who determines the length of a specially called board meeting

[Guest cbj]

Two questions?

A special board meeting was recently called and items to be discussed presented, as per the society bylaws. (paraphrase: 2 board members are required to call a special meeting, by notifying the president of the desire for a meeting and the reason for it...)

After some delay, the meeting was finally acknowledged, but now the meeting is being limited to 3 hrs. when the business suggested will likely take considerably longer. Who decides the length of the meeting?

Also, the suggested meeting date (7 days from notice) was opposed by the president, who gave his alternate choice to which all agreed, now he only has 3 hrs "due to other commitments". Can the board meeting continue if the chair leaves?

[J. J.]

Two questions?

A special board meeting was recently called and items to be discussed presented, as per the society bylaws. (paraphrase: 2 board members are required to call a special meeting, by notifying the president of the desire for a meeting and the reason for it...)

After some delay, the meeting was finally acknowledged, but now the meeting is being limited to 3 hrs. when the business suggested will likely take considerably longer. Who decides the length of the meeting?

The majority in the meeting.

Also, the suggested meeting date (7 days from notice) was opposed by the president, who gave his alternate choice to which all agreed, now he only has 3 hrs "due to other commitments". Can the board meeting continue if the chair leaves?

A chairman pro tem can be elected.

[Guest Edgar]

Who decides the length of the meeting?

The assembly (i.e. the members present).

Can the board meeting continue if the chair leaves?

Yes, and as long as a quorum must remains you can continue to conduct substantive business.

[Guest Edgar]

Yes, and as long as a quorum remains you can continue to conduct substantive business.

[Guest cbj]

would you happen to have any references in Robert's rules?

[Guest Edgar]

would you happen to have any references in Robert's rules?

If your president is suggesting that he can unilaterally limit the length of the meeting, or that it can't continue without him, it's up to him to find the rules that say this is true. It's not up to you (or us) to find rules that say it's not. This is known as the burden of proof.

[Guest Nancy N.]

Section 21, on adjourning a meeting, tells how meetings end. There's no reference to the president's, or any other individual's, having the authority.

Section 47, on Officers, expends considerable space on the duties and authority of the president. It does mention starting the meeting. Nothing about ending it

A few pages later, RONR discusses how to select a presiding officer (president pro tem) in the absence of the regular presiding officer. In general, if the president leaves, he doesn't take the meeting with him, he leaves it behind with the rest of the attendees. (Attenders?)

[Shmuel Gerber]

Section 21, on adjourning a meeting, tells how meetings end. There's no reference to the president's, or any other individual's, having the authority.

Section 47, on Officers, expends considerable space on the duties and authority of the president. It does mention starting the meeting. Nothing about ending it

Oh, Nancy. You're going to have to do better than that.

[Gary c Tesser]

Oh, Nancy. You're going to have to do better than that.

Whatever do you want?

[Dan Honemann]

Whatever do you want?

I don't know. Maybe Shmuel thinks (11) on page 450 does mention something about the duties of a presiding officer in connection with ending a meeting, or maybe he thinks you should know whether it's "attendees" or attenders", or maybe something really strange.