Alexis Hunt Posted June 28, 2019 at 06:50 PM Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 at 06:50 PM Hypothetical question... suppose that a board (properly authorized to do so) holds a meeting via a video conferencing software. But the particular software in use does not allow the video conference to actually begin until the host of the meeting (say, the President) presses the button to do so. The President then sends an email to the rest of the board saying that they cannot make the meeting. Ordinarily, if the members showed up to the venue to find the door locked and the only person with the key not coming, they could likely call the meeting to order just outside the door and then adjourn to someplace more convenient. But can the members do so here? Can the members who have opened the software and are now awaiting the President's attendance now communicate through some other means to call the meeting to order, such as a conference call, and adjourn it to a different software or continue it as such? The software originally chosen offers no mechanism for the members waiting to communicate; they will have to do it some other way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted June 28, 2019 at 07:33 PM Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 at 07:33 PM Ah, the joys of doing things in a non-robertian manner. It is an interesting problem, however, that can be finessed or avoided if using straight e-mail as the meeting "medium". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexis Hunt Posted June 28, 2019 at 08:17 PM Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 at 08:17 PM Email does not provide an opportunity for "simultaneous aural communication", however, and therefore is not an appropriate substitute for an in-person meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted June 28, 2019 at 09:13 PM Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 at 09:13 PM Redefine what you mean by "meeting" a little bit and RONR "fits" remarkably well... https://www.dropbox.com/s/g8w31eocwqx067h/E-Meetings 2012.docx?dl=0 It is quite surprising how well a set of >150 year old rules apply to electronic communications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Goodwiller, PRP Posted June 28, 2019 at 09:45 PM Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 at 09:45 PM I must disagree with my colleague about email meetings. I personally think they should only be used for unanimous consent motions - authorized in a clearly defined article in the bylaws. In reality, many states require it for non-profit corporations. I work quite a bit with electronic meetings, including the development of rules for such meetings, and I also recommend that the rules adopted for electronic meetings cover what to do with the technology fails to facilitate the meeting whatever the reason. That's why special rules of order exist in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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