Bylaws rules during Covid 19

[Guest PghDan]

My organization has not held any in person or virtual meetings during Covid 19.  Suddenly they sent an email to only the people they have on file ( approximately half of the total membership of 1800 ) stating in 9 days a vote will be held to make a major purchase ($1.5 million building), and also to raise dues dramatically... we have a bylaw which requires us to read at meetings for three times( over three months ) and vote after questions and discussion on the change of how much our dues are...can a special meeting which is allowed to occur by another bylaw, be allowed to bypass the written bylaw which is very specific on how dues and other changes to bylaws occur, simply due to Covid 19 ... voting is going to take place over 12 hours in person

[Josh Martin]

54 minutes ago, Guest PghDan said:

My organization has not held any in person or virtual meetings during Covid 19.  Suddenly they sent an email to only the people they have on file ( approximately half of the total membership of 1800 ) stating in 9 days a vote will be held to make a major purchase ($1.5 million building), and also to raise dues dramatically... we have a bylaw which requires us to read at meetings for three times( over three months ) and vote after questions and discussion on the change of how much our dues are...can a special meeting which is allowed to occur by another bylaw, be allowed to bypass the written bylaw which is very specific on how dues and other changes to bylaws occur, simply due to Covid 19

No. The organization must follow the rules in its bylaws.

Additionally, notices of special meetings must be sent to all members.

54 minutes ago, Guest PghDan said:

voting is going to take place over 12 hours in person

RONR actually does allow voting in this manner, and this seems like a pretty clever solution in the circumstances. Voting must take place in person unless the organization's bylaws or applicable law provide otherwise, but an organization may indeed establish a "polling place" open for long periods of time. Such a solution is common for electing officers at a large convention, for instance.

Nonetheless, if the bylaws require that the process for changing dues requires consideration at three meetings over a period of three months, the actual vote (whether that vote takes place over 12 hours or not) would have to wait until the third meeting.

Edited February 17, 2021 at 10:41 PM by Josh Martin