Who may offer a motion?

[Guest Jim Foster]

We are a small not-for-profit organization with a governing Board of Directors (BOD) consisting of nine elected and voting members. Appointed by the BOD is an Advisory Board consisting of 11 non-voting members. In the subject of submitting motions to be considered at a duly called meeting of the BOD, may members of the Advisory Board seek to be recognized by the chair and then offer a motion for consideration by the BOD?

[Chris Harrison]

As far as RONR p. 3 is concerned a member has all the rights of membership which includes the right to make motions and vote. Since you have a class of membership which is non-voting it will be up to you all to determine what rights they retain (or have lost in addition to the right to vote).

[Guest Edgar]

In the subject of submitting motions to be considered at a duly called meeting of the BOD, may members of the Advisory Board seek to be recognized by the chair and then offer a motion for consideration by the BOD?

The BOD could, by a two-thirds vote (or unanimous consent), suspend the rules and allow a non-member (of the BOD) to make a motion. But it might be simpler for one of the members of the advisory board to, prior to the BOD meeting, ask a sympathetic BOD member to make the motion "for her".

You might also want to consider renaming the advisory board so you don't have the confusion that might result from having two "boards". Maybe an "advisory committee"?

[Guest Jim Foster]

Thank you Chris and Edgar. Very helpful suggestions.

[Tim Wynn]

Appointed by the BOD is an Advisory Board consisting of 11 non-voting members.

. . . "non-voting members" of what? Are you saying that your advisory board has no member who can vote in meetings of the advisory board? That seems counterproductive.

Are you saying that the advisory board members are ex officio MEMBERS of the board who do not have the right to vote in board meetings?

Are you saying that the advisory board members are NOT members of the board? This is the most likely situation. According to RONR, only members of the body that is meeting may vote.