Beginning of officer's term

[Guest patricia]

Elections were held in April for officers of our association. The bylaws state that the new officers take over at "the last meeting of the year". Keyboarded across the top of the nomination forms and ballots was the following:Term of office: June 1, 2010-May 32 2011 or in the case of the president June 1, 2010-May 31,2012. My concern is that if we begin after June 1 isn't that changing the election after the fact? And if it is, then we leave ourselves wide open for an election challenge--one of the acceptable reasons one is allowed to challenge election results is:Changing procedures or timelines during the course of or after an election When do the officers officially take over?

[Guest Patricia]

Elections were held in April for officers of our association. The bylaws state that the new officers take over at "the last meeting of the year". Keyboarded across the top of the nomination forms and ballots was the following:Term of office: June 1, 2010-May 32 2011 or in the case of the president June 1, 2010-May 31,2012. My concern is that if we begin after June 1 isn't that changing the election after the fact? And if it is, then we leave ourselves wide open for an election challenge--one of the acceptable reasons one is allowed to challenge election results is:Changing procedures or timelines during the course of or after an election When do the officers officially take over?

I forgot to memtion that the last meeting was changes from May 24 to June 3.

[Larry Cisar]

What do your bylaws define your year as?

[Trina]

I forgot to memtion that the last meeting was changes from May 24 to June 3.

Is your concern over what happens between June 1 (the date printed on the ballots) and June 3 (the last meeting of the year, at which the new officers would take over per your bylaws)?

According to RONR, people take office as soon as they are elected; however, your bylaws supersede RONR, and your bylaws apparently postpone the taking of office.

Incidentally, how was the last meeting date changed? Normally meetings cannot be 'uncalled' or rescheduled. However, that's probably water under the bridge at this point, since May 24 is over.

[David A Foulkes]

What do your bylaws define your year as?

Rescheduled meeting aside, it seems to me this is a very important question. If the "year" is actually defined in the bylaws, and as such ends (perhaps) at midnight May 31, then the June 3 meeting could now be seen as the *first* meeting of the new year. If elections were held in April, at what we might now assume was in fact the *last* meeting of the "year", then it would seem that the new officers have been effectively in office since then, and would be "in power" come 12:01 am tomorrow.

Ah, those &^%* bylaws.

[hmtcastle]

When do the officers officially take over?

At the last meeting of the year, per your bylaws.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

Elections were held in April for officers of our association.

Okay. Last month, officers were elected.

The bylaws state that the new officers take over at "the last meeting of the year".

Okay. "Take over" means "take office" I assume. Right?

The term of office for your officers is from "last meeting of the year" to the next "last meeting of the year".

Keyboarded across the top of the nomination forms and ballots was the following: Term of office: June 1, 2010-May 32 2011 or in the case of the president June 1, 2010-May 31,2012.

What!? This is impossible. That violates your bylaws.

Who typed that nonsense? Who failed to read the plain language of the bylaws?

My concern is that if we begin after June 1 isn't that changing the election after the fact?

It isn't "changing the election".

It is "violating your bylaws."

And if it is, then we leave ourselves wide open for an election challenge--one of the acceptable reasons one is allowed to challenge election results is: Changing procedures or timelines during the course of or after an election When do the officers officially take over?

Ignore the typing on the ballot. It is wrong. It is inconsistent with your bylaws. Obey your bylaws. Have your officers "take office" at the "last meeting of the year".

Problem solved:

• Obey the bylaws.

• Don't obey someone's opinion about when the terms of office ought to start. -- Don't obey typographical errors.

[Guest Patricia]

Terms of office are one year for VP, Secretary and Trasurer and 2 years for President or co-presidents.

The last meeting of the year is not specified as a date only "the last meeting of the year". The first meeting of the year is not specified either because it varies from year to year because we are dealing with a school calendar. The last meeting of the year was changed from May 24 to June 3 by the president because of a conflict in schedules--it was not approved by anyone. People showed up at the meeting because they did not receive a notice, but no one officially called the meeting to order. The June 3 date is troublesome, because it is the day before the last day of school--the district has been reorganized and many people are required to move everything out of their rooms because they are assigned to new buildings in the fall. Members are complaining that this is very inconvenient--3 of the 5 new officers are involved in this big move. So yes, it is problematic.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

The last meeting of the year is not specified as a date only "the last meeting of the year". The first meeting of the year is not specified either because it varies from year to year because we are dealing with a school calendar. The last meeting of the year was changed from May 24 to June 3 by the president because of a conflict in schedules--it was not approved by anyone. People showed up at the meeting because they did not receive a notice, but no one officially called the meeting to order. The June 3 date is troublesome, because it is the day before the last day of school--the district has been reorganized and many people are required to move everything out of their rooms because they are assigned to new buildings in the fall. Members are complaining that this is very inconvenient--3 of the 5 new officers are involved in this big move. So yes, it is problematic.

Well, regardless of the actual meeting date, which date is "last", is the start/end of the term.

Now it is up to you guys collectively to determine which meeting is "last".

Robert's Rules won't tell you "what date to use", nor "which meeting was the last meeting."

That's your job. -- Your cross to bear. -- Your Mayan calendar to decipher.

[Josh Martin]

The last meeting of the year was changed from May 24 to June 3 by the president because of a conflict in schedules--it was not approved by anyone.

This change was not valid unless the Bylaws grant the President this authority.