President Authority in a small Not for Profit Board

[Guest RJ_Guest]

I am a member of a small board (13 members 9 were present) of directors for a youth sports association. We have a relatively new board in place and are unsure of the authority of the president within the meeting. The bylaws are vague and do not specifically address his/her authority. What happened during the meeting was a board member proposed a new rule that that would unfairly balance teams. But was able to get enough of the new board members that had no experience within the game being played to understand the competitive advantage being given to certain individuals. The president, objected to vote being made and request there be a no vote. Does the president have the authority to do so. If he/she is acting in the best interest of the organization as a whole?

[J. J.]

I am a member of a small board (13 members 9 were present) of directors for a youth sports association. We have a relatively new board in place and are unsure of the authority of the president within the meeting. The bylaws are vague and do not specifically address his/her authority. What happened during the meeting was a board member proposed a new rule that that would unfairly balance teams. But was able to get enough of the new board members that had no experience within the game being played to understand the competitive advantage being given to certain individuals. The president, objected to vote being made and request there be a no vote. Does the president have the authority to do so. If he/she is acting in the best interest of the organization as a whole?

In a small board, the president may make motions. He could move to postpone the motion until next meeting; he may move to refer the matter to a committee. He may move to postpone the motion indefinitely, which, if adopted would suppress the question for that meeting. All of these things require at least a majority vote. He may request that the member withdraw the motion The president, under RONR, does not have the authority to do these things on his own.

[g40]

It is your board, but I find it odd that a board of a youth sports association has many board members who have no experience within the game being played.

[Guest RJ]

At the time we were operating with the understanding that the president could not vote and there were 3 members with an agenda. The rules are being put in place to help them. There are four new members who have not played or coached the sport. They volunteered because their child and spouse are involved in the league. So their opinion is easily swayed do to ignorance of the ramifications of putting the rule that was proposed in place.