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quorum lost mid-meeting


Jeancspeck

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When quorum is lost, you can no longer conduct business (with the exceptions of actions which may be taken without a quorum, of course). The minutes should note the loss of quorum and, presumably, the adjournment that followed. If, on the other hand, the organization broke its rules and conducted business without a quorum, the minutes should reflect that - they are a record of what was done, not what should have been done. 

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PROCEEDINGS IN THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM. In the absence of a quorum, any business transacted (except for the procedural actions noted in the next paragraph) is null and void. But if a quorum fails to appear at a regular or properly called meeting, the inability to transact business does not detract from the fact that the society's rules requiring the meeting to be held were complied with and the meeting was convened -- even though it had to adjourn immediately.

Even in the absence of a quorum, the assembly may fix the time to which to adjourn (22), adjourn (21), recess (20), or take measures to obtain a quorum. Subsidiary and incidental motions, questions of privilege, motions to Raise a Question of Privilege or Call for the Orders of the Day, and other motions may also be considered if they are related to these motions or to the conduct of the meeting while it remains without a quorum.

 

RONR, 11th edition, page 347

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4 hours ago, Jeancspeck said:

Can the meeting continue to meet and go on with the agenda?

I agree with the previous answers.  However, if you have what is really an urgent or time-sensitive item of business which needs to be decided at this meeting, you do have another option, although it is risky.   Even though there is not a quorum, the members present may vote to adopt a motion or to take action on something nonetheless.  However, this is risky because it is not official action of the assembly.  The members who voted to adopt the motion (or to take the action) are acting on their own and can wind up being personally liable for any damages or expenses incurred by virtue of the motion unless the action is ratified by the membership at a future meeting with a quorum.   Whatever motion or action that was approved in the absence of a quorum is null and void unless and until  ratified at a future meeting.  If it is not ratified, the members who adopted the motion or took the action can be personally liable.  Therefore, that sort of action should be reserved for those rare instances when some type of emergency action must be taken and you are confident that the membership will  ratify it at a future meeting.

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