cyndi

[Guest Guest]

Should members be allowed be allowed to attend Board Meetings?

[Transpower]

Nonmembers of the board may be excluded.  However, in my opinion, it's wise for a board to allow any member of a society to be present at the society's board meetings.  Of course, such an individual or individuals should keep quite and simply observe (unless directly asked by a member of the board for a comment).

[Richard Brown]

Agreeing with Transpower, it is up to the assembly (or board) to determine whether to allow non-board members to attend.  RONR 11th edition, page 96, lines 21 - 24, says:  "A deliberative assembly or committee is normally entitled to determine whether nonmembers may attend or be excluded from its meetings (even when not in executive session)."  The board may, of course, go into executive session upon a majority vote of its members.   (RONR, p. 95, lines 26 - 30).   This might also be addressed in your bylaws:  some organizations require that board meetings be open to the general membership. 

 

Keep in mind the distinction between members of the organization and members of the board. 

 

Previous editions of RONR used to say in Section 9 re Executive Sessions that board meetings and committee meetings are usually conducted in executive session, but that provision has been removed in the 11th edition.   The 11th edition says simply that "A meeting enters into executive session only when required by rule or established custom, or upon the adoption of a motion to do so".  RONR 11th edition, page 95, lines 26 - 29.

[Edgar Guest]

The board may, of course, go into executive session upon a majority vote of its members. 

 

Though it should be noted that (selected) non-members may be invited to attend meetings (or portions thereof) held in executive session (and non-members may be excluded from meetings even if they're not being held in executive session).

[Gary Novosielski]

Should members be allowed be allowed to attend Board Meetings?

 

If they are board members, then certainly.  If they are members of something else, than it is up to the board, possibly subject to additional provisions of the bylaws.