Guest ajminear Posted March 4, 2012 at 08:34 AM Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 at 08:34 AM We have a member who is currently an Active Member who, after her husband moves this summer, will be come (according to how the Constitution currently reads) an Honorary Member. We are working to change the Constitution to allow people in her situation to be Associate Members, but that will not happen until at least April due to a requirement to post any resolutions to change our documents for 30 days. The Constitution states that only Active members may run for elected office, but Associate members may be appointed to fill any vacancies.Question: Can this person run for/be elected to office? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Edgar Posted March 4, 2012 at 12:10 PM Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 at 12:10 PM We have a member who . . . will be . . . an Honorary MemberThe Constitution states that only Active members may run for elected officeQuestion: Can this person run for/be elected to office?Haven't you answered your own question?In any event, it's up to the members of your organization, not anyone here, to determine the meaning of your rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David A Foulkes Posted March 4, 2012 at 02:08 PM Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 at 02:08 PM Question: Can this person run for/be elected to office?Will elections take place before her membership status change? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trina Posted March 4, 2012 at 02:27 PM Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 at 02:27 PM We have a member who is currently an Active Member who, after her husband moves this summer, will be come (according to how the Constitution currently reads) an Honorary Member. We are working to change the Constitution to allow people in her situation to be Associate Members, but that will not happen until at least April due to a requirement to post any resolutions to change our documents for 30 days. The Constitution states that only Active members may run for elected office, but Associate members may be appointed to fill any vacancies.Question: Can this person run for/be elected to office?Well sure, so long as she is still an Active member when running for the office, apparently. However, as noted, interpretation of any ambiguous language in your bylaws is the responsibility of your organization. See RONR (11th ed.) pp. 588-591 for some helpful principles of bylaws interpretation.If your bylaws say (somewhere else, maybe) that only Active members are eligible to serve in an office, then she might be eligible at the time of election, but become ineligible at a later time when she is no longer an Active member. Maybe the office would fall vacant, and the same person could then be appointed to fill it (since your rules seem to say that an Associate member can be appointed, but not elected). Again, figuring out what your bylaws currently say is your (your organization's) responsibility.If you are in the process of amending the bylaws anyway, perhaps it's a good time to clarify the language about the rights and eligibilities of Associate members (in light of the situation you're describing in your post). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Edgar Posted March 4, 2012 at 02:30 PM Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 at 02:30 PM Will elections take place before her membership status change?While you're at it, why not ask if the constitution really says "run for", "elected to", or "serve as"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David A Foulkes Posted March 4, 2012 at 02:36 PM Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 at 02:36 PM While you're at it, why not ask if the constitution really says "run for", "elected to", or "serve as"?Well, that was in my thinking (and Trina did broach those topics), but I get in less trouble when I stick to the question asked, at least at first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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