do not cover what period

of time the elected officer has until they forfeit their elected position. If they decide to decline the position

we then have a special election to fill the position. What is a reasonable amount of time to allow the elected

officer to decide if they are going to assume their elected office on the council ?

Failure to hold a formal installation ceremony does not affect the time at which new officers assume office. See RONR(10th ed.), p. 430, l. 18-20.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

Our organization has its election of officers at our January general meeting.

Then at our February General Membership meeting, the elected officers are installed into their positions and the past officers terms end effective at that meeting.

OK.

Jan. = election; Feb. = term of office begins.

If an elected officer misses their installation into their elected position,

they can be installed at the next (March) membership meeting.

It doesn't work that way.

Installations are NOT like weddings, funerals, bar mitzvahs, baptisms.

That is, you do not have to be present to have an installation ceremony.

The installation event installs all officers, whether those officers are in attendance or not in attendance.

You are confounding two things:

• acceptance of the office to which one is elected.

• the installation ceremony where the changeover of leadership is official, and all the terms-of-office begin, simultaneously.

Our bylaws do not cover what period of time the elected officer has until they forfeit their elected position.

No wonder. -- There is no such period of time.

Elected officers do not "forfeit" their office.

People who are elected to an office either accept or do not accept, upon notification that they won.

If they decide to decline the position we then have a special election to fill the position.

Oy!

Again, this is contrary to the norm.

What is a reasonable amount of time to allow the elected officer to decide if they are going to assume their elected office on the council ?

About 5 seconds.

Upon notification, the "winner" has to either accept, or decline.

That's it.

• If they accept, then they will be installed next month.

• If they do not accept, then they will not be installed next month.

There is no "period of time" between ...

(a.) election; (b.) installation;

... to do anything.

It's all done.

[Gary Novosielski]

What is a reasonable amount of time to allow the elected officer to decide if they are going to assume their elected office on the council ?

If they wish to decline, they must do so immediately upon being informed of their election. Otherwise they have accepted.