a tabled motion

[wwdslovene]

In a most unfortunate situation, a board member introduced a motion at a regular meeting. It was seconded, and discussion of it began and soon became extremely heated. The person making the motion left the meeting in a fit of anger before the motion was passed or failed. So, my questions:

1.) Where does this motion now stand? Was it "tabled", or what is the appropriate term in this case?

2.) At what point may the motion be re-introduced at the next monthly meeting? As "old business"?

As "new business"

3.) Can any board member move that the motion be taken off the table or re-introduced?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[David A Foulkes]

Why did the motion not come to a vote, or other disposition (postponed, referred, etc)? What in fact actually happened after the mover left the meeting, which actually has no bearing on the continued deliberations?

[Guest Edgar]

As "old business"?

As "new business"?

Try "Unfinished Business".

DAm4Q6

[Guest Goopher]

And, how often does your Board meet?

It may matter--my betters will correct me as needed--if the Board adjourned with the particular motion pending.

[Dan Honemann]

In a most unfortunate situation, a board member introduced a motion at a regular meeting. It was seconded, and discussion of it began and soon became extremely heated. The person making the motion left the meeting in a fit of anger before the motion was passed or failed. So, my questions:

1.) Where does this motion now stand? Was it "tabled", or what is the appropriate term in this case?

2.) At what point may the motion be re-introduced at the next monthly meeting? As "old business"?

As "new business"

3.) Can any board member move that the motion be taken off the table or re-introduced?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Instead of telling us that "The person making the motion left the meeting in a fit of anger before the motion was passed or failed" you might just as well have told us that "It started to rain before the motion was passed or failed." Whether it rained or not would be of about equal significance.

[Josh Martin]

In a most unfortunate situation, a board member introduced a motion at a regular meeting. It was seconded, and discussion of it began and soon became extremely heated. The person making the motion left the meeting in a fit of anger before the motion was passed or failed.

So, my questions:

1.) Where does this motion now stand? Was it "tabled", or what is the appropriate term in this case?

2.) At what point may the motion be re-introduced at the next monthly meeting? As "old business"?

As "new business"

3.) Can any board member move that the motion be taken off the table or re-introduced?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

It's not possible to answer this question based on the facts provided. Most importantly, it's not clear what happened after the motion maker left the meeting. As noted, how often the board meets may also affect the answers. It will certainly be possible to reach the motion again in some fashion, but exactly how is currently unclear.

[wwdslovene]

It's not possible to answer this question based on the facts provided. Most importantly, it's not clear what happened after the motion maker left the meeting. As noted, how often the board meets may also affect the answers. It will certainly be possible to reach the motion again in some fashion, but exactly how is currently unclear.

Many thanks to those who responded (except for the sarcastic comment about rain which provides me with no help whatsoever).

Our board meets monthly. What happened next? Well, the usual recriminations and arguments back and forth until the Chair finally called a halt to the squabbling. Someone attempted to amend the motion, but the Secretary said that was not possible in view of the fact that the mover was no longer present to accept any amendment. Time had run out in any case, and the meeting was adjourned with no action being taken on the motion. Perhaps Edgar's suggestion that the motion should be taken up in the next meeting (in March) as "unfinished business".

[Josh Martin]

Our board meets monthly. What happened next? Well, the usual recriminations and arguments back and forth until the Chair finally called a halt to the squabbling. Someone attempted to amend the motion, but the Secretary said that was not possible in view of the fact that the mover was no longer present to accept any amendment. Time had run out in any case, and the meeting was adjourned with no action being taken on the motion. Perhaps Edgar's suggestion that the motion should be taken up in the next meeting (in March) as "unfinished business".

Thank you, and yes, it looks like Edgar was right on the money. Since the motion was pending when the meeting adjourned and the next meeting is within a quarterly interval, it will automatically be taken up as the first item under Unfinished Business at the March meeting. There is no need for a member to move to reintroduce it or take it from the table.

For future reference, the Secretary was mistaken. An amendment to a motion may be considered in the motion maker's absence, and it is not required for the motion maker to "accept" the amendment. Once the amendment is moved and seconded, it is debated and ultimately it is the assembly which decides whether to "accept" it, by majority vote.

[Dan Honemann]

Many thanks to those who responded (except for the sarcastic comment about rain which provides me with no help whatsoever).

Our board meets monthly. What happened next? Well, the usual recriminations and arguments back and forth until the Chair finally called a halt to the squabbling. Someone attempted to amend the motion, but the Secretary said that was not possible in view of the fact that the mover was no longer present to accept any amendment. Time had run out in any case, and the meeting was adjourned with no action being taken on the motion. Perhaps Edgar's suggestion that the motion should be taken up in the next meeting (in March) as "unfinished business".

My comment in post number #5 was not meant to be sarcastic, it was meant to be informative. Perhaps next time you won't let your Secretary (or anyone else) get away with such nonsense.

[Guest Rain God]

It's not possible to answer this question based on the facts provided. Most importantly, it's not clear what happened after the motion maker left the meeting. As noted, how often the board meets may also affect the answers. It will certainly be possible to reach the motion again in some fashion, but exactly how is currently unclear.

Josh Martin~

I'm surprised at this answer by you. Surprised face ---->

Slovene1~

It seems obvious that the Chair did not preside well (or the group was entirely out of control--which isn't necessarily the same as heated debate) and failed to put the question.

The Chair perhaps should never have allowed the "squabbling" but instead should have ensured and protected each member's right to speak (without unwarranted interruption) two times (unless your bylaws or rules say otherwise) and then call for the vote.

So, at the next meeting, it appears as if the Chair needs to assess whether each member had their 10 minutes X 2 if they desire, and then to call for the vote--with or without the mover present as the motion no longer belonged to the maker after it was seconded: it then belonged to the assembly, thus the rain Mr. Honemann noted.

[Josh Martin]

So, at the next meeting, it appears as if the Chair needs to assess whether each member had their 10 minutes X 2 if they desire, and then to call for the vote--with or without the mover present as the motion no longer belonged to the maker after it was seconded: it then belonged to the assembly, thus the rain Mr. Honemann noted.

Sure, as the first item under Unfinished Business, which we've been able to clarify from the follow-up post. It's also worth noting that since this is a board, the assembly might be using the small board rules.

[Guest Lightening God]

Sure, as the first item under Unfinished Business, which we've been able to clarify from the follow-up post. It's also worth noting that since this is a board, the assembly might be using the small board rules.

In which case the Chair needs to be on his/her toes with regards to members' right to debate: who has had their turn and how many turns and listening for a member to move the previous question (one might hope *crosses fingers, knocks on wood, turns around three times*).

[Gary Novosielski]

Many thanks to those who responded (except for the sarcastic comment about rain which provides me with no help whatsoever).

Our board meets monthly. What happened next? Well, the usual recriminations and arguments back and forth until the Chair finally called a halt to the squabbling. Someone attempted to amend the motion, but the Secretary said that was not possible in view of the fact that the mover was no longer present to accept any amendment. Time had run out in any case, and the meeting was adjourned with no action being taken on the motion. Perhaps Edgar's suggestion that the motion should be taken up in the next meeting (in March) as "unfinished business".

The secretary was ignorant of the actual rules.

Once the motion is before the assembly it makes no difference if the mover leaves, bursts into flames, or ascends into heaven. The motion is still before the assembly, and can be amended, postponed, committed, adopted, rejected, etc., without respect to the departure of the mover (or, the seconder, or the the state of the weather), unless that member's departure deprives the meeting of a quorum.