President not attending a special meeting

[Guest John]

If the General Membership calls a special meeting and gives the President ample time in writing, can we still have the meeting if the President says he can't be there as long as there is another board member present? Also, if the President doesn't let the General Membership know in ample time of the Special meeting as stated in our bylaws, can we take action against the President?

[Chris Harrison]

If the General Membership calls a special meeting and gives the President ample time in writing, can we still have the meeting if the President says he can't be there as long as there is another board member present?

As long as whatever requirements the bylaws have regarding Special Meetings and quorums are met it doesn't matter one bit if the President is not there. The VP would preside in the President's absence. If the President and VP are not there the Secretary (or another member if the Secretary isn't there either) would call the meeting to order and preside over the election of a Chair pro tem (RONR pp. 436-437).

Also, if the President doesn't let the General Membership know in ample time of the Special meeting as stated in our bylaws, can we take action against the President?

See FAQ #20.

[jstackpo]

In the order you asked: Yes, Yes. (For the latter "Yes", see Chapter 20 in RONR or FAQ 20 here.)

[Rev Ed]

If the whole point of the meeting requires at least one Board member to be present (to justify or defend the Board's actions), then as long as a Board member shows up, the meeting can continue. Otherwise, no Board member is required to attend the meeting. And even if they did, with the exception of the President and Secretary, the Board would be attending in their capacity as members of the organization and not as "members of the Board."

[Gary Novosielski]

If the General Membership calls a special meeting and gives the President ample time in writing, can we still have the meeting if the President says he can't be there as long as there is another board member present? Also, if the President doesn't let the General Membership know in ample time of the Special meeting as stated in our bylaws, can we take action against the President?

There's not even any need to have "another board member present" in order to have a meeting of the membership. The board is not in session during a membership meeting, and board members are just individual people. If you run out of vice presidents, elect a chair pro tem.

[Sean Hunt]

Also, if the President doesn't let the General Membership know in ample time of the Special meeting as stated in our bylaws, can we take action against the President?

I'll also add that any action taken at such a meeting is null and void because there was never any meeting in the first place, given that the requirements were not met.