Quorum

[Guest Rob Hymers]

Hi All

 

I was unable to find a solution to my issue by doing a search.

I have taken over as president for a small non-profit club. I have chaired one

meeting in which we didnt have enough members in attendance to meet a quorum

requirment. I have not received a copy of our club bylaws yet.

 

My question is. How can we allow our club to be able to make decisions at a meeting

if we dont have 50% plus one at our meetings. Or is that possible at all.

We have a problem getting enough members  to attend the meetings.

 

 

Thank you

 

[Josh Martin]

I was unable to find a solution to my issue by doing a search.

I have taken over as president for a small non-profit club. I have chaired one

meeting in which we didnt have enough members in attendance to meet a quorum

requirment. I have not received a copy of our club bylaws yet.

 

My question is. How can we allow our club to be able to make decisions at a meeting

if we dont have 50% plus one at our meetings. Or is that possible at all.

We have a problem getting enough members  to attend the meetings.

 

A club cannot conduct any business without a quorum present (except for a handful of procedural motions). If you don't have a copy of your bylaws, however, I'm not sure how you know what the club's quorum requirement is. Most organizations provide for a quorum much lower than a majority... although that would indeed be the quorum if your bylaws are silent on the subject.

[David A Foulkes]

My question is. How can we allow our club to be able to make decisions at a meeting

if we dont have 50% plus one at our meetings.

 

And please note that 50% plus one is not the same as a majority (ie. more than half) of members, which is the RONR default.  It works the same for an even number of members, but not for an odd number. 

 

For 20 members, both would require 11 members for a quorum. 

 

For 21 members, a majority would still be 11 (more than half, which is 10.5 member).  But for 50% plus 1, you would need 12 members for a quorum (50%=10.5 plus one = 11.5, therefore 12).  When you get the bylaws, make sure of what your quorum statement says, and consider amending it if desired.

[Guest Rob Hymers]

The previous president told me the quorum was 50% plus one.

Once I have a copy of the bylaws I'll know more.

Can the club decide to change the bylaw for example,To allow votes

to be held and ben decided on by the majority of the members that are in attence at the meeting?

[Guest Edgar]

The previous president told me . . .

Wait until you see it in writing.

 

Your club can amend the bylaws to say whatever it wants but you'll have to follow the current rules (including the current quorum requirement) in order to do so.

[Josh Martin]

The previous president told me the quorum was 50% plus one.

Once I have a copy of the bylaws I'll know more.

Can the club decide to change the bylaw for example,To allow votes

to be held and ben decided on by the majority of the members that are in attence at the meeting?

 

The organization can amend the bylaws to reduce the quorum requirement, but it would need a quorum to do so.

 

The provision you seem to be suggesting is that the members present (however few there might be) constitute the quorum, but this would be unwise. Let's say that some dark and stormy night, most people stay home, but two or three members show up and do whatever they want. That's why quorum requirements exist. Instead of trying to eliminate or get around the quorum, you should reduce it to something that would be reasonable for your club.

[Guest Rob Hymers]

Thanks guys

 

I have a better understanding now

 

Rob

[Guest Jace]

Advisory Committee Meeting:

 

I submitted a product to an "advisory" committee for final approval to be considered by a "Secretary" of a department.  The committee is made up of volunteers that receive a per-diem for attendance.  The committee is supposed to have five members but one seat is vacant at this time.  One of the four members "T" is a hired designer for my waste-water product.  This product had to be reviewed and approved (stamped) by a Professional Engineer before being submitted.  An engineer for the Waste-water department also had to review and in this case submitted a strong supporting letter.   Historically the Secretary follows the recommendation of the committee with on at least one occasion added limitations advised by the "staff" engineer.  "T" and I have made full disclosure of our collaborations and intentions.

 

During the meeting in question one additional member was absent meaning only three of the panel are present.  When my turn came up "T" was compelled to honor previous offer to recuse himself meaning only 50% of the committee was there to vote.  The chair allowed me to present and then I asked for a vote of the seated members and was respectfully denied a vote.

 

I read in the frequently asked questions:

 

Question 9:
Isn't it true that a member who has a conflict of interest with respect to a motion cannot vote on the motion?

Answer:
Under the rules in RONR, no member can be compelled to refrain from voting simply because it is perceived that he or she may have some “conflict of interest” with respect to the motion under consideration. If a member has a direct personal or pecuniary (monetary) interest in a motion under consideration not common to other members, the rule in RONR is that he should not vote on such a motion, but even then he or she cannot be compelled to refrain from voting. [RONR(11th ed.), p. 407, ll. 21-31.]

 

I have requested and been denied a "special meeting"  In order to not alienate the process how do I avoid a repeat at the next meeting?

[Gary c Tesser]

...

 

Guest Jace, your concerns are sufficiently different from the matter discussed in this current thread that you, and we your respondents, would be better served if you post it as a new topic (Thread).  Please do; I hope you don't mind.  I look forward to seeing this on a new thread in a little while.