lisaault Posted July 20, 2011 at 09:00 PM Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 at 09:00 PM Can a board member participate in Executive Session via video conferencing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted July 20, 2011 at 09:07 PM Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 at 09:07 PM Can a board member participate in Executive Session via video conferencing?Not unless the bylaws authorize conducting business via video conference (RONR pp. 482-483). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Mervosh Posted July 20, 2011 at 10:07 PM Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 at 10:07 PM Not unless the bylaws authorize conducting business via video conference (RONR pp. 482-483).What if he doesn't vote, therefore not violating the prohibition against absentee voting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted July 20, 2011 at 10:39 PM Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 at 10:39 PM What if he doesn't vote, therefore not violating the prohibition against absentee voting?I think that doing so would create a slippery slope because a member who cannot vote (for whatever reason) is not a member as defined under RONR p. 3. Then that brings up all sort of problems if the bylaws don't create a class of membership to cover such a situation such as what rights does this person have as a nonmember (as far as RONR and their bylaws are concerned)? Can they make motions or enter into debate without the rules being suspended? Or worse yet, can the assembly decide that they don't want to let this quasi-nonmember participate by video-conference in the first place or decide to cut off the feed if he is saying something they don't like (but no rule has been violated by this quasi-nonmember)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted July 21, 2011 at 12:55 AM Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 at 12:55 AM I think that doing so would create a slippery slope because a member who cannot vote (for whatever reason) is not a member as defined under RONR p. 3. Then that brings up all sort of problems if the bylaws don't create a class of membership to cover such a situation such as what rights does this person have as a nonmember (as far as RONR and their bylaws are concerned)? Can they make motions or enter into debate without the rules being suspended? Or worse yet, can the assembly decide that they don't want to let this quasi-nonmember participate by video-conference in the first place or decide to cut off the feed if he is saying something they don't like (but no rule has been violated by this quasi-nonmember)?I think you are quite right that the person would be effectively a nonmember so far as the rules are concerned. A majority vote would be sufficient to let him be "present" by videoconference or speak when no motion is pending, a 2/3 vote would be required to let him speak in debate or make a motion, and the person could not vote at all. Whether this is a good idea depends on the assembly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Elsman Posted July 21, 2011 at 01:01 AM Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 at 01:01 AM Can a board member participate in Executive Session via video conferencing?What do you mean by "video conferencing"? Do you mean that someone in the board room with a streaming camera on a cell phone is going to hold it up so the absentee can see and hear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted July 21, 2011 at 06:03 AM Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 at 06:03 AM Also, "absent" members don't count toward a quorum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.