Amending a resolution/motion

[Guest Gladys Matheson]

A resolution was mailed to the membership prior to a meeting, for their information.  The executive changed the motion associated with it and presented the resolution, with the amended motion, to the membership at the meeting. (Apparently this was allowed by the organization.)  How is this handled? Do the members vote on the amendment, and then vote on the complete resolution?

[jstackpo]

Unless you have some special rules on carrying on "meetings" via postal (or e-) mail, whatever happened to the planned resolution prior to its presentation at the regular meeting is of no consequence.

 

What was presented at the regular (in person) meeting was THE main motion (with the "amendment" already incorporated as just a portion of the main motion) which you are free (or were free) to adopt, reject, amend, send to a committee, whatever, at the meeting.

 

Exception:  if your rules required that the full text of the motion to be presented be sent around ahead of time that is a different (longer) story.  Do your rules require that?

[Guest Gladys Matheson]

Yes, the rules require that the resolution to be presented and voted on at the meeting be sent to the membership prior to the meeting

[jstackpo]

Well, since that didn't happen and hence rights of absentees were violated (p. 251(e) ) you could raise the point of order (next meeting) that the motion is void.

 

Your chair and membership can take it from there.  See p. 247ff. for the rest of the story.