First meeting of new Board members

[Guest Nadine]

We are a newly elected Board. At our first meeting, who leads the meeting prior to the Board's election of officers? Our board members nominate and vote in the officers. We have one returning Board member, the previous VP. Does that person lead the meeting? Should the previous president attend to lead the meeting and if so at wht point does the newly elected president take over the meeting?

[Chris Harrison]

We are a newly elected Board. At our first meeting, who leads the meeting prior to the Board's election of officers? Our board members nominate and vote in the officers. We have one returning Board member, the previous VP. Does that person lead the meeting? Should the previous president attend to lead the meeting and if so at wht point does the newly elected president take over the meeting?

The Board should elect a Chair pro tem and a Secretary pro tem who would preside and take the minutes until the President and Secretary are elected.

[Rob Elsman]

The Board should elect a Chair pro tem and a Secretary pro tem who would preside and take the minutes until the President and Secretary are elected.

I agree. And the board members can decide informally who will open the meeting and immediately preside over the elections of these temporary officers. As long as the person chosen knows how to conduct a simple election like this, it really makes no difference who does it.

[Rev Ed]

Some organizations place the formula into the By-laws. The previous President may chair the meeting, or the most senior director on the Board (as in the longest serving Board member.) Other then that, any member can call the meeting to order and immediately hold an election for Chair pro tem and Secretary pro tem.