Crystal R Posted October 18, 2017 at 02:34 PM Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 at 02:34 PM What does Roberts Rues of Order say about the proper procedure (and rights) of inviting a non member to speak at a Board Meeting. Who votes on it, how long can they stay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted October 18, 2017 at 03:01 PM Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 at 03:01 PM It is a majority decision for the members to invite a non-member in. Any "duration of visit" rules would be in the inviting motion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystal R Posted October 18, 2017 at 03:07 PM Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 at 03:07 PM 7 minutes ago, jstackpo said: It is a majority decision for the members to invite a non-member in. Any "duration of visit" rules would be in the inviting motion. Of the entire board? so is an email vote ok? Our board is made of the Executive Committee, Standing Committee, presidents and advisors. My President just sent the vote out via email to our Executive Team and I didn't think that was right. Thank you in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hieu H. Huynh Posted October 18, 2017 at 04:40 PM Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 at 04:40 PM 1 hour ago, Crystal R said: Of the entire board? so is an email vote ok? Our board is made of the Executive Committee, Standing Committee, presidents and advisors. My President just sent the vote out via email to our Executive Team and I didn't think that was right. Thank you in advance! The board could decide by a majority vote at a regular or properly called meeting. Email voting is not allowed unless your bylaws provide for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted October 18, 2017 at 04:49 PM Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 at 04:49 PM (edited) E-mail votes are never okay, unless they are authorized in your bylaws. However, if the invitation is not expected to be controversial, there could be informal contacts (including by e-mail) among the board members and the presiding officer in advance of the meeting, to assess the level of agreement. Such a poll would be non-binding. There would still have to be an actual vote (or unanimous consent) at the start of the meeting to formally grant permission for the visitor to be permitted to remain and address the board. If it is desired to grant the visitor the right to speak in debate, that would require a motion to Suspend the Rules. I would refine jstackpo's reply to say that, notwithstanding any limits stated in the original inviting motion, the board is free to limit or extend the limits of the invitation, as it sees fit. Edited October 18, 2017 at 05:09 PM by Gary Novosielski addition as indicated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted October 18, 2017 at 05:02 PM Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 at 05:02 PM Agreeing with the previous responses, I would add that this sort of thing is usually handled by unanimous consent, often by the chair stating "If there is no objection, we will allow Mr. Expert to address us for ten minutes regarding the upcoming Special Olympics." In my experience, it is rare for such things to be controversial or subject to debate. It is also quite customary for a chairman, maybe after obtaining general agreement from some other members, to invite someone to attend the meeting and to address the board, with the actual formal approval taking place by unanimous consent at the meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Who's Coming to Dinner Posted October 18, 2017 at 05:17 PM Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 at 05:17 PM It may be proper according to procedure but it is a manipulative practice. Who will say "I object" when the kindly Mr. Expert is standing right there with his big puppy-dog eyes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted October 18, 2017 at 07:34 PM Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 at 07:34 PM It is within YOUR power NOT to be manipulated. Object and you might discover you have lots of friends in the meeting (who don't want to hear the possibly biased "professional" opinions of the expert); or you may find you have no friends at all in the meeting. So it goes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts