Approving Reports

[Guest Coy Boroff]

I work for a not for profit healthcare provider. In the past, we have only officially approved the finance report, but no other report. With a change in Board presidents, we now approve every report. It is time consuming and, in my opinion, useless. Do we need to approve reports?

[George Mervosh]

No, only recommendations contained in a report are subject to a motion and vote.

And never approve any finance report except the report of the auditors......bad bad idea to do it any other way.

[J. J.]

I work for a not for profit healthcare provider. In the past, we have only officially approved the finance report, but no other report. With a change in Board presidents, we now approve every report. It is time consuming and, in my opinion, useless. Do we need to approve reports?

Not normally. Unless a report proposes some action, it is made and that is it (pp. 488-1). If there is some motion or recommendation that the committee recommends, that should be moved after the report is made.

Note: Never approve an unaudited treasurer's report.

[Trina]

I work for a not for profit healthcare provider. In the past, we have only officially approved the finance report, but no other report. With a change in Board presidents, we now approve every report. It is time consuming and, in my opinion, useless. Do we need to approve reports?

In general, it is worse than useless -- by officially approving a report, the assembly takes responsibility for the report, in a way which is not usually appropriate or necessary. Most reports (including the typical monthly financial report) are just that -- they are reports -- the assembly listens, and moves on. The minutes would note that the report was presented, nothing more.

For example, RONR p. 459 makes a specific comment about the treasurer's report made at a regular meeting of a society: 'Such a report requires no action by the assembly.' (emphasis added)

On page 461 the statement is even stronger:

'No action of acceptance by the assembly is required -- or proper -- on a financial report of the treasurer unless it is of sufficient importance, as an annual report, to be referred to auditors. In the latter case it is the auditor's report which the assembly accepts.' (emphasis added)

I see that once again I have spent too much time typing

[George Mervosh]

I see that once again I have spent too much time typing

I need to pay more attention on the main page where it shows who is here......I'll lurk now, carry on.