Resignation of the President

[Guest Sharline]

The President was elected for a one year term. He served one year then ran for another year and won. He served about 8 months then sent an email to the board stating his resignation - that's it. Now, he claims that he is still on the board because he is a "past president" from the previous year. Our bylaws state that the immediate past president will serve in an advisory position on the executive board.

Since he resigned as president, we feel that he should not be listed as "immediate past president" and not be part of this board. Are we correct?

[hmtcastle]

Since he resigned as president, we feel that he should not be listed as "immediate past president" and not be part of this board. Are we correct?

Well, you'll have to interpret your own bylaws but it seems to me he's the immediate past president whether he resigned or not. In other words, you have to live with the rules you made, regardless of how you "feel" about it.

Of course you could have rejected his resignation but that's probably not a practical option.

[George Mervosh]

Isn't the immediate past president, by just your garden variety definition, the last guy to hold the office? I think it is.

[David A Foulkes]

The President was elected for a one year term. He served one year then ran for another year and won. He served about 8 months then sent an email to the board stating his resignation - that's it. Now, he claims that he is still on the board because he is a "past president" from the previous year. Our bylaws state that the immediate past president will serve in an advisory position on the executive board.

Since he resigned as president, we feel that he should not be listed as "immediate past president" and not be part of this board. Are we correct?

Since you offer no further bylaw qualification for the position of "immediate past president", such as how he came to be no longer president (voted out at election time, resignation, removal, incapacity, etc), and with respect to RONR's position (if I am correct here) that officers who has served at least half their terms are considered to have served a full term, there's little to deny the fact that he is the IPP.

[Josh Martin]

Since he resigned as president, we feel that he should not be listed as "immediate past president" and not be part of this board. Are we correct?

The position of "Immediate Past President" does not appear in RONR and many on this forum advise against such a position. Ultimately, this is a question of Bylaws interpretation that the society must decide for itself. See RONR, 10th ed., pgs 570-573 for some Principles of Interpretation. The simple dictionary meaning of the words would suggest that the IPP is the person who served immediately prior to the current president, and factors such as length of service and how he left office are irrelevant. There may, however, be other relevant rules in your Bylaws which would make the issue more complex.

and with respect to RONR's position (if I am correct here) that officers who has served at least half their terms are considered to have served a full term,

RONR's position is that officers who have served at least half their term are considered to have serve a full term for the purpose of determining eligibility under term limit rules. (RONR, 10th ed., pg. 557, lines 12-15) That rule has no bearing on the question asked.