Board Position

[hknuttel]

This is in our by-laws under "EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THEIR DUTIES" The executive committee shall consist of the Elected Officers; President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, as well as the Past President of the corporation. What I need to know is if the past president is part of the new executive committee, can he/she also be a nominee for another office in the new year, e.g. VP?

[jstackpo]

But which of, presumably, a number of past presidents is THE past president?

[Gary Novosielski]

This is in our by-laws under "EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THEIR DUTIES" The executive committee shall consist of the Elected Officers; President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, as well as the Past President of the corporation. What I need to know is if the past president is part of the new executive committee, can he/she also be a nominee for another office in the new year, e.g. VP?

He/she can certainly be a nominee, presuming all the eligibility requirements are met, just as for any other person seeking office. In most societies though, if elected to more than one office, (s)he would not be allowed to hold both. You need to check the rule and customs of your organization.

Strictly speaking, RONR does not prohibit one person holding two offices, but notes that many societies do not allow this, and that some of those even put it in the bylaws. (good idea)

But note well: If (s)he thinks that (s)he would get two votes as a result of his/her dual offices, then (s)he has another think coming. The principle of one (wo)man, one vote, still applies, no matter how many hats (s)he is wearing.

[David A Foulkes]

And just to add a wrinkle....

If the President's term isn't up, and

if the (immediate) past president is elected to VP, and

if there are no rules preventing someone from holding two offices

then.....

I think your Exec Committee just shrunk to four members.

[Tim Wynn]

If (s)he thinks that (s)he would...

Please (s)top this. It's making me (wo)mental.

[hknuttel]

But which of, presumably, a number of past presidents is THE past president?

Yes, that is correct.

[Tim Wynn]

Yes, that is correct.

I agree that Dr. Stackpole's question is correct, but I think it's in search of a correct answer.

[David A Foulkes]

Helen, is it the IMMEDIATE past president who is a member of the Exec Committee?

The question centers around this: ALL of the members who have held the position of president previously are "past" presidents. There is only ONE "immediate" past president - the member who was replaced by the current sitting president. And until that member..... um... shall we say..... is "dis-membered" from this life plane, he will remain the "Immediate" past president until you elect a new president, and the current sitting president will now be the "Immediate" past president.

So, which is it?

[Kim Goldsworthy]

This is in our by-laws under "EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THEIR DUTIES" The executive committee shall consist of the Elected Officers; President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, as well as the Past President of the corporation.

... if the past president is part of the new executive committee,

can he/she also be a nominee for another office in the new year, e.g. VP?

Yes.

A person, in theory, could hold any number of offices.

Just because a person is ...

... (a.) a past president; (b.) the immediate past president; (c.) secretary; (d.) treasurer, ...

... does not imply that this person cannot be elected to a second position or third position or fourth position, like ...

(e.) president; (f.) vice president; (g.) sergeant-at-arms; (h.) chairman of the audit committee.

No rule in Robert's Rules of Order exists which implies, "One office per person, please."

In theory, you could have one person hold as many offices as that civic-minded fellow in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado.

POOH-BAH

It is consequently my degrading duty to serve this

upstart as First Lord of the Treasury, Lord Chief Justice,

Commander-in-Chief, Lord High Admiral, Master of the Buckhounds,

Groom of the Back Stairs, Archbishop of Titipu, and Lord Mayor,

both acting and elect, all rolled into one. And at a salary! A

Pooh-Bah paid for his services! I a salaried minion! But I do

it! It revolts me, but I do it!

[Rob Elsman]

This is in our by-laws under "EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THEIR DUTIES" The executive committee shall consist of the Elected Officers; President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, as well as the Past President of the corporation. What I need to know is if the past president is part of the new executive committee, can he/she also be a nominee for another office in the new year, e.g. VP?

No rule in RONR prevents a person from holding two offices simultaneously; however, the person holding more than one office will still only have one vote on the executive committee, since membership in an assembly or committee is personal and cannot be multiplied.

[Gary Novosielski]

Please (s)top this. It's making me (wo)mental.

I know, I dislike it too. I was following the OP and got carried away.