Board meetings

[rondao]

Our bylaws state ":  The quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board.  The Secretary shall send notice of all regular Board meetings to Board Members at least five days prior to each meeting.  Board meetings are open to attendance by Club members unless an issue requiring an executive session is involved."

I found out that at a board meeting, non members were invited.  No explanation in the minutes as to why they were there.  

The president told me that nonmembers were allowed to attend board meetings.  Quite interesting because they do not tell regular members when they are so they can't attend.

Are non club members allowed to attend board meetings?

[Gary Novosielski]

We need to be clear on the terminology here.

Club members who are not on the board are considered non-members at board meetings.  

People who are not members of the club at all are also non-members at board meetings.

The board controls who is allowed at their meetings, except that it must allow non-members who are Club members, unless the board goes into executive session.  Non-members of the Club do not have any right to attend. But the board always has the power to allow anyone it wants to any of its meetings, even in executive session, even if they don't have the right to attend.

So the answer to your question is: Yes, if the board wants to.  

According to your bylaws, board members must receive notice of board meetings from the secretary, but this is not true for general Club members.  You'll have to arrange some other way to find out, which could include passing a motion at a general membership meeting directing the board to provide a method to notify the general membership of its meetings, or could include amending the bylaws to add that duty to the secretary's responsibilities.

[Josh Martin]

On 3/11/2024 at 4:59 PM, rondao said:

Are non club members allowed to attend board meetings?

Only board members have a right to attend board meetings. Other persons may attend only if the board permits them to.

[Gary Novosielski]

On 3/12/2024 at 6:57 PM, Josh Martin said:

Only board members have a right to attend board meetings. Other persons may attend only if the board permits them to.

Or if, as in this case, the bylaws say so.