Normal Duties of Executive Committee for non-profit

[Guest John Shuff]

 Have an organizational question that I hope you could help with: What are the primary duties of an Exec. Committee per Roberts Rules? Our bylaws are vague on the topic

[George Mervosh]

Here is what RONR says about an Executive Committee:

" In a society where the board is large or its members must travel from a distance to meet, it is usual for the bylaws to establish an executive committee composed of a specified number of board members, which shall have all or much of the power of the board between meetings (just as the board has all or much of the power of the society between the society's meetings), but which cannot alter any decision made by the board (just as the board cannot alter any decision made by the society). The executive committee is thus in reality a “board within a board” and operates under the rules in this book applicable to boards rather than those applicable to committees. Usually the membership of the executive committee is specified in the bylaws, rather than being left to the choice of the full board. It is advisable that the executive committee be small and, unless it has been authorized to conduct electronic meetings (see 9:30–36), that its members live near enough to each other to be able to hold frequent regular meetings and also special meetings when necessary. The executive secretary, if there is one, should work closely with the executive committee, but should be appointed by the parent body or at least by the board. A board cannot appoint an executive committee unless the bylaws so authorize,"  RONR (12th ed.), 49:13

The bylaws should be very clear on the matters stated above.