Minutes

[Guest Lona]

Is it necessary to read the minutes of the previous meeting? Can the assistant secretary signed checks legally?

[Steven Britton]

7 minutes ago, Guest Lona said:

Is it necessary to read the minutes of the previous meeting? Can the assistant secretary signed checks legally?

If the secretary's draft minutes were distributed with the call to the meeting, it is unnecessary to read the minutes. However, if any member present asks that they be read, that is, or objects to they're not being read, the secretary is obligated to read them.

For a legal opinion - about signing checks - speak to a lawyer. We don't offer legal opinions here. I don't recall RONR specifying who can or cannot sign checks. Review your bylaws and other rules for more information.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

1 hour ago, Guest Lona said:

Q1.) Is it necessary to read the minutes of the previous meeting?

Q2.) Can the assistant secretary signed checks legally?

A1.) If there is no objection (as the chair asks the members so), the reading aloud of the text of the minutes can be waived.

***

A2.) It violates no parliamentary rule in Robert's Rules of Order for anyone or anything to sign checks. You can have a trained monkey sign checks, and not be in violation of any rule in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order.

You cannot commit forgery or fraud. You cannot have one party place the name of another party on any document, without pre-authorization by the appropriate party, or the appropriate body.

e.g., There are organization who have rubber stamps for checks. Nothing wrong with that. (The wielder of the rubber stamp may not be the same party whose signature is engraved on the rubber stamp.)

e.g., There are organizations who pay vendors from their bank's on-line bill-pay system. Nothing wrong with that. (There is no signature at all on a bank's web site software web page.)

e.g., I even bet that there are organizations who place the assistant secretary's signatures on the bank card which controls the checking account. Nothing wrong with that.s

For compliance with state law (i.e., banking laws), consult an attorney and ask your legal question to the lawyer.

 

 

[Gary Novosielski]

The question of who may sign checks depends on what agreement your organization has with the bank.  Typically, you would have adopted a resolution within your organization detailing who can sign checks. and than have sent that resolution (or a certification that such a resolution was adopted) to the bank, along with signature cards.   As long as both you and the bank are in agreement, RONR has no problem with whatever you agree to.

[Martrust]

Did you consult an attorney? Having the right knowledge and resources would make things easier especially if we are facing legal matters. It would really be difficult to handle legal issues without the help of a professional. For additional resources you may also search on the social media profiles to have few options to make a choice.

[Richard Brown]

The bottom line, Guest Lona, is that RONR has nothing to say about who can and cannot sign checks. 

[Shmuel Gerber]

On 8/28/2016 at 7:11 PM, Kim Goldsworthy said:

A2.) It violates no parliamentary rule in Robert's Rules of Order for anyone or anything to sign checks. You can have a trained monkey sign checks, and not be in violation of any rule in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order.

You cannot commit forgery or fraud. You cannot have one party place the name of another party on any document, without pre-authorization by the appropriate party, or the appropriate body.

What rule in RONR is violated if you commit forgery or fraud? And can the trained monkey commit forgery or fraud? (Regardless, I don't think the monkey could be convicted of a crime, for the lack of mens rhesus.)