Illegal called meeting?

[Lori Sweet]

Does a Chair (or President) of an Organization have the right or authority to call a meeting of a select group of a board members to have opportunity to "call out" a specific member of the same board?  If it's not a formal "special called meeting" with an agenda with notice going to the entire board, and it's not a regular meeting of this board, does this not mean the Chairman has overstepped his authority or perhaps a better wording is that he has abused his position of "power"?  Clarifying procedures.  

[Chris Harrison]

If certain members of the Board were excluded from the gathering then it would not be a valid Board meeting where business could be conducted.  As for whether he exceeded his authority I think that would depend on the circumstances.  If he actually used his position as President to get the Board members there as opposed to contacting other people and saying "Hey lets get together and talk about X" it could be considered as exceeding his authority but that ultimately is for the members (at a properly held meeting) to determine.

[Timothy]

Unless your bylaws state otherwise, it can't be said that it is improper for a group of people who happen to be members of the same organization to gather for whatever purpose they choose. Any decisions they make would not be binding on the organization, but they are free to meet. It might be unethical, but RONR doesn't deal much with ethics.

[Rev Ed]

For it to be a legal meeting, notice must be sent to all meetings and Minutes must be kept.

 

However, there is nothing wrong with the President, or any other Board members) from inviting other people over for a drink, or to invite them to a bar or restaurants for a drink or meal.  They just cannot call it a meeting then.

[Lori Sweet]

Thank you for confirming my stance!

[Gary Novosielski]

Does a Chair (or President) of an Organization have the right or authority to call a meeting of a select group of a board members to have opportunity to "call out" a specific member of the same board?  If it's not a formal "special called meeting" with an agenda with notice going to the entire board, and it's not a regular meeting of this board, does this not mean the Chairman has overstepped his authority or perhaps a better wording is that he has abused his position of "power"?  Clarifying procedures.  

If he actually "called a meeting" but did not inform every member, then the gathering that resulted was not a valid meeting and nothing decided there has any force or effect whatever.

 

Whether he broke any rules is a more complex question and would depend on the exact details.