Point of Order at Board Meeting re: AGM

[Guest Jake]

In a society where the general membership only meets twice a year -- a board/council handling matters the rest of the time -- could a point of order be raised at a board meeting concerning a lack of quorum at the last annual general meeting? Or would the concerned member need to take steps to call a special meeting of the membership?

 

I hope I'm making myself clear. Please let me know if further information is required.

[Guest Nancy N.]

Yes, I think the question is clear.  I'd say, generally, no (and yes to the parenthetical question).  It might critically depend on what authority is specifically given to the  board in the bylaws of the organization (but please, don't post them here).

[Gary Novosielski]

In a society where the general membership only meets twice a year -- a board/council handling matters the rest of the time -- could a point of order be raised at a board meeting concerning a lack of quorum at the last annual general meeting? Or would the concerned member need to take steps to call a special meeting of the membership?

 

I think not.  In fact, points of order concerning a lack of a quorum must be timely (made during that meeting).  The only exception is when  "clear and convincing proof" of the absence of a quorum is presented.  And the people who have to be convinced are the members of the assembly that was meeting (a point of order could be raised at their next meeting)--not some other body such as the board.

[Josh Martin]

In a society where the general membership only meets twice a year -- a board/council handling matters the rest of the time -- could a point of order be raised at a board meeting concerning a lack of quorum at the last annual general meeting? Or would the concerned member need to take steps to call a special meeting of the membership?

 

A Point of Order could not be raised at a board meeting regarding this issue. The concerned member would either need to call a special meeting of the membership or wait until the next regular meeting of the membership. As noted, at this point he'll need "clear and convincing proof" that a quorum was not present at the time of the annual meeting.