Guest Matt Posted February 24, 2024 at 11:33 PM Report Share Posted February 24, 2024 at 11:33 PM My question is.... Where do you draw the line with a secretary's opinion or input? Every member has the right to voice their opinion or ask for clarification of topics such as where funds are spent etc. We have a secretary that is receiving financial information in emails directed towards the elected offices IE: President, board members and secretary.... I understand that each member of our club has the right to ask questions but is this person abusing the rights of the position in asking for something that's not made public to the club? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Katz Posted February 24, 2024 at 11:41 PM Report Share Posted February 24, 2024 at 11:41 PM I don't understand. We're told that certain information is provided to the officers, of which the secretary is one, but then you ask if the secretary is abusing his rights in asking for that information. From what we're told, I don't see why he would be, so perhaps some more information could help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted February 25, 2024 at 03:15 PM Report Share Posted February 25, 2024 at 03:15 PM (edited) On 2/24/2024 at 5:33 PM, Guest Matt said: Where do you draw the line with a secretary's opinion or input? The Secretary should not insert their opinions into the minutes. "The minutes must never reflect the secretary's opinion, favorable or otherwise, on anything said or done." RONR (12th ed.) 48:2 That's the only "line" I can think of specific to the Secretary. The Secretary has the same rights as other members to express their opinion and input. On 2/24/2024 at 5:33 PM, Guest Matt said: We have a secretary that is receiving financial information in emails directed towards the elected offices IE: President, board members and secretary This all seems very reasonable to me. The Secretary is (I presume) a member of the board, and would therefore have, for starters, access to the same information as other board members. The Secretary also likely needs access to a great deal of information to perform the duties of the office of Secretary, which includes serving as the general custodian of the society's records. "The secretary is the recording officer of the assembly and the custodian of its records, except those specifically assigned to others, such as the treasurer's books." RONR (12th ed.) 47:32 "To maintain record book(s) in which the bylaws, special rules of order, standing rules, and minutes are entered, with any amendments to these documents properly recorded, and to have the current record book(s) on hand at every meeting." RONR (12th ed.) 47:33 "When written reports are received from boards or committees, the secretary records on them the date they were received and what further action was taken on them, and preserves them among his records." RONR (12th ed.) 47:35 On 2/24/2024 at 5:33 PM, Guest Matt said: I understand that each member of our club has the right to ask questions but is this person abusing the rights of the position in asking for something that's not made public to the club? The facts presented at this time do not make any reference to the Secretary "asking" for anything, but I don't know that it would make a difference if they did. The Secretary will necessarily have greater access to the society's records then the average member of the club, both in connection with the Secretary's position as a member of the board, and in connection with performing the duties of the office of Secretary. Nothing presented at this time suggests to me any impropriety on the part of the Secretary. Edited February 25, 2024 at 03:18 PM by Josh Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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