Guest Julie Banta Posted September 3, 2014 at 10:08 PM Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 at 10:08 PM I'm a Board member of a non-profit organization. A member was voted as a life time member. What are the rights/obligations of a life time member? Can they vote? Are they counted in the number of Board members? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zev Posted September 3, 2014 at 10:47 PM Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 at 10:47 PM I would feel a little less uneasy in the answer if the information included: (1) Do the bylaws authorize the board to perform this specific act? (2) Has this "life time member" been elected as a member of the board, a general member of the organization; (3) is this a real member, of either board or general membership, or is this an honorary position? (4) If this is an honorary position what do the bylaws say specifically about honorary members? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Guest Posted September 3, 2014 at 10:58 PM Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 at 10:58 PM (1) Do the bylaws authorize the board to perform this specific act?What makes you think the board "performed this specific act"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Guest Posted September 3, 2014 at 11:01 PM Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 at 11:01 PM Can they vote? Why would you think they can't? Are they counted in the number of Board members? Why would you think they wouldn't be? Edited to add: I'm assuming (per the subject of this topic) that we're talking about a lifetime member of the board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted September 3, 2014 at 11:02 PM Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 at 11:02 PM What are the rights/obligations of a life time member? Can they vote? Are they counted in the number of Board members? As guest Zev said, this may depend on what your bylaws say. Do they authorize lifetime members? Honorary members? Are you perhaps confusing the term "lifetime member" with "honorary member"? There is a significant difference. A lifetime member is usually a regular member who no longer has to pay dues. An honorary member is, well, honorary. RONR doesn't speak to "lifetime members", but does address "honorary life memberships" and "honorary members". But, first off, honorary members must be authorized by your bylaws before such memberships can be bestowed. RONR provides that honorary memberships are perpetual unless rescinded or unless the duration is limited by the bylaws. Rights carried with the honor "include the right to attend meetings and to speak, but not to make motions or vote unless the person is also a regular member, or unless the bylaws provide full membership rights". RONR 11th edition,page 463, lines 8 - 28 and the footnote. This may be a matter of your organization having to decide for itself exactly what a "lifetime member" is and what rights it bestows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zev Posted September 3, 2014 at 11:49 PM Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 at 11:49 PM What makes you think the board "performed this specific act"?You are correct. She indicated the person was voted, but not by whom or in virtue of what. Asking me such a question I think is appropriate, however, answering the original poster with questions (#4) I feel is not very helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Guest Posted September 3, 2014 at 11:56 PM Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 at 11:56 PM Asking me such a question I think is appropriate, however, answering the original poster with questions (#4) I feel is not very helpful. Really? I think I and Mr. Brown (#5) hoped the answers to the questions we asked might help us better help Ms. Banta. I note that you replied (to the original poster) with four questions of your own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Julie Banta Posted September 4, 2014 at 02:57 AM Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 at 02:57 AM These responses have been extremely helpful!!! In answer to your question, this is treated as an honorary position. Our By-Laws do not specifically address or define life time membership. The only reference in the By-Laws is as follows; " The Board of Directors shall be composed ideally of at least eleven (11) persons, with a maximum of fifteen (15) persons. Lifetime members are not incuded in these numbers." In 60 years we have only had 2 life time members. From your comments it appears that since our By-Laws do not specifically define the rights and obligations associated with life time membership, our By-Laws are deficient. It appears that life time membership is an honorary position without voting rights since life time members are not included in director numbers. My conclusion is that I need to go back to the board with recommendations for changing the By-Laws to clarify the role of life time members. Thank you for your feedback and any further insights you may share. Regards, Julie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary c Tesser Posted September 4, 2014 at 03:13 AM Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 at 03:13 AM Really? I think I and Mr. Brown (#5) hoped the answers to the questions we asked might help us better help Ms. Banta. I note that you replied (to the original poster) with four questions of your own. Yes, it looks that way to me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted September 4, 2014 at 06:54 PM Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 at 06:54 PM I'm a Board member of a non-profit organization. A member was voted as a life time member. What are the rights/obligations of a life time member? Can they vote? Are they counted in the number of Board members? Unless you have "lifetime members" provided for in your bylaws, there is no such thing. The assembly cannot create new classes of members except by amending the bylaws. And if you do have this class of membership, the rights and obligations of those members should also be listed in the bylaws, if not, then I would presume they would be the same as the rights and responsibilities of any other sort of member. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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