Guest W. Watson Posted April 12, 2017 at 08:26 PM Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 at 08:26 PM There is some question as to whether the chair acted properly in our last regular meeting when the organization found itself without a quorum to start the meeting. After calling the meeting to order the chair said “the meeting is adjourned due to lack of a quorum” and the members departed. After the meeting, another member read to me from RONR p. 349, ll. 11-12 that the chair must entertain the motion to adjourn (after declaring the absence of a quorum). My position was that the chair simply assumed the motion to adjourn and no one objected at the time. I am rather curious now, was my assembly member correct? Should the chair have asked for a motion to adjourned, have it seconded, and if adopted then adjourned the meeting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Mervosh Posted April 12, 2017 at 08:33 PM Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 at 08:33 PM (edited) 6 minutes ago, Guest W. Watson said: There is some question as to whether the chair acted properly in our last regular meeting when the organization found itself without a quorum to start the meeting. After calling the meeting to order the chair said “the meeting is adjourned due to lack of a quorum” and the members departed. After the meeting, another member read to me from RONR p. 349, ll. 11-12 that the chair must entertain the motion to adjourn (after declaring the absence of a quorum). My position was that the chair simply assumed the motion to adjourn and no one objected at the time. I am rather curious now, was my assembly member correct? Should the chair have asked for a motion to adjourned, have it seconded, and if adopted then adjourned the meeting? The chair can assume a motion to adjourn. The chair should have said - “ If there is no objection, the meeting will adjourn due to the lack of a quorum” and paused to be sure there was no objection before declaring it adjourned, as there are other actions the assembly could have taken prior to adjourning. Edited April 12, 2017 at 08:34 PM by George Mervosh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Transpower Posted April 15, 2017 at 05:04 PM Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 at 05:04 PM I would add that the Chair should do whatever is feasible to get additional members to attend--this might mean calling non-attendees, etc. See RONR (11th ed.), p. 348, ll. 3-7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ed Posted April 15, 2017 at 06:32 PM Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 at 06:32 PM Of course, unless the assembly has the power to compel its members to attend, there is little that the Chairman, or any member/person present, can do to force quorum to be met. Phone calls, recesses, etc. are all nice - but how long do you wait. The end result in most cases is that the meeting will be adjourned. I see nothing wrong with the Chairman calling the meeting to order, declaring that there is no quorum and adjourning the meeting unless someone insists on waiting. Of course, those in attendance are free to wait around talking amongst themselves. But why not simply make it official that the meeting is over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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