Chapter Meetings

[Guest DDrake]

Can the Vice President of the organization call a Chapter meeting?  Our bylaws are not clear on this but does state that only the President can preside over chapter meetings and that the Vice President can preside only in the absence of the President.  In this case, the Vice President called a special Chapter teleconference meeting via email and invited all members including the President.

[Chris Harrison]

Two questions:

1) Do your bylaws specifically authorize the calling of Special Meetings (and if so who do they authorize to call them)?  If they don't you can't have them (RONR p. 92 ll. 9-13).

2) Do your bylaws specifically authorize the use of teleconference meetings?  If they don't you can't hold them (RONR pp. 423-424).

[Guest DDrake]

1.  No our bylaws does not address the calling of Special Meetings.

2.  No our bylaws does not authorize the use of teleconference meetings.

 

Can the President then go on the teleconference, cite the violations per our bylaws and 'RONR, then adjourn the meeting?

[Josh Martin]

1.  No our bylaws does not address the calling of Special Meetings.

2.  No our bylaws does not authorize the use of teleconference meetings.

 

Then based upon the facts provided, no one can call special meetings or teleconference meetings, let alone special teleconference meetings.

 

Can the President then go on the teleconference, cite the violations per our bylaws and 'RONR, then adjourn the meeting?

 

The President should not adjourn the meeting as he should not call the meeting to order in the first place, but yes, that otherwise seems like a reasonable course of action.

[Rev Ed]

Or to be more correct, the President should advise the rest of the group that the meeting, and the use of teleconference, is null and void according to the By-laws.  This can be done by e-mail/phone calls.  

 

If the organization chooses, and perhaps it is best, the By-laws could be amended to allow for Special meetings.  Not all organizations will need to hold special meetings (one reason, I assume, why RONR allows the organization to decide this.)  However, if the group feels that special meetings may be required, then place something in the By-laws.

 

By the way, how often does the group meet normally?  Sometimes an 'emergency' can really wait until the next regular meeting if meetings are held basis.

[Guest Nancy N.]

You think that's more correct?

[Gary Novosielski]

 Sometimes an 'emergency' can really wait until the next regular meeting if meetings are held basis.

 

It looks as if missing.