disagreement about procedures

[Guest meg]

Several months ago, the board voted to NOT allow a certain type of demonstration at presentations given by our organization, because there were no guidelines as to how to present this demonstration, and the board felt that such a demonstration was not representing our organization in a positive manner. At a recent board meeting, the president stated that the type of demonstration that had been banned would be reinstated. After discussion, the board voted to reinstate the type of demonstration, but add certain guidelines. The vote was 8 - 2, with 2 abstentions. At the next board meeting, just before the customary time for adjournment, the president presented a lot of miscellaneous information, apparently trying to "prove" that we did not need the guidelines for that type of demonstration, and the meeting was then adjourned. It is known that the president plans to put this type of demonstration back into the presentations that we do, and it is strongly suspected that those who do that type of demonstration do not intend to follow the guidelines. It is also suspected that the president does not intend to permit discussion of the issue at the next board meeting. Our bylaws state that, in part, the duty of the president is to "perform additional duties as prescribed by the Bylaws of by the Executive Board." There is nothing in the bylaws about any specific types of demonstrations that may be given at our presentations, or guidelines as to how to do these demonstrations. My question then is two-fold: Is there any way we can be sure that the guidelines set for the demonstrations are followed? Is there a way to force a discussion of the "proof" the president provided? It seems to me that, with the 8 - 2 vote, the board basically instituted a standing rule about procedures to follow, and those should be binding to all in the organization.

[Rob Elsman]

Several months ago, the board voted to NOT allow a certain type of demonstration at presentations given by our organization, because there were no guidelines as to how to present this demonstration, and the board felt that such a demonstration was not representing our organization in a positive manner. At a recent board meeting, the president stated that the type of demonstration that had been banned would be reinstated. After discussion, the board voted to reinstate the type of demonstration, but add certain guidelines. The vote was 8 - 2, with 2 abstentions. At the next board meeting, just before the customary time for adjournment, the president presented a lot of miscellaneous information, apparently trying to "prove" that we did not need the guidelines for that type of demonstration, and the meeting was then adjourned. It is known that the president plans to put this type of demonstration back into the presentations that we do, and it is strongly suspected that those who do that type of demonstration do not intend to follow the guidelines. It is also suspected that the president does not intend to permit discussion of the issue at the next board meeting. Our bylaws state that, in part, the duty of the president is to "perform additional duties as prescribed by the Bylaws of by the Executive Board." There is nothing in the bylaws about any specific types of demonstrations that may be given at our presentations, or guidelines as to how to do these demonstrations. My question then is two-fold: Is there any way we can be sure that the guidelines set for the demonstrations are followed? Is there a way to force a discussion of the "proof" the president provided? It seems to me that, with the 8 - 2 vote, the board basically instituted a standing rule about procedures to follow, and those should be binding to all in the organization.

The organization's general assembly can inflict a punishment on any of its members who do not obey the rules of the organization. See RONR (10th ed.), §61, pp. 624ff, for the procedures to be followed in disciplinary actions.