bylaws

[Guest Renee's Wheels]

If the bylaws allow a person to hold the same office for only 2 consecutive terms but the members are willing to let the individual serve a 3rd term, what has to happen in order for this to take place? Can it take place in a single meeting or will it require 2 meetings?

[David A Foulkes]

If the bylaws allow a person to hold the same office for only 2 consecutive terms but the members are willing to let the individual serve a 3rd term, what has to happen in order for this to take place?

 

You first would have to amend your bylaws to remove the 2-term limit.

[Guest Renee's Wheels]

Is that done by having a motion that specifically says that we are removing the term limits for this election? If the bylaws are silent to amendments do we need a majority vote or two thirds?

[David A Foulkes]

Is that done by having a motion that specifically says that we are removing the term limits for this election? If the bylaws are silent to amendments do we need a majority vote or two thirds?

 

"The bylaws should always prescribe the procedure for their amendment, and such provision should always require at least that advance notice be given in a specified manner, and that the amendment be approved by a two thirds vote. If the bylaws contain no provision for their amendment, they can be amended by a two-thirds vote if previous notice (in the sense defined on page 121, next paragraph) has been given, or they can be amended by the vote of a majority of the entire membership." (RONR 11th Ed, p. 580 ll. 25 - p. 581 l. 7)

"A requirement of previous notice means that announcement that the motion will be introduced—indicating its exact content as described below—must be included in the call of the meeting (p. 4) at which the motion will be brought up, or, as a permissible alternative, if no more than a quarterly time interval (see pp. 89–90) will have elapsed since the preceding meeting, the announcement must be made at the preceding meeting. The call of a meeting is generally sent to all members a reasonable time in advance, which may be prescribed in the bylaws." (RONR, 11th ed., p. 121, ll 23-32)

RONR does not specify what constitutes a "reasonable time in advance."

[Gary Novosielski]

Is that done by having a motion that specifically says that we are removing the term limits for this election? If the bylaws are silent to amendments do we need a majority vote or two thirds?

The bylaws will almost certainly contain a section (usually near the end) that prescribes the procedure for their own amendment.  Unless otherwise provided for, the change would remain in effect until another amendment amended it back.