Committee chair's power

[Guest Carolyn]

Our Pres wants to change power from members to board based on the lack of a quorum, which is already reduced to 20 out of 100 members. Most join for free classes, not to be active members.

The chair of the bylaws committee does not think this is a good idea. can he choose to not bring the topic to the committee? the board requested we meet for other changes as well.

[Chris Harrison]

If the Board instructed the Committee to consider changing the hierarchy from Membership to Board then the Committee must follow the Board's instructions. However, nothing stops the Committee from considering it and quickly deciding "Nope, not a good idea" and recommending against it.

[Guest Edgar]

Most join for free classes, not to be active members.

Attending classes is being active. People join a chess club to play chess, not to attend meetings. Most people join organizations to do something other than attend meetings. A quorum of 20% is not unusual. Nor is 10%. It's certainly not enough of a reason to transfer (all) power from the membership to the board. You'll never get it back.

ANb7uB

[sMargaret]

If you're going to be changing your bylaws, then why not just change the definition of quorum first? Put two changes forward, one from the bylaw committee of lowering quorum, and one from the President of removing powers from members, and see how the members vote. Democracy.

Do note that you can't change anything, however, without having enough members show up to meet both the current quorum requirement and whatever requirement your constitution and bylaws have for change.

[Guest Carolyn]

Thank you all so much! As a member of the Exec Board and the ByLaws committee, I have to be very careful to follow procedure.