Secretary Pro Tem

[Guest Brian]

When the recording secretary requests to be excused from duty and the President nominates a pro tem, is a second required from the floor, and is the vote a majority?

[Richard Brown]

A second is required if it is a motion “to appoint John Smith as secretary pro tem for this meeting“. However, if nominations are being taken to elect someone to serve as  secretary pro tem, then nominations themselves do not need to be seconded. 

Edited to add: The election of a secretary pro tem is normally done by unanimous consent (without objection). However, technically it is a motion that should be handled as any other motion if there is an objection or if there is more than one nominee.
 

Edited April 26, 2023 at 05:09 PM by Richard Brown
Added last paragraph

[Guest Brian]

Thank you.  That is very helpful.  Our current secretary is stepping down due to health issues and we need to appoint a pro tem to record meetings until an election is held at our annual meeting.  

[Gary Novosielski]

A secretary pro tem election is only valid for a single meeting. If you have multiple meetings prior to the annual meeting, one will have to be elected at each of the meetings.  Of course it can be the same person each time.

[Guest Brian]

Thank you, Richard and Gary, for your counsel.

 

[Josh Martin]

On 4/28/2023 at 7:49 PM, Gary Novosielski said:

A secretary pro tem election is only valid for a single meeting. If you have multiple meetings prior to the annual meeting, one will have to be elected at each of the meetings.  Of course it can be the same person each time.

Technically, it is possible to elect a Secretary Pro Tempore for a longer period if desired, although in such cases previous notice must be given of the election. See RONR (12th ed.) 8:16