Can a person become a member the same day as an AGM so they can vote?

[Guest Pamela]

I am a member of a non profit society and we just had our AGM where 3 new members who had just joined the week of voted and 1 ran for a position on the board and was voted in. 
 

The club was divided all year and the one side stacked the room as each person that was awarded a position had the exact same number of votes. 
 

Does Roberts rules have any guidelines on how long you have to be a member in good standing before you can vote at an AGM and before you can hold a position with the board? 
 

Our own bylaws make no reference to this. 

[J. J.]

There is no provision prohibiting this in RONR.  Once someone becomes a member, they receive all the rights of membership. 

Some organizations, however, may set limitations in their bylaws on when a member may exercise their rights of membership or how long they have to be a member in order hold office.  If there is none, there is no restriction on either. 

[Rob Elsman]

Provided the applicant has fulfilled all the requirements for membership eligibility, he can be admitted to membership at the beginning of the annual meeting and vote on all business that is transacted at the meeting thereafter.

[Josh Martin]

On 4/6/2024 at 10:44 AM, Guest Pamela said:

Does Roberts rules have any guidelines on how long you have to be a member in good standing before you can vote at an AGM and before you can hold a position with the board? 

So far as RONR is concerned, members have all rights of membership immediately upon becoming a member. Additionally, so far as RONR is concerned, the assembly may elect anyone it wishes to the board. RONR does not require that board members must be members of the society at all, let alone that they must have been a member for a particular length of time.

Many organizations do provide in their bylaws for a "waiting period" before members may exercise certain rights and/or before they become eligible for office, but RONR has no such limitations.

Edited April 6, 2024 at 09:22 PM by Josh Martin