Is verbal notice of resignation official?

[elijah]

In these few months, our chairman has expressed verbally at least three times her intention to resign from her post (including one time in council meeting). The secretary has advised her to submit resignation letter. However, if she refused to submit letter, can council takes her verbal resignation as official notice of resignation?

[Richard Brown]

According to RONR, a resignation should be submitted in writing but can also be submitted orally at a meeting.  Here is a quote from RONR on page 291 regarding resignations:

 

"If a member who has accepted an office, committee assignment, or other duty finds that he is unable to perform it, he should submit his resignation. A resignation is submitted in writing, addressed to the secretary or appointing power; alternatively, it may be submitted during a meeting either orally or in writing.* By submitting a resignation, the member is, in effect, requesting to be excused from a duty. The chair, on reading or announcing the resignation, can assume a motion "that the resignation be accepted."
The duties of a position must not be abandoned until a resignation has been accepted and becomes effective, or at least until there has been a reasonable opportunity for it to be accepted."

[Edgar Guest]

In these few months, our chairman has expressed verbally at least three times her intention to resign . . .

 

An intention to resign is not necessarily the same thing as a resignation.

[Richard Brown]

An intention to resign is not necessarily the same thing as a resignation.

I agree with Mr. Guest's statement.  I read the original post to say that she had actually resigned verbally, but it she said only that "I intend to resign", that is not the same thing as an actual resignation.  It is simply an expression of intent to do something in the future....which she may or may not actually do.

[elijah]

Thanks all. Sorry for not clear enough in my previous post. The chairman did say "I resign" a few times (one time in council meeting).

[jstackpo]

Find out if she means to resign from the Chairmanship, or from the Council, or from membership (or all three, or two, or whatever) and immediately make a motion to "Accept her resignation from ...".  If (when) it is adopted, usher her out.

[Gary Novosielski]

Thanks all. Sorry for not clear enough in my previous post. The chairman did say "I resign" a few times (one time in council meeting).

 

Well, you could have immediately moved to accept the resignation, but you snoozed and therefore lost, which unfortunately does not rhyme in the past tense.

 

If she does it again (during a meeting) be prepared.

[Guest BHarrisAUX]

If you resign a position, are you, at a later time, still eligible to be nominated and elected for it?

 

[jstackpo]

Sure.

But... please start a new thread / topic with a new question rather than piggybacking on a 5 or so year old thread. 

[Drake Savory]

Did elijah ever trap the chairman when he threatened to resign by saying "I second the Request to be Excused from Duty"?  I've been waiting 5 years to find out.