Offenses Elsewhere Than in a Meeting

[Guest RONR Confused]

Does RONR offer any guidance or restriction on what would be an offense of a member outside of a meeting? The only offense listed in our Bylaws is non-payment of membership.

[Josh Martin]

Does RONR offer any guidance or restriction on what would be an offense of a member outside of a meeting?

"If there is an article on discipline in the bylaws (p. 583, ll. 6–11), it may specify a number of offenses outside meetings for which these penalties can be imposed on a member of the organization. Frequently, such an article provides for their imposition on any member found guilty of conduct described, for example, as 'tending to injure the good name of the organization, disturb its well-being, or hamper it in its work.' In any society, behavior of this nature is a serious offense properly subject to disciplinary action, whether the bylaws make mention of it or not." (RONR, 11th ed., pgs. 643-644)

[Guest RONR Confused]

Thank you. There is no article of any nature about discipline in our Bylaws other than suspension of membership for lack of dues payment. From what I read above, the only relevant clause would be:

"Frequently, such an article provides for their imposition on any member found guilty of conduct described, for example, as 'tending to injure the good name of the organization, disturb its well-being, or hamper it in its work.' In any society, behavior of this nature is a serious offense properly subject to disciplinary action, whether the bylaws make mention of it or not." (RONR, 11th ed., pgs. 643-644)" So what does, 'tending to injure the good name of the organization, disturb its well-being, or hamper it in its work" mean? We have a case where someone is being accused of yelling outside of a meeting room to get someone's attention (also outside the meeting room). Does that fit in this list?

I

[Chris Harrison]

So what does, 'tending to injure the good name of the organization, disturb its well-being, or hamper it in its work" mean?

That is for the members to determine for themselves. 

 

 

We have a case where someone is being accused of yelling outside of a meeting room to get someone's attention (also outside the meeting room). Does that fit in this list?

Again that is for the members to determine.  However, isn't using a full on trial to deal with this a bit of overkill?  Why not just get a few people this person respects to ask him or her to use an "inside voice"?

[Guest RONR Confused]

I would agree with you Mr. Harrison, particularly since this was a one time item and none of us actually heard the person yelling.