sammy Posted May 10, 2011 at 05:04 PM Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 at 05:04 PM our bylaws state that any member may attend this meeting, can these visitors enter into dicussion during this meeting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmtcastle Posted May 10, 2011 at 05:06 PM Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 at 05:06 PM our bylaws state that any member may attend this meeting, can these visitors enter into dicussion during this meeting?Only if the board grants them that privilege. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Elsman Posted May 10, 2011 at 05:07 PM Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 at 05:07 PM our bylaws state that any member may attend this meeting, can these visitors enter into dicussion during this meeting?No rule in RONR entitles non-members of the board to speak at board meetings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ed Posted May 10, 2011 at 06:00 PM Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 at 06:00 PM Double check the specific by-law. What does it specifically state about non-Board members being at Board meetings? If it does not specifically state that non-Board members have the right to speak at Board meetings, then they do not have the right to speak.However, non-Board members may be invited to meet with the Board regarding different issues, and in some organizations the Board will have an informal "Open Session" where non-Board members may appear to raise concerns that they have. Of course neither endeavour is required, but the Board is free to do so if they choose to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammy Posted May 11, 2011 at 12:38 PM Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 at 12:38 PM Double check the specific by-law. What does it specifically state about non-Board members being at Board meetings? If it does not specifically state that non-Board members have the right to speak at Board meetings, then they do not have the right to speak.However, non-Board members may be invited to meet with the Board regarding different issues, and in some organizations the Board will have an informal "Open Session" where non-Board members may appear to raise concerns that they have. Of course neither endeavour is required, but the Board is free to do so if they choose to.all the bylaw states is that the meeting is open to all members Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted May 11, 2011 at 12:45 PM Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 at 12:45 PM "Open" is an all encompassing word, as you know. See p. 570 for how to decide, collectively, what your bylaws "really" mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmtcastle Posted May 11, 2011 at 12:53 PM Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 at 12:53 PM our bylaws state that any member may attend this meetingall the bylaw states is that the meeting is open to all membersWell, which is it?Do your bylaws say "any member may attend" or do they say "the meeting is open to all members". Believe it or not, words matter. And you keep changing the words.But don't quote your bylaws here (which, apparently, you haven't). You need to figure out what they say before you can figure out what they mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ed Posted May 11, 2011 at 06:13 PM Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 at 06:13 PM all the bylaw states is that the meeting is open to all membersWell, then they have no right to speak, make motions, vote, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fred Posted May 11, 2011 at 06:16 PM Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 at 06:16 PM Well, then they have no right to speak, make motions, vote, etc.How do you know they can't speak? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David A Foulkes Posted May 11, 2011 at 06:21 PM Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 at 06:21 PM How do you know they can't speak?Based on RONR, non-members of a body that is meeting have no right to attend, speak, or vote. Bylaws can trump some of those restrictions, (attend and speak for instance) as can a motion or rule adopted by the assembly. So far, all we know is that non-members are entitled to attend board meetings. Beyond that, barring any other rule in place, that's where it stops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ed Posted May 11, 2011 at 11:10 PM Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 at 11:10 PM How do you know they can't speak?According to RONR, only members of the group can speak. Non-members, according to the By-law, are allowed to attend Board meetings in this organization. However, unless it specifically states that these non-members have the right to speak, the do not. RONR pg. 628 l. 23-26. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmtcastle Posted May 11, 2011 at 11:20 PM Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 at 11:20 PM Non-members, according to the By-law, are allowed to attend Board meetings in this organization.That's just one version of what these bylaws might say. Another version is that "all the bylaw states is that the meeting is open to all members" and, as Mr. Stackpole has noted, it's not for us to determine just what "open" means. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammy Posted May 12, 2011 at 01:43 AM Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 at 01:43 AM Well, which is it?Do your bylaws say "any member may attend" or do they say "the meeting is open to all members". Believe it or not, words matter. And you keep changing the words.But don't quote your bylaws here (which, apparently, you haven't). You need to figure out what they say before you can figure out what they mean.exact wording is "the board of directors shall meet monthly and all meetings shall be open to the general membership" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted May 12, 2011 at 08:29 PM Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 at 08:29 PM exact wording is "the board of directors shall meet monthly and all meetings shall be open to the general membership"And what do your bylaws mean by "open to" ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmuel Gerber Posted May 13, 2011 at 07:51 PM Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 at 07:51 PM That's just one version of what these bylaws might say. Another version is that "all the bylaw states is that the meeting is open to all members" and, as Mr. Stackpole has noted, it's not for us to determine just what "open" means.Come on, really? "Open" is the opposite of "closed". It doesn't mean that non-members have the right to speak at the meeting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmtcastle Posted May 13, 2011 at 09:33 PM Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 at 09:33 PM Come on, really? "Open" is the opposite of "closed". It doesn't mean that non-members have the right to speak at the meeting.I would agree but the point is that it's up to the membership to determine just how "open" an open meeting is. Sure, it's open to attendance by non-members, but is it also open to comments? I could easily imagine a member of the association saying to the board, "I though this was supposed to be an open meeting. How come you're not letting any of us speak?". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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