Guest JPOW Posted September 16, 2017 at 12:59 PM Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 at 12:59 PM Can non voting members participate in a debate for a proposed By-Law change? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted September 16, 2017 at 01:31 PM Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 at 01:31 PM If the assembly grants them permission by a 2/3 vote, yes. RONR p. 263, footnote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Coronite Posted September 16, 2017 at 01:38 PM Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 at 01:38 PM If they are not members of the body that is deliberating, they could be given permission per the cited reference. But, if by "non voting member" you mean a member of the body that is deliberating, but for whatever reason your group eliminates their right to vote (as we see many times in forum scenarios) that is likely a bylaws interpretation question. JPOW, are you referring to members (who are not allowed to vote) of the body debating the proposal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted September 16, 2017 at 01:42 PM Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 at 01:42 PM Ah, my early morning eyes skipped over the word "voting", and I read the question as about non-members, so Tom C's question is appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. J. Posted September 16, 2017 at 06:26 PM Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 at 06:26 PM 10 hours ago, jstackpo said: Ah, my early morning eyes skipped over the word "voting", and I read the question as about non-members, so Tom C's question is appropriate. Well, if they were to suspend the rules to permit non voting members to speak, those nonmembers could speak, even if the bylaws clearly give them the right to speak. The assembly could interpret the bylaws in a way that nonvoting members could not speak (majority vote) and suspend the rules to permit it (2/3 vote). I would be interested on if the nonvoting members have been speaking in debate of other questions. That would be an indicator on how they have interpreted the bylaws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted September 16, 2017 at 07:11 PM Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 at 07:11 PM 42 minutes ago, J. J. said: Well, if they were to suspend the rules to permit non voting members to speak, those nonmembers could speak, even if the bylaws clearly give them the right to speak. The assembly could interpret the bylaws in a way that nonvoting members could not vote (majority vote) and suspend the rules to permit it (2/3 vote). I would be interested on if the nonvoting members have been speaking in debate of other questions. That would be an indicator on how they have interpreted the bylaws. (Emphasis added) 4 JJ, are you saying, in the bolded portion above, that if an organization has non-voting members (and the bylaws say that those members may not vote), that by a two thirds vote those non-voting members may be allowed to vote? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. J. Posted September 17, 2017 at 12:20 AM Report Share Posted September 17, 2017 at 12:20 AM 5 hours ago, Richard Brown said: JJ, are you saying, in the bolded portion above, that if an organization has non-voting members (and the bylaws say that those members may not vote), that by a two thirds vote those non-voting members may be allowed to vote? Sorry, I made the edit. It should have said "speak" not "vote." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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