officer assume dutes without being installed?

[Guest Mary]

We had an election in our Association and our C&B state: "New officers shall be installed at the August/September meeting" Our current president sent out an e-mail letting the members know of the election and reminding them per the C&B the new officers will be installed at the Aug/Sept meeeting as has always been the case. But the newly elected president (which shouldn't be president until Aug/Sept strarting sending out e-mails acting as president! Can an officer assume duties prior to being installed at the Aug/Sept meeting?

[Chris Harrison]

As far as RONR is concerned the elected takes office upon being elected (unless the bylaws specify a different time). So the question is if the installation is merely a formality and the officers took office upon being elected? In other words, what would have happened if there never was an installation? Would the previous officers stay in office or the offices would fall vacant?

BTW, it is now November so wouldn't the person sending out the emails actually be the President (or do you mean that the installation is in the August/September 2012 meeting and the guy is jumping the gun by about a year)?

[Tim Wynn]

We had an election in our Association and our C&B state: "New officers shall be installed at the August/September meeting" Our current president sent out an e-mail letting the members know of the election and reminding them per the C&B the new officers will be installed at the Aug/Sept meeeting as has always been the case. But the newly elected president (which shouldn't be president until Aug/Sept strarting sending out e-mails acting as president! Can an officer assume duties prior to being installed at the Aug/Sept meeting?

See RONR (11th ed.), p. 444, ll. 28-32. It will be up to your organization to decide if your governing rules specify a later time for TAKING POSSESSION OF OFFICE.