Bylaws vs historical practive

[Guest Jennifer]

Can the board of a club, declare a special meeting called by the President and within his/her power as president as set in the bylaws, as not valid because it was held outside the area as stipulated by the bylaws; when they have been conducting meetings outside that specified area for over 20 years?

[Chris Harrison]

Can the board of a club, declare a special meeting called by the President and within his/her power as president as set in the bylaws, as not valid because it was held outside the area as stipulated by the bylaws; when they have been conducting meetings outside that specified area for over 20 years?

No. The bylaws need to be followed and if you violated them whatever actions taken would be null and void each and every time (RONR p. 244 [a]).

[JHanger]

Just making sure I understand, because we have been in violation of our bylaws in excess of 20 years, none of the meetings or business conducted over those years is valid?

OR

No they cannot disqualify one meeting for being out the the bylaw area given they have been conducting and counting as valid meetings outside said area for over 20 years?

[Chris Harrison]

Each and every time you all have been in violation of the bylaws by meeting outside of the bylaw mandated area over those 20+ years everything done in those meetings is null and void.

[David A Foulkes]

... held outside the area as stipulated by the bylaws...

Not to dispute that you have apparently been violating your bylaws for 20 years, but what does "outside the area" mean? In another town? Beyond the scope of the society's object? What is this "area" of which you speak?