Nominee withdraws after phone call afternoon before slate announced

[mombny]

Is this typical practice actually specified in your bylaws?

 

 

An amendment to the bylaws cannot be rescinded except by amending the bylaws. If this practice of presenting changes at one meeting and voting on them at the next is actually specified in your bylaws, then the amendment can be ruled null and void.

 

 

You shouldn't do anything with them. The member herself can try to amend the amendment to the bylaws, and such amendments are in order if they are within the scope of notice. Then the assembly will determine whether to adopt the amendments.

 

 

Are there enough members who agree with you on this point that you can manage to get a 2/3 vote for the Previous Question? If so, someone should move that early on and that will nip it in the bud by bringing the motion to an immediate vote. If you can't get a 2/3 vote for that, tough. I guess you'll need to listen to it all over again.

 

 

If the member becomes disruptive, see RONR, 11th ed., pgs. 644-648.

 

 

Do you really think that will work?

 

I'd stay out of it. Tell the member that the board and committee chairs have already decided upon their proposed amendments and you don't have the authority to make any changes to them, but that she is free to propose amendments at the meeting. Then the membership will decide.

 

I'd probably avoid the "your board knows best" argument at the membership meeting too and focus on reasons why the proposed amendments are beneficial for the society, but maybe that's just me.

 

[Josh Martin]

It seems something went terribly wrong when you tried to post.

 

What is your question?

[mombny]

NEW TOPIC

 

Late afternoon the day before a meeting where the slate of officers was to be announced, a nominee was called by a club member (not of the Nominating Committee).  The caller had 'word' that the nominee was not going to accept the nomination; which was not true.  The caller proceeded to ask if the nominee knew where the nominations stood, because since this nominee supposedly was not running, the caller would nominate someone else.  When the nominee heard this, she thought she should step out of the running because the person the caller was going to nominate is a current officer.  Needless to say, there was no way to get someone in the vacated spot overnight.  The Executive board met, and decided to not present any of the slate until the matter could be looked into.  The nominating immediately got back to work, and finally found someone, then a letter was sent to all 180 members with the slate.  I know the caller was way out of order not calling the Nominating Committee.  She has since apologized, however the fact of the matter is the damage was done and the best nominee withdrew.  Should any actions be taken? 

[Josh Martin]

She has since apologized, however the fact of the matter is the damage was done and the best nominee withdrew.  Should any actions be taken? 

 

Against the member who caused the nominee to withdraw? That's up to the society. See Ch. XX of RONR or the disciplinary procedures in your bylaws if you want to go down that road.

 

There are no actions which can or should be taken regarding the election (except perhaps to work on a last-minute write-in campaign, if any of the supporters of the previous nominee wish to do so).

[mombny]

Yes, what if anything should be done to the caller - and also, several members are asking why there wasn't a slate.  I hate to lie, and have just said 'there was an interference with the nominations"  - but of course, more questions follow.  I'm torn between responding with expanded truth, or let the 'rumor mill' (which is full of misinformation) run itself into the ground.

Even tho the caller apologized to the board, it was membership who was bore the brunt of the actions.  The board is also torn about what to do if anything.

[Guest Edgar]

a letter was sent to all 180 members with the slate.

 

There is no "slate". There are only individual nominees. You can vote for one of them or "write in" a vote for anyone else. Elect the person who "withdrew" her nomination and all will be well.

[mombny]

I would love to elect the person who withdrew, but after all the mess created by the caller, the previous nominee won't take the position.   Very interesting about no 'slate'  Members will be surprised about that, the cub has been doing that for years.

[Josh Martin]

Yes, what if anything should be done to the caller - and also, several members are asking why there wasn't a slate.  I hate to lie, and have just said 'there was an interference with the nominations"  - but of course, more questions follow.  I'm torn between responding with expanded truth, or let the 'rumor mill' (which is full of misinformation) run itself into the ground.

Even tho the caller apologized to the board, it was membership who was bore the brunt of the actions.

 

There's really no need to elaborate on the facts, because I'll still give you the same answer. It is up to the society to determine what should be done. RONR only has answers on how to do it. If your bylaws are silent on discipline, this is detailed in Ch. XX of RONR.

 

The board is also torn about what to do if anything.

 

The board may not have the authority to do anything. The board doesn't have the authority to discipline members of the society unless the bylaws so provide. By default, this power rests with the membership.

 

I would love to elect the person who withdrew, but after all the mess created by the caller, the previous nominee won't take the position.   Very interesting about no 'slate'  Members will be surprised about that, the cub has been doing that for years.

 

The central point is that members vote for a person for each office, rather than voting for or against the slate in its entirety.

[Guest Edgar]

I would love to elect the person who withdrew, but after all the mess created by the caller, the previous nominee won't take the position.

 

Elect her anyway. With an overwhelming show of support she may surprise you and accept the office.