Guest guest-Judy Posted September 17, 2010 at 08:07 PM Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 at 08:07 PM Our updated by-laws list our parliamentarian as a voting board member. Appointed officers are listed as voting board members, but this seems to be a conflict of interest. Is there a rule for this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert B Fish Posted September 17, 2010 at 08:18 PM Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 at 08:18 PM The parliamentarian, even if a member, does not make motions, does not speak in debate, and does not vote, even if his/her vote would affect the outcome as that is the right of the chairman. -Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmtcastle Posted September 17, 2010 at 08:22 PM Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 at 08:22 PM this seems to be a conflict of interestIt's not so much a "conflict of interest" but, as Mr. Fish noted, the member-parliamentarian agrees not to exercise his rights as a member (except that he can vote when the vote is by ballot). If he's not prepared to accept those restrictions, he should not accept the position of parliamentarian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Edward Dell Posted September 17, 2010 at 08:40 PM Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 at 08:40 PM And as a parliamentarian, I'm sure he knows this. Riiiiight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Honemann Posted September 17, 2010 at 08:40 PM Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 at 08:40 PM It's not so much a "conflict of interest" but, as Mr. Fish noted, the member-parliamentarian agrees not to exercise his rights as a member (except that he can vote when the vote is by ballot). If he's not prepared to accept those restrictions, he should not accept the position of parliamentarian.But if the parliamentarian is not acting in that capacity during board meetings, none of these restrictions apply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abcdave Posted September 18, 2010 at 02:30 PM Report Share Posted September 18, 2010 at 02:30 PM I hope I'm not giving anyone any bad ideas, but...our president appointed his buddy to be parliamentarian - when I read the paragraph at the top of pg. 451 about not speaking in debate etc. they said, "all right, then he's not the parliamentarian - he's just a friendly advisor to the president and he will sit next to the president and we won't have a parliamentarian."The board just wants to "move forward" so they are willing to let the president pretty much do what he wants.Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted September 18, 2010 at 02:34 PM Report Share Posted September 18, 2010 at 02:34 PM I hope I'm not giving anyone any bad ideas, but...our president appointed his buddy to be parliamentarian - when I read the paragraph at the top of pg. 451 about not speaking in debate etc. they said, "all right, then he's not the parliamentarian - he's just a friendly advisor to the president and he will sit next to the president and we won't have a parliamentarian."The board just wants to "move forward" so they are willing to let the president pretty much do what he wants.Any thoughts? Is the President's "buddy" a Board member? If he isn't then he doesn't have a right to attend and the Board can exclude him. However, if the Board is willing to let the President do what he wants then there isn't anything you can do about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmtcastle Posted September 18, 2010 at 02:34 PM Report Share Posted September 18, 2010 at 02:34 PM The board just wants to "move forward" so they are willing to let the president pretty much do what he wants.Then you'll have to take your case to a higher authority (i.e. the general membership). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David A Foulkes Posted September 18, 2010 at 09:52 PM Report Share Posted September 18, 2010 at 09:52 PM I hope I'm not giving anyone any bad ideas, but...our president appointed his buddy to be parliamentarian - when I read the paragraph at the top of pg. 451 about not speaking in debate etc. they said, "all right, then he's not the parliamentarian - he's just a friendly advisor to the president and he will sit next to the president and we won't have a parliamentarian."The board just wants to "move forward" so they are willing to let the president pretty much do what he wants.Any thoughts? Is the President's "buddy" a Board member? If he isn't then he doesn't have a right to attend and the Board can exclude him. However, if the Board is willing to let the President do what he wants then there isn't anything you can do about it.Then you'll have to take your case to a higher authority (i.e. the general membership).Of course, if this "friendly advisor" is sitting in at membership meetings, your suggestion sounds valid. Be that the case, the Board has no authority anyway. But if it is in fact at a Board meeting, does the general membership have any say in it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted September 19, 2010 at 06:44 AM Report Share Posted September 19, 2010 at 06:44 AM Of course, if this "friendly advisor" is sitting in at membership meetings, your suggestion sounds valid. Be that the case, the Board has no authority anyway. But if it is in fact at a Board meeting, does the general membership have any say in it?The membership could, if it wished, adopt a rule on the matter, which the subordinate board would be obliged to follow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abcdave Posted September 19, 2010 at 02:12 PM Report Share Posted September 19, 2010 at 02:12 PM The membership could, if it wished, adopt a rule on the matter, which the subordinate board would be obliged to follow.Our friendly advisor was just elected to a 2 year position on the board - but can obviously be removed (in 2 years!)He will have to same position (advisor) at any membership meeting.The membership could of course adopt a rule - but I believe the board has demonstrated that it can find a way around any rule it (as a body) wants to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.