What is the procedure for removing an unruly member of guest from a meeting? Can the chair ask them to leave, or must it be put to a vote?

[The Fessor]

What’s the definition of “published minutes”? Does it mean published solely to the members, or available to the public at large?

[jstackpo]

Although I don't have a 10th edition RONR at hand to verify this, my recollection is that the Authorship Team struck out the phrase "published minutes" in preparation of the 11th edition.  (A ghostly remainder of the phrase remains in the index.) So it means what ever your association wants it to mean.

In its place is a (new) discussion of published "proceedings" (page 475) which are NOT minutes, but are for the "public".

BTW, whence came the title of this thread?

[Hieu H. Huynh]

What is the procedure for removing an unruly member of guest from a meeting? Can the chair ask them to leave, or must it be put to a vote?

By The Fessor

The chair can order guests to leave, while the assembly would vote on removing members.

[Hieu H. Huynh]

4 hours ago, The Fessor said:

What’s the definition of “published minutes”? Does it mean published solely to the members, or available to the public at large?

Members have the right to access the minutes, whether or not they are published. They do not need to be made available to the public unless your rules require it.

[The Fessor]

What’s the chair’s recourse if a disruptor will not leave the meeting?

[Hieu H. Huynh]

Call the police.

[The Fessor]

Ha....

Is there a procedure? Does the chair adjourn or reschedule the meeting until the offending member leaves,?

I’m trying to ascertain the legitimate RR compliant course of action.

Edited July 4, 2018 at 10:44 PM by The Fessor

[Chris Harrison]

Calling the cops actually wasn't a joke response.  If the organization is willing to press charges they can call the police to forcibly remove the disruptive person.  See RONR pp. 645-648 for details.

If the person is causing a ruckus it might be hard to conduct business while he or she is there so the Chair could take a short recess or tell the assembly to "stand at ease" until the issue is resolved.

Edited July 4, 2018 at 11:08 PM by Chris Harrison

[jstackpo]

3 hours ago, The Fessor said:

Ha....

Is there a procedure? Does the chair adjourn or reschedule the meeting until the offending member leaves,?

I’m trying to ascertain the legitimate RR compliant course of action.

See Chapter 20 in RONR which covers your question (and a lot more).

[Gary Novosielski]

On 7/4/2018 at 6:43 PM, The Fessor said:

Ha....

Is there a procedure? Does the chair adjourn or reschedule the meeting until the offending member leaves,?

I’m trying to ascertain the legitimate RR compliant course of action.

Not Ha.  Call the police.

Adjourning or rescheduling the meeting is allowing the disruptive member to succeed in his disruption.

I seem to recall that RONR at some point authorized the chair to appoint a few larger members to assist the disruptive member in his departure, but I'm not sure this language survives in the current version. The police are better equipped and trained to remove trespassers.  

[Chris Harrison]

2 hours ago, Gary Novosielski said:

I seem to recall that RONR at some point authorized the chair to appoint a few larger members to assist the disruptive member in his departure, but I'm not sure this language survives in the current version.

It did survive (RONR pp. 648-649).

[Richard Brown]

On 7/4/2018 at 5:43 PM, The Fessor said:

Ha....

Is there a procedure? Does the chair adjourn or reschedule the meeting until the offending member leaves,?

I’m trying to ascertain the legitimate RR compliant course of action.

I agree with the previous answers and direct The Fessor  to chapter XX of RONR on discipline as some  of my colleagues did.  Since I doubt that The Fessor has a copy of RONR and may not be likely to go buy one (although I strongly encourage him to to so), and since he seems to think we may be joking when we say "Call the police", here is a copy and paste of what RONR says on pages 648-649  about removing someone from a meeting if he refuses to leave after having been properly directed to leave:

"If a person—whether a member of the assembly or not—refuses to obey the order of proper authority to leave the hall during a meeting, the chair should take necessary measures to see that the order is enforced, but should be guided by a judicious appraisal of the situation. The chair can appoint a committee to escort the offender to the door, or the sergeant-at-arms—if there is one—can be asked to do this. If those who are assigned that task are unable to persuade the offender [page 649] to leave, it is usually preferable that he be removed by police—who may, however, be reluctant to intervene unless representatives of the organization are prepared to press charges.
The sergeant-at-arms or the members of the appointed committee themselves may attempt to remove the offender from the hall, using the minimum force necessary. Such a step should generally be taken only as a last resort, since there may be adverse legal consequences; and a person who would refuse to leave upon legitimate request may be the type most likely to bring suit, even if with little justification. In cases where possibly serious annoyance by hostile persons is anticipated—in some mass meetings, for example—it may be advisable to arrange in advance for the presence of police or guards from a security service agency. "

Note to The Fessor:  The above provision is applicable once the "offender", whether  a member or non-member, has been properly ordered to leave but refuses.  Keep in mind that  the chair  alone can order a non-member to leave, but only  the assembly can order a member to leave.

[The Fessor]

You have me to rights. I don’t have a copy but I will now, so thanks for shaming me into buying one and READING it!

That said, I truly appreciate your opinion and those of previous respondents. 

Again, thanks.

TheFessor.

 

 

Ha....

Is there a procedure? Does the chair adjourn the meeting until the offending member leaves, or reschedules?

I’m trying to ascertain the legitimate RR compliant course of action.

Edited July 6, 2018 at 10:21 PM by The Fessor

[Guest Who's Coming to Dinner]

The chair has no power to adjourn a meeting on his or her own initiative except in case of emergency. The chair could, however, ask for unanimous consent to take a brief recess while the troublemaker is removed. Or a motion to recess may be made, which requires a majority vote for adoption.