Change in Member Application

[Guest Vincent]

Is a board vote required when a change to the membership application is recommended?

[Gary Novosielski]

If the board has the power to change the membership application, then a vote would be required.  And before that a motion would be required, specifying what the change was to be.

Presumably this would be a motion to Amend Something Previously Adopted [RONR (12th ed.) §35].  To adopt this motion requires:

• If previous notice is given, a majority vote;
• If previous notice is not given:
  • a two thirds vote; or
  • a majority of the entire membership (of the board)

If the board is small and everyone attends and votes, the first and last of those are essentially the same.

 

But, if the board does not have the power to make this change, then the membership could do the same at a membership meeting.  Your bylaws are the place to look to determine what powers the board has or doesn't have.