VP resignation/vacancy

[abcdave]

Our organization has 4 VP's numbered 1 - 4

Also in our bylaws, "The board fills vacancies in officer positions."

Here's our problem - the 2nd VP resigned. RONR is clear that if the president resigns, the 1st VP becomes president and the other VP's move up creating a vacancy in 4th VP. But what about the resignation of 2nd VP? Do we have a vacancy in 2nd VP or 4th VP?

[Trina]

Good question.

I think you have a vacancy in the 2nd VP position, since RONR only describes the shuffle up through the VP offices in the specific case of a vacancy in the office of president (RONR 11th ed. p. 458 ll. 7-16). However, one could also argue the other way -- if the description in RONR is viewed as a series of vacancies, each automatically to be filled in turn by the next-lower-ranking VP, then it would seem that any vacancy in the 2nd VP office might trigger the rest of the cascade. I think my first guess is the right one... but stay tuned for other opinions.

[David A Foulkes]

I'll side with Trina on this one. That whole cascading automatic ascension of numbered VPs comes out (only) because of a presidential mid-term vacancy kicking it off.

[abcdave]

Thanks for the input. I initially thought that the VP's would automatically move up - but since I can find nothing in The Book to say so, I have to agree that this would only apply with a presidential vacancy - unless I'm missing something now.