Interpretation

[R.S.M]

Our rules in the Bylaws on Probationary Members being voted on for regular active membership reads " The Probationary Member shall be elected to Regular Active Membership by secret ballot vote, a majority of those Regular Active Members and Life Members present and eligible to vote being necessary to elect." There were 13 members present and eligible to vote, of the 13 only 11 voted and the vote was 6 for and 5 against which based on the language above the member did not receive the majority. The way I interpret the rule is it takes a majority of 13 members to pass not a majority of 11 who voted. Thoughts on interpretation

[Dan Honemann]

8 minutes ago, R.S.M said:

Our rules in the Bylaws on Probationary Members being voted on for regular active membership reads " The Probationary Member shall be elected to Regular Active Membership by secret ballot vote, a majority of those Regular Active Members and Life Members present and eligible to vote being necessary to elect." There were 13 members present and eligible to vote, of the 13 only 11 voted and the vote was 6 for and 5 against which based on the language above the member did not receive the majority. The way I interpret the rule is it takes a majority of 13 members to pass not a majority of 11 who voted. Thoughts on interpretation

I think you're right.

[Richard Brown]

3 minutes ago, R.S.M said:

Our rules in the Bylaws on Probationary Members being voted on for regular active membership reads " The Probationary Member shall be elected to Regular Active Membership by secret ballot vote, a majority of those Regular Active Members and Life Members present and eligible to vote being necessary to elect." There were 13 members present and eligible to vote, of the 13 only 11 voted and the vote was 6 for and 5 against which based on the language above the member did not receive the majority. The way I interpret the rule is it takes a majority of 13 members to pass not a majority of 11 who voted. Thoughts on interpretation

I agree.  Based on the rather unusual and very specific wording of your bylaws, my interpretation is that it would have required 7 yes votes to be elected to active membership.  Ultimately, however, it is up to the members of your organization to interpret its bylaws.  If the membership does not like the current threshold, it should amend the bylaws accordingly.

[R.S.M]

2 minutes ago, Daniel H. Honemann said:

I think you're right.

Thank you for your input.

[R.S.M]

4 minutes ago, Daniel H. Honemann said:

I think you're right.

 

Edited April 7, 2021 at 10:30 PM by R.S.M

[R.S.M]

4 minutes ago, Richard Brown said:

I agree.  Based on the rather unusual and very specific wording of your bylaws, my interpretation is that it would have required 7 yes votes to be elected to active membership.  Ultimately, however, it is up to the members of your organization to interpret its bylaws.  If the membership does not like the current threshold, it should amend the bylaws accordingly.

The wording in my opinion needs changed but I was thinking that it was the majority of 13.

[Richard Brown]

Just now, R.S.M said:

The wording in my opinion needs changed but I was thinking that it was the majority of 13.

A majority of 13 is 7.

[R.S.M]

16 minutes ago, Richard Brown said:

A majority of 13 is 7.

Yes. It's has caused confusion because of the language, It's a majority of 13 present and eligible to vote, not majority of 11 who voted.