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Motion from board of directors


Guest rwm

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In a general business meeting can the board of directors make a motion and call for a seconder or should they make a recommendation and request a motion from the floor?

In a general business meeting, as opposed to a board of directors meeting, the directors are members just like anyone else.

If you are referring to recommendations included in their report to the members, the general rule is that for committee reports, the reporting member moves any recommended motions, but for officers, a member of the assembly should make the motion.

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If you are referring to recommendations included in their report to the members, the general rule is that for committee reports,

... and for board reports. RONR(10th ed.), p. 489, l. 17-27.

the reporting member moves any recommended motions,

... and the motion does not require a second (in the likely event that the board is composed of more than one person). RONR(10th ed.), p. 489, l. 31-33.

but for officers, a member of the assembly should make the motion.

This applies to reports of officers, but if an officer is reporting on behalf of the board, this would not apply.

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... and for board reports. RONR(10th ed.), p. 489, l. 17-27.

... and the motion does not require a second (in the likely event that the board is composed of more than one person). RONR(10th ed.), p. 489, l. 31-33.

This applies to reports of officers, but if an officer is reporting on behalf of the board, this would not apply.

Yes, and good point on the second.

So the answer to the original question is that it would be appropriate for the director to move the recommendation, if it is a recommendation of the board, but not to ask for a second, as none is required.

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Thanks for the responses. Would it be a fair interpretation that the chair, speaking for the board, makes a motion and thereby keeps "ownership" of the motion and in a sense, the board as a group seconds the motion and that is why a seconder is not required? And a seconder is required for a motion from the floor to show that there is support enough to justify discussion of the motion?

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Would it be a fair interpretation that the chair, speaking for the board, makes a motion and thereby keeps "ownership" of the motion and in a sense, the board as a group seconds the motion and that is why a seconder is not required?

And a seconder is required for a motion from the floor to show that there is support enough to justify discussion of the motion?

Close. But that is not The Book.

An officer's report, or here, a board's report, is not to have its motion(s) moved by the presenter. [see page 459 under "Officer Reports"]

The Book says that an officer's report, and I assume likewise, a board's report, is to have its embedded motions moved by a member of the assembly.

(excerpt, page 459)

REPORTS OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. In addi-

tion to their annual reports, the president and vice-presi-

dent from time to time may wish or need to report on their

activities in connection with administrative duties. Such re-

ports are usually for purposes of information only, but may

sometimes contain recommendations calling for action by

the assembly. In either case, the reports should generally

conform to the rules as to form, substance, and disposition

that govern committee reports (51). Motions to adopt or

implement any recommendations should be made from the

floor by a member other than the reporting officer.

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Close. But that is not The Book.

An officer's report, or here, a board's report, is not to have its motion(s) moved by the presenter. [see page 459 under "Officer Reports"]

The Book says that an officer's report, and I assume likewise, a board's report, is to have its embedded motions moved by a member of the assembly.

No, your assumption here is incorrect. Take another look at Section 51.

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Close. But that is not The Book.

An officer's report, or here, a board's report, is not to have its motion(s) moved by the presenter. [see page 459 under "Officer Reports"]

The Book says that an officer's report, and I assume likewise, a board's report, is to have its embedded motions moved by a member of the assembly.

No, see pg 489. I made this mistake too.

A board member is not an "executive" officer. Board reports are handled like committee reports, not like executive officer's reports.

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Thanks for the responses. Would it be a fair interpretation that the chair, speaking for the board, makes a motion and thereby keeps "ownership" of the motion and in a sense, the board as a group seconds the motion and that is why a seconder is not required? And a seconder is required for a motion from the floor to show that there is support enough to justify discussion of the motion?

No, the chair should not be making motions. A board member should be designated to report the recommendation and move whatever needs to be moved. The president should stick to presiding.

Nobody keeps ownership of a motion once it has been placed before the assembly. They are free to adopt, reject, or amend it into something unrecognizable.

You're correct about the second. Since the board (or a majority thereof) passed the recommendation, at least two members want this discussed, so a second is not required for board and committee recommendations. Presuming of course that the committee or board has more than one member.

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....

And a seconder is required for a motion from the floor to show that there is support enough to justify discussion of the motion?

Not quite -- the second shows that at least one other member thinks the motion is worth debating (for whatever reason).

The seconder need not be in support of the motion. He may simply think the matter is important enough to deserve discussion. He may actually be opposed, and have the goal of getting the motion officially defeated by the assembly.

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And a seconder is required for a motion from the floor to show that there is support enough to justify discussion of the motion?

Not quite -- the second shows that at least one other member thinks the motion is worth debating (for whatever reason).

So you're splitting hairs between "discussion" and "debate"?

He may simply think the matter is important enough to deserve discussion

Or between "discussion" and "discussion"?

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Nope, the hair I was trying to split, apparently unsuccessfully, was on the use of the word 'support' -- the seconder need not be in support.

Fair enough. I read "support enough to justify discussion" as support for the discussion, not necessarily the motion. In any case, I'm sure your clarification was more helpful to the original poster than my quibbling was . . . to anyone.

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