Angie N Posted May 9, 2020 at 06:44 PM Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 at 06:44 PM Hello, I have a question about assessments and member dues. Our organization does not have anything in our bylaws to assess members. If I understand correctly according to RONR, we can not assess members outside dues unless it's in our bylaws. My question is would it be out of order for a member to make a motion to increase the dues? Does there have to be a provision in the bylaws to increase dues?? Thank you for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Lages Posted May 9, 2020 at 07:20 PM Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 at 07:20 PM It is not necessary to have a provision in your bylaws strictly to increase the dues. If your bylaws specify the dues amount, then you will need to amend the bylaws to increase that amount, following whatever procedures your bylaws require for their amendment. If your bylaws specify that dues will be collected, but do not specify the amount, then they might indicate who has the power to set the dues amount - either the board, or the membership alone. When the bylaws do not specify the dues amount, an increase would most likely be through the motion to amend something previously adopted, since you would be changing an amount previously approved. This motion requires a 2/3 vote if no previous notice is given, a majority vote if previous notice is given, or a vote of a majority of the entire membership. For an issue like a dues increase. I would strongly recommend giving previous notice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie N Posted May 9, 2020 at 07:58 PM Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 at 07:58 PM Thank you for the response. We do not have anything currently in our bylaws about dues. So this would be a new motion, is previous notice still required? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted May 9, 2020 at 08:02 PM Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 at 08:02 PM Just now, Angie N said: Thank you for the response. We do not have anything currently in our bylaws about dues. So this would be a new motion, is previous notice still required? There is nothing in your bylaws about dues whatsoever? If that is the case, then not only can you not increase the dues, you can't charge dues at all, until the bylaws are amended to provide for them. When the bylaws are amended to provide for dues, the bylaws could specify a set amount (in which event the bylaws would need to be amended in order to increase them) or the bylaws could specify the manner in which dues may be set and changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie N Posted May 9, 2020 at 08:12 PM Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 at 08:12 PM That's correct. We do not have anything in the bylaws about dues. This has been in place for years. We do get a breakdown of what the dues consist of. I don't think it will realistic to have members stop paying now. To move forward we need to update our bylaws to add dues and a way to increase them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted May 10, 2020 at 01:27 AM Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 at 01:27 AM 5 hours ago, Angie N said: To move forward we need to update our bylaws to add dues and a way to increase them? Yes. As Mr. Lages and Mr. Martin said, you can either include the dues amount in the bylaws (not recommended) or provide that members shall pay dues as established from time to time by some body, such as the membership, the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, etc. Then it won't be necessary to amend the bylaws when a due increase is necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie N Posted May 10, 2020 at 02:20 AM Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 at 02:20 AM That's correct. We do not have anything in the bylaws about dues. This has been in place for years. We do get a breakdown of what the dues consist of. I don't think it will realistic to have members stop paying now. To move forward we need to update our bylaws to add dues and a way to increase them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie N Posted May 10, 2020 at 02:21 AM Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 at 02:21 AM Thank you Mr. Brown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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