Board meetings

[Guest JT Breznay]

Are Board meetings an open meeting unless they go into executive secession?

Can any members of our association attend the Board of Directors (or also called the Executive Committee) meetings as a non-voting, listen only, observe only attendee?

[Chris Harrison]

Are Board meetings an open meeting unless they go into executive secession?

Yes.

 

 

Can any members of our association attend the Board of Directors...meetings as a non-voting, listen only, observe only attendee?ey

Not unless the Board permits it, the General Membership orders it, or the Bylaws grant members that right (RONR p. 644).

 

 

(or also called the Executive Committee)

If you all are using "Board of Directors" and "Executive Committee" as interchangeable terms you should stop because they are different bodies as far as RONR is concerned.  See RONR p. 485.

[Edgar Guest]

Are Board meetings an open meeting unless they go into executive session?

 

Yes.

 

Well, it depends on what one means by "open". If it means open to non-members (of the board) then the answer is . . .

 

Not unless the Board permits it, the General Membership orders it, or the Bylaws grant members that right (RONR p. 644).

[Guest j breznay]

Thanks for the info . . . . .

 

Our current Procedures of our association does not mention who can attend an "Executive Committee" (EC) meeting (other than the Officers), I assume then, that it is then an "open" meeting.  The Procedures call for, at least, one EC meeting per quarter.

 

Our guiding document is called the "Procedures" rather than "Bylaws" and the governing Officers are called the Executive Committee not Bd. of Dir. Does this make a difference??

 

Because of no reference in our Procedures, I also assume any member(s) can attend the EC meeting so long as they do not vote or speak unless recognized by Officers.

 

If exclusions are not mentioned in the Procedures is the general membership then excluded from attending any of their meetings?  Does RONR reference that no one other than the EC can attend.  It is mentioned in our Procedures to follow the RONR. I saw reference (above) to p. 644. I have a copy of RONRIB, but does not have that page.

 

It is generally felt by several members that the EC is not following the intent of the Procedures and would like to gain an insight by attending these meetings , but want to be sure if it is permissible. If not, are there any other alternatives?

[Hieu H. Huynh]

Only executive committee members have the right to attend executive committee meetings. If the general membership does not like how the executive committee conducts its business, perhaps it could get new executive committee members (see FAQ #20).

[Richard Brown]

Only executive committee members have the right to attend executive committee meetings. If the general membership does not like how the executive committee conducts its business, perhaps it could get new executive committee members (see FAQ #20).

 

The general membership can also authorize members to attend board meetings and make rules regarding the right of members to speak at board meetings by means of a special rule of order or a provision in the bylaws.  See FAQ # 2006-13 (and 2006-12):  http://www.robertsrules.com/interp_list.html#2006_13.  See also RONR pp 486-487.

 

In some organizations, the executive boards customarily allow members of the organization who are not board members to attend, and sometimes  to speak, and in other organizations they do not.  Some organizations do it by written rule, others by custom.