Visiting Member

[Guest April]

We are a 12 Member board for a Non profit organization. Paid members may attend our meetings if they have an issue to discuss with us, when giving us advance notice.

My question is this: because our by-laws do not mention it when is the appropriate time to let them introduce themselves and the topic which they are bringing to us.

If we wait until new business they sit there through the whole meeting...

Should it be brought up after the opening of the meeting before the reports are made or wait until new business? This may seem like a small issue but I do want to make sure things are done correctly.

Thanks for your help...

A

[Josh Martin]

We are a 12 Member board for a Non profit organization. Paid members may attend our meetings if they have an issue to discuss with us, when giving us advance notice.My question is this: because our by-laws do not mention it when is the appropriate time to let them introduce themselves and the topic which they are bringing to us.If we wait until new business they sit there through the whole meeting...Should it be brought up after the opening of the meeting before the reports are made or wait until new business? This may seem like a small issue but I do want to make sure things are done correctly.Thanks for your help...A

It seems to me that it would be at the board's discretion.

[Gary Novosielski]

It's up to the board.  It's probably a good idea to do it early, especially if the comment concerns some item that may be taken up before new business.  I've known some boards that do this right after approval of minutes, some after reports of officers, some after reports of committees, and some at the very end of the meeting.  (And, of course, some who don't do it at all.)

 

I like early rather than late, but I don't like to delay approval of minutes.

[Guest KOZZEA]

Is it proper not to do it at all? Don't non voting member have a right to be heard?

[Edgar Guest]

Is it proper not to do it at all? Don't non voting member have a right to be heard?

 

Persons who aren't members of the board have no parliamentary rights at board meetings. They're guests, even if they're paid, voting, active, founding members of the organization.

 

In RONR-Land, "member" refers to a member of the body that is meeting.

[Josh Martin]

Is it proper not to do it at all?

Yes, unless the organization's rules provide otherwise. (It seems they might, but this is not entirely clear.)

Don't non voting member have a right to be heard?

What non-voting members? Based on the facts provided, the individuals in question are not members of the board at all.

Individuals who are members of the society, but not members of the board, do not have a right to speak at board meetings, unless the organization's rules provide otherwise.

[Gary Novosielski]

Is it proper not to do it at all? Don't non voting member have a right to be heard?

 

No.  Not according to RONR.  The members of a body control its meetings, including whom they allow to speak or even attend at all.

 

In many associations, where relatively more transparency is desired with respect to board activities, the bylaws may provide that general members may attend meetings of the board (except those in executive session).  Some bylaws provide that they may speak, others provide that they may petition for a motion to be considered.  None of these rights are automatic, and must be present in the bylaws to be guaranteed.  But if not, the board may still decide to grant or revoke them.