Watson Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:25 PM Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:25 PM Our organization has created a very large committee with several sub-committees. Most of the committee members attend only sub-committee meetings resulting in the absence of 50% of the total membership for a quorum when the whole committee meets. Would it be proper for the organization to specify a lower, attainable, quorum for meetings of the whole committee? Are there other options? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trina Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:28 PM Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:28 PM Our organization has created a very large committee with several sub-committees. Most of the committee members attend only sub-committee meetings resulting in the absence of 50% of the total membership for a quorum when the whole committee meets. Would it be proper for the organization to specify a lower, attainable, quorum for meetings of the whole committee? Are there other options?That sounds like a reasonable solution. What are your qualms about this approach? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Edgar Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:30 PM Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:30 PM Would it be proper for the organization to specify a lower, attainable, quorum for meetings of the whole committee?It would be more than proper. Why would you want to specify an unobtainable quorum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watson Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:32 PM Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:32 PM No qualms; just want to be able to correctly respond to those who say, "You can't do that!" Thanks for your response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trina Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:38 PM Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:38 PM No qualms; just want to be able to correctly respond to those who say, "You can't do that!" Thanks for your response.See RONR (11th ed.) p. 21 ll. 12-17 for general suggestions on setting quorum. The text basically urges the setting of an attainable quorum.If many of the committee members are simply not carrying out the job they were selected to do, those members could be replaced by the appointing authority. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:41 PM Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:41 PM What is the vote required to change the quorum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Edgar Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:42 PM Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:42 PM . . . just want to be able to correctly respond to those who say, "You can't do that!"The correct response is "Says who?".Alternatively, "Why not?". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Wynn Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:49 PM Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:49 PM Our organization has created a very large committee with several sub-committees. Most of the committee members attend only sub-committee meetings resulting in the absence of 50% of the total membership for a quorum when the whole committee meets. Would it be proper for the organization to specify a lower, attainable, quorum for meetings of the whole committee? Are there other options?Yes, it's advisable. See RONR (11th ed.), p. 21, ll. 12-17. If the committee is a standing committee specifically established in the bylaws, lowering the quorum will require an amendment to the bylaws. If the committee is not expressly established by the bylaws, and if the bylaws do not provide for its quorum, a special rule of order setting the quorum can be adopted by the organization. See RONR (11th ed.), p. 347, ll. 12-19. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Wynn Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:53 PM Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:53 PM What is the vote required to change the quorum?If the change is being made in the bylaws, the requirement for amending the bylaws must be followed. If the change is in the form of a special rule of order, where permissible, the vote requirement is either a) notice and a two-thirds vote; or b ) a vote of a majority of the entire membership. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TJKR Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:56 PM Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:56 PM Why not try scheduling all the subcommittee meetings at the same time & location--then you may have enough to convene the parent committee after the subs meet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Edgar Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:57 PM Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 at 02:57 PM Are there other options?Depending on the size of the "very large" committee and the number of sub-committees, you might consider a quorum requirement that only requires the presence of a high percentage of sub-committee chairs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ed Posted November 21, 2012 at 04:21 PM Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 at 04:21 PM Or if necessary amend the By-laws to lower the number of Committee members on the main Committee - for example, only the Chairmen (and maybe the Vice-Chairmen) will serve on the main Committee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Honemann Posted November 21, 2012 at 04:49 PM Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 at 04:49 PM Or if necessary amend the By-laws to lower the number of Committee members on the main Committee - for example, only the Chairmen (and maybe the Vice-Chairmen) will serve on the main Committee.I can't imagine this working very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ed Posted November 21, 2012 at 09:34 PM Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 at 09:34 PM Well, there are only three options:1) The current membership of the Committee could actually start attending meetings2) The Committee could be decreased in size3) The quorum could be decreasedI'd prefer to see the first two options instead - it is a Committee afterall, and what's the point of the Committee if most people are not going to attend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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