boards

[Guest sue]

If a board dose not have a President and a Secretary has been voted in by the board not members, can they appoint the secretary to be President and hold those two positions at the AGM.Or can they leave the secretary position open for the AGM.

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[Chris Harrison]

If a board dose not have a President and a Secretary has been voted in by the board not members, can they appoint the secretary to be President and hold those two positions at the AGM.Or can they leave the secretary position open for the AGM.

The Board only has the authority the bylaws gives it. However, at an AGM the Membership usually is in control and not the Board (unless the bylaws say otherwise).

[hmtcastle]

If a board dose not have a President and a Secretary has been voted in by the board not members, can they appoint the secretary to be President and hold those two positions at the AGM.Or can they leave the secretary position open for the AGM.

You need to differentiate between meetings of the board and meetings of the general membership (the association).

The board can only act at board meetings. The board can not act, as a board, at a meeting of the general membership. You could even say that the board, as a board, won't even be there.

Even if there is no board "president", someone will have to preside at board meetings, whatever you call him (e.g. chair). That person might or might not be the one who presides at meetings of the general membership. The same goes for the secretary.

Note, too, that it is common in many organization for the general membership to elect the board members and then the board members elect the officers from among themselves. You'll have to read your bylaws to see what arrangements your particular organization has made.

[Guest sue]

You need to differentiate between meetings of the board and meetings of the general membership (the association).

The board can only act at board meetings. The board can not act, as a board, at a meeting of the general membership. You could even say that the board, as a board, won't even be there.

Even if there is no board "president", someone will have to preside at board meetings, whatever you call him (e.g. chair). That person might or might not be the one who presides at meetings of the general membership. The same goes for the secretary.

Note, too, that it is common in many organization for the general membership to elect the board members and then the board members elect the officers from among themselves. You'll have to read your bylaws to see what arrangements your particular organization has made.

HI H:

My concern is that our non profit organization has about 3 board members that will do any thing to stay in office and will apoint individuals to ensure he has votes at the board meeting. The president has one year left in term and we dont have one. If the board appoints a President before the AGM, how can we call for a members vote and can we. This person has done nothing but damage our organization.

[hmtcastle]

My concern is that our non profit organization has about 3 board members that will do any thing to stay in office and will apoint individuals to ensure he has votes at the board meeting. The president has one year left in term and we dont have one. If the board appoints a President before the AGM, how can we call for a members vote and can we. This person has done nothing but damage our organization.

See FAQ #20.

[Josh Martin]

HI H:

My concern is that our non profit organization has about 3 board members that will do any thing to stay in office and will apoint individuals to ensure he has votes at the board meeting. The president has one year left in term and we dont have one. If the board appoints a President before the AGM, how can we call for a members vote and can we. This person has done nothing but damage our organization.

First of all, check your Bylaws to see what they say about electing officers. It is the case in some organizations that the board elects its own officers. On the other hand, if your Bylaws give this authority to the general membership (or are silent) and the board is just making stuff up, then I would use the motions to Call for the Orders of the Day (after reports of committees, as elections are a special order), or if that doesn't work, a Point of Order, and finally an Appeal.