Guest expeditions Posted July 10, 2014 at 05:25 PM Report Share Posted July 10, 2014 at 05:25 PM Our club's bylaws say that membership applications will be processed "in accordance with these bylaws". The bylaws set forth a very concise process for review and voting on new member applicants by the BOARD only. Some members of the club want the entire membership at large to have the right to review pending membership applications and give feedback to the Board before the Board votes on an application. The Board has indicated that because of the "in accordance with" language in our bylaws, we can't stray from the exact membership process set forth in the bylaws by adding this "membership application review process" (wherein the whole membership gets the chance to review the applications and give feedback). Is this correct? Does the inclusion of the phrase "in accordance with these bylaws" restrict our club's ability to add other processes/checks/balances on the membership application review process, to the extent they're not expressly set forth in the bylaws? Do we have to amend the bylaws to allow for such member review, or can we do it in ADDITION to the process spelled out in the bylaws? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest expeditions Posted July 10, 2014 at 05:29 PM Report Share Posted July 10, 2014 at 05:29 PM FWIW, the Board says this "in accordance with" rule is a RONR rule, which is why I'm bringing the question here. I don't need an interpretation of our specific bylaws provision - just an answer about whether, under RONR, the "in accordance with" language prohibits the inclusion of additional procedures over and above those expressly laid out in the bylaws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Posted July 10, 2014 at 05:52 PM Report Share Posted July 10, 2014 at 05:52 PM If the bylaws specify how members are accepted, you go by the bylaws whether they say "in accordance with" or not. If you don't like the process that is spelled out in the bylaws, change the bylaws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Honemann Posted July 10, 2014 at 07:08 PM Report Share Posted July 10, 2014 at 07:08 PM FWIW, the Board says this "in accordance with" rule is a RONR rule, which is why I'm bringing the question here. I don't need an interpretation of our specific bylaws provision - just an answer about whether, under RONR, the "in accordance with" language prohibits the inclusion of additional procedures over and above those expressly laid out in the bylaws. The (unwritten) rule in RONR is that words mean what they say. We thought you knew that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Guest Posted July 10, 2014 at 09:24 PM Report Share Posted July 10, 2014 at 09:24 PM Some members of the club want the entire membership at large to have the right to review pending membership applications and give feedback to the Board before the Board votes on an application. Then one of those members should make a motion to amend the bylaws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Ralph Posted July 12, 2014 at 08:37 AM Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 at 08:37 AM If the bylaws say only the board reviews and votes on membership applications, then that's what happens.The members may amend the bylaws if they see fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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