Ability of Special Committee to Act

[William Kennedy]

RONR p. 496 ll. 12-17

 

The general membership ordinarily meets annually. Our motion to appoint a special committee allows for the chairman to select the committee members after adjournment. Can the special committee therefore act between meetings? If not, how can this be accomplished? (There is also a provision in our motion that a special meeting of the membership will be called to receive the special committee's report.)

[jstackpo]

Presuming there is no conflict with the bylaws (sometimes the bylaws specify how committees are established and appointed), the committee can get to work as soon as it has members, as far as RONR is concerned.

[Rev Ed]

It also depends on what you mean by the word "act".  If by "act" you mean to hold meetings, discuss the issues referred to it, and to make a report, then yes it can act (per what JDStackpole has noted above.)  But if by "act" you mean to actually do something (i.e. to purchase flowers for the in front of the clubhouse), then it would have to be allowed under the By-laws and/or the motion creating the Committee.

[Dan Honemann]

RONR p. 496 ll. 12-17

 

The general membership ordinarily meets annually. Our motion to appoint a special committee allows for the chairman to select the committee members after adjournment. Can the special committee therefore act between meetings? If not, how can this be accomplished? (There is also a provision in our motion that a special meeting of the membership will be called to receive the special committee's report.)

 

Based upon what you have posted, your motion's authorization for the chairman to appoint the committee members after adjournment constitutes sufficient authorization for the committee to act before announcement of its membership is made.