cam Posted August 24, 2011 at 07:26 PM Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 at 07:26 PM While he was President of our Mobile Home Park our president sent the nominating committee a letter he marked as confidential. In it amoung other things he stated that are park has been neglected and mismanaged for many years.Are we obliged to keep this letter confidential? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted August 24, 2011 at 07:38 PM Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 at 07:38 PM Sounds like parts of it aren't confidential any more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert B Fish Posted August 24, 2011 at 07:43 PM Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 at 07:43 PM Nothing in RONR covers this issue.Basically the actions happened outside of a meeting. The president requested that you keep the contents of the letter confidential. Unless there is a superior rule, his request is only a request and not a rule.-Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cam Posted August 24, 2011 at 07:44 PM Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 at 07:44 PM Sounds like parts of it aren't confidential any more...I was a member of the nominating committee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted August 24, 2011 at 07:50 PM Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 at 07:50 PM I was a member of the nominating committee.Yeah, but you told us some of what he said in the letter. Even if we were able to give you some hard and fast rule stating that the President could require the letter be kept confidential you kinda already let the cat out of the bag and it is now busy tearing up the furniture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David A Foulkes Posted August 24, 2011 at 08:50 PM Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 at 08:50 PM While he was President of our Mobile Home Park our president sent the nominating committee a letter he marked as confidential. In it amoung other things he stated that are park has been neglected and mismanaged for many years.Is that it? He expressed an opinion? Or is there more (and feel free to honor the confidentiality here, please) in the letter that might open up the former President to some kind of disciplinary proceedings? While this is not really a parliamentary question (so far), there may be more to it. As yet, there isn't much if anything that Robert's Rules will help you with. I do think that stamping the envelope "confidential" was a bit more than a request by the president, and by opening the envelope, you (the Nominating Committee) agreed to that stipulation. But that's just an unconfidential opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted August 25, 2011 at 12:20 AM Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 at 12:20 AM Are we obliged to keep this letter confidential?RONR places no such obligation on the committee. Since the letter was addressed to the committee, it seems to me the committee should decide (by majority vote) whether the letter should be kept confidential. I would advise that individual members keep the letter confidential until the committee has made a decision.That, at least, is my advice from a parliamentary perspective. If there are potential legal concerns involved (which seems plausible when confidential letters are getting tossed about), I would also advise consulting a lawyer before moving forward.Yeah, but you told us some of what he said in the letter. Even if we were able to give you some hard and fast rule stating that the President could require the letter be kept confidential you kinda already let the cat out of the bag and it is now busy tearing up the furniture. Oh, come on. The original poster has not disclosed any information which would enable us to identify which mobile home park he's talking about. I think he's fine.I do think that stamping the envelope "confidential" was a bit more than a request by the president, and by opening the envelope, you (the Nominating Committee) agreed to that stipulation. But that's just an unconfidential opinion.This is, I take it, just your personal opinion on ethics? I do not believe there is any parliamentary basis to suggest that a stamp places any stipulations on a committee receiving a letter, I'm not qualified to comment on any legal issues which might be involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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