Election to Executive Board

[New Secretary]

We are a 9-unit condominium association of small, mostly seasonal, 2nd homes, with a 3-person Executive Board which has historically failed, generally, to follow any Rules of Order in the administration of its business. A couple of newer owners, of which I am one, have been trying, with only limited if any success, to change that culture.

At the election of a (new/replacement) Member to the Board, when is that Member seated and when does the soon-to-be former Member step down? The Bylaws indicate that Board Members hold office until the " . . . earlier to occur of the election of their successors or their death, resignation, removal . . . ", etc. While it seems obvious that if the election is the last item on an Agenda, then the three sitting Members sit for the entire Meeting, but, do I correctly take from this that if the election is the first item on an Agenda, then the replaced Member immediately stands down and the newly-elected Member takes his or her seat for the continuation of that Meeting? Is there any Rule about the scheduling of an election at a particular Meeting?

(Don't ask me why, but this Association has had a policy of having Terms end on December 31, notwithstanding what the Bylaws indicate, and again, notwithstanding that the Bylaws indicate that the Annual Meeting is to be held in August, and not October.)

Thank you.

[Tim Wynn]

Those elected take office immediately, unless your rules say otherwise. See RONR (10th ed.), p. 430.

[Josh Martin]

While it seems obvious that if the election is the last item on an Agenda, then the three sitting Members sit for the entire Meeting, but, do I correctly take from this that if the election is the first item on an Agenda, then the replaced Member immediately stands down and the newly-elected Member takes his or her seat for the continuation of that Meeting?

Yes, unless the Bylaws state otherwise.

Is there any Rule about the scheduling of an election at a particular Meeting?

By default, elections are the first item of business under Special Orders, which occurs immediately after the reports of committees. The assembly is free to hold the elections at a different time if it wishes. RONR recommends that elections be held early in the meeting, in case there is a need for multiple rounds of balloting.

[New Secretary]

I love simple answers. Thanks to you both.