newtothis Posted May 7, 2012 at 03:05 PM Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 03:05 PM How does a group conduct business when some members are deliberately remaining absent in order to defeat a quorum?If a group's rules provide that 7 members are necessary to constitute a quorum, and two members won't return to the assembly in order for the group to conduct business, what can the remaining members do?Also, the group's rules do not allow it to redefine a quorum as less than 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David A Foulkes Posted May 7, 2012 at 03:08 PM Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 03:08 PM Can we assume that you're talking about a Board of Directors/Trustees here, and that there is a larger general membership associated with this Board? Or is this a very small organization of only 7 members? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newtothis Posted May 7, 2012 at 09:31 PM Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 09:31 PM The group is composed of 9, but the bylaws provide that 7 is the defined number of members to constitute a quorum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted May 7, 2012 at 09:42 PM Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 09:42 PM Well, you all cannot validly conduct business without a quorum and if there is no General Membership or applicable bylaw provisions to provide for replacing some of these members with those who will attend meetings you are pretty much out of luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David A Foulkes Posted May 7, 2012 at 10:28 PM Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 10:28 PM The group is composed of 9, but the bylaws provide that 7 is the defined number of members to constitute a quorum.This doesn't answer my questions. So are you telling us you don't have a Board, and that the total membership of this organization is 9 members? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newtothis Posted May 7, 2012 at 10:31 PM Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 10:31 PM Yes, I know we can't conduct any substantive business, but is there anything that can be done to compel the attendance of the members, such as a call of the house? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newtothis Posted May 7, 2012 at 10:32 PM Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 10:32 PM That is correct, there is no board and the total membership of the group is 9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David A Foulkes Posted May 7, 2012 at 10:33 PM Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 10:33 PM Well, I'm confused. You are a group of 9 members, and 2 refuse to attend meetings, leaving you with 7 members, and your quorum is 7, so...... what am I missing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newtothis Posted May 7, 2012 at 10:36 PM Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 10:36 PM Sorry... one of the membership spots is vacant so there isn't a quorum without at least one of the two who won't attend the meetings. And the vacant spot can't be filled without a meeting where a quorum is present. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted May 7, 2012 at 10:38 PM Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 10:38 PM Yes, I know we can't conduct any substantive business, but is there anything that can be done to compel the attendance of the members, such as a call of the house?Almost certainly not. A Call of the House is not applicable in voluntary societies (RONR p. 350 ll. 8-9). So unless you are a member of Congress or of a state legislature it is incredibly doubtful that anyone's attendance can be compelled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newtothis Posted May 7, 2012 at 10:47 PM Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 10:47 PM it is a municipal legislative body Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted May 7, 2012 at 11:21 PM Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 11:21 PM it is a municipal legislative bodyIn that case check with any applicable laws governing the body to determine if it has the power to legally compel attendance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trina Posted May 8, 2012 at 01:54 PM Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 at 01:54 PM it is a municipal legislative bodyIf it's an elected body, perhaps the voters (citizens) will express their displeasure with those members who are making it impossible for the body to conduct any business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted May 9, 2012 at 01:21 AM Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 at 01:21 AM If it's an elected body, perhaps the voters (citizens) will express their displeasure with those members who are making it impossible for the body to conduct any business.Or they might applaud them and send them sandwiches. It's difficult to predict. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.