Quorum

[zanacakes]

Our Union Local members and ex. board are debating what defines a quorum to conduct our meetings. Our By Laws it state a quorum is: Ten percent of the members in attendance at a Local or Area meeting shall constitute a quorum.   The ex. bd claims it means 10% of the membership at a meeting. The members believe it is 10% of the members in attendance at a mtg.  Since we never get 10% of the membership at any meeting, the members are concerned we will never get the opportunity to vote for any motions. Therefore never having a voice.    Please advise.   

[Dan Honemann]

Our Union Local members and ex. board are debating what defines a quorum to conduct our meetings. Our By Laws it state a quorum is: Ten percent of the members in attendance at a Local or Area meeting shall constitute a quorum.   The ex. bd claims it means 10% of the membership at a meeting. The members believe it is 10% of the members in attendance at a mtg.  Since we never get 10% of the membership at any meeting, the members are concerned we will never get the opportunity to vote for any motions. Therefore never having a voice.    Please advise.   

 

This is a very poorly worded sentence, but the only way to interpret it in order for it to make any sense at all is to read it to mean that the presence of ten percent of the members is needed in order to conduct business at a Local or Area meeting.

[Edgar Guest]

The members believe it is 10% of the members in attendance at a mtg.

 

So, if ten members are present, one member constitutes a quorum? That's absurd.

 

As Mr. Honemann observed, this is a very poorly worded quorum requirement (assuming it's been quoted exactly as it appears in the bylaws).

[Gary Novosielski]

Our Union Local members and ex. board are debating what defines a quorum to conduct our meetings. Our By Laws it state a quorum is: Ten percent of the members in attendance at a Local or Area meeting shall constitute a quorum.   The ex. bd claims it means 10% of the membership at a meeting. The members believe it is 10% of the members in attendance at a mtg.  Since we never get 10% of the membership at any meeting, the members are concerned we will never get the opportunity to vote for any motions. Therefore never having a voice.    Please advise.   

 

I advise you to study the method described in your bylaws for their own amendment, draft an amendment to fix the quorum requirement, and then beat the bushes to get enough people (10%, until changed) to a meeting to vote on the amendment.

 

Buy pizza if necessary.  If that doesn't work, buy beer.

[zanacakes]

Thank you.  It was written as per the By Laws.  

[Josh Martin]

Since we never get 10% of the membership at any meeting, the members are concerned we will never get the opportunity to vote for any motions. Therefore never having a voice.

This is unfortunate, but correct. It seems you'll need to do all in your power to get quorum for a meeting, and at that meeting amend the bylaws to reduce the quorum to a level of attendance which is attainable for your society (and while you're at it, improve the wording).