Guest Linda Posted January 2, 2019 at 06:19 PM Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 at 06:19 PM Hi, I would like to know what the rules stipulate regarding having a past president of a board serve on the next term's BOD. I've been told that Robert Rules indicate that a past president position should not be on a board and should not be a voting member of the board. Our bylaws state that the individual who served as President in the previous board term shall serve as past president for the next term. I can't seem to find anything in the Rules that confirm this. I need help with this..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Mervosh Posted January 2, 2019 at 06:37 PM Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 at 06:37 PM (edited) 24 minutes ago, Guest Linda said: Hi, I would like to know what the rules stipulate regarding having a past president of a board serve on the next term's BOD. I've been told that Robert Rules indicate that a past president position should not be on a board and should not be a voting member of the board. Our bylaws state that the individual who served as President in the previous board term shall serve as past president for the next term. I can't seem to find anything in the Rules that confirm this. I need help with this..... This is incorrect. RONR makes no statement about a past president at all when it comes to a board. The board's composition is dictated by the bylaws. Edited January 2, 2019 at 06:44 PM by George Mervosh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weldon Merritt Posted January 2, 2019 at 07:37 PM Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 at 07:37 PM Agreeing with Mr. Mervosh, I will just add that you will find few, if any, of the regulars on this board who think giving a past preesident an automatic position on the board (or any other automataic position) is a good idea. On of the more actice regulars, Dr. Stackpole, has an exhaustive list of reasons, which I won't try to reiterate. (Maybe he will post them later.) Nevertheless, if your bylaws define the board to include a past president position (I assume you actully mean the immediate past president), then that's that until the bylaws are amended to remove the position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted January 2, 2019 at 09:55 PM Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 at 09:55 PM 2 hours ago, Weldon Merritt said: Dr. Stackpole, has an exhaustive list of reasons, which I won't try to reiterate. (Maybe he will post them later.) With an invitation like that how could I do otherwise... IPP is a Bad Idea: And here's some reasons why the position is a bad idea: In my personal view, setting up an "official" Immediate Past President (IPP) position is not a particularly good idea. The most telling argument is the real possibility of a close and bitter race for the presidency, with the current president running (for a second term) against an "outsider". And the outsider - the "reform candidate", perhaps - wins but is still stuck with the thorn of the IPP on the Board in a position to snipe at the new president. And perhaps attempt to undermine the new president's plans. Not to mention vote against them. If the erstwhile president is a "good guy" the new president can (usually, depending on the bylaws) appoint him to a pre-existing committee - or even have him chair one, which might put him on the Board - as the new president sees fit. That way the IPP's experience and value can be put to good use, when needed, without the danger of setting up an adversarial situation which would require a bylaw amendment to get out of. Here's some more reasons 1) The President resigns and wants nothing to do with the organization. 2) The President simply doesn't run for election again because he's had enough, and never shows up at a board meeting. 3) The President is booted out of office for being incompetent, or for something more nefarious. 4) The President dies. 5) The President resigns and moves (wants to help but isn't around). 6) Even worse is the bylaw assignment of the IPP to chair a committee - such as nominating. Then he, the IPP, dies/quits/leaves town, &c. You are then stuck with an unfillable (by definition) vacancy. Note that except for item 4, the IPP may well be part of the quorum requirement for meetings, even though he never shows up. Our suggestion is to amend your bylaws to eliminate the position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zev Posted January 2, 2019 at 10:07 PM Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 at 10:07 PM 9 minutes ago, jstackpo said: Our suggestion is to amend your bylaws to eliminate the position. Amen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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