Founders

[Guest Will]

Hello all! I need assistance. I am a member of a fraternity... I am not that fully aware of RONR, although I should be. I was hoping someone could assist me in answering a question. Should a founder of an organization have the ability to have legislative power, even over the President or Constitution. I am assuming that there needs to be a little background history. I would prefer quick answers on this before I go into detail. But, basically, the question at hand was brought by members who question the Founders of the frat. They think that being a founder is simply a title and all the Founders have is the prestige of knowing they created the organization. The Founders believe that if they see the organization going in a direction that it wasn't designed to, they should be able to step in. Opinions???

[Robert B Fish]

Should a founder of an organization have the ability to have legislative power, even over the President or Constitution.

No. Unless your bylaws grant him special power, then, if he is a member, he has all the rights of other members (attend meetings, make motions, speak in debate, and vote.)

If he is not a member, he does not even have those rights.

-Bob

[Guest Will]

No. Unless your bylaws grant him special power, then, if he is a member, he has all the rights of other members (attend meetings, make motions, speak in debate, and vote.)

If he is not a member, he does not even have those rights.

-Bob

Thanks! The Founders have, I guess, a lifetime membership and they always sit on the National Executive Board. They always have a say, for a lack of better words. What if they motioned for the Bylaws to reflect this?

[hmtcastle]

What if they motioned for the Bylaws to reflect this?

Defeat the motion (if you want). There are probably more non-founders than founders. Or support the motion. Eventually, all the founders will be dead.

[Tim Wynn]

Hello all! I need assistance. I am a member of a fraternity... I am not that fully aware of RONR, although I should be. I was hoping someone could assist me in answering a question. Should a founder of an organization have the ability to have legislative power, even over the President or Constitution. I am assuming that there needs to be a little background history. I would prefer quick answers on this before I go into detail. But, basically, the question at hand was brought by members who question the Founders of the frat. They think that being a founder is simply a title and all the Founders have is the prestige of knowing they created the organization. The Founders believe that if they see the organization going in a direction that it wasn't designed to, they should be able to step in. Opinions???

The founders will have only the power given to them in the governing documents (bylaws/constitution/etc). A selling point to joining an organization is knowing that you'll have an equal say in shaping the future of the organization. If the founders have the power of dictators over the group, it tends to chase perspective members away... heck it'll even chase current members away, when they see that their votes don't count for anything.

[Tim Wynn]

Eventually, all the founders will be dead.

That's a grim outlook.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

That's a grim outlook.

It is the economic outlook.

"In the long run, we are all dead."

- John Maynard Keynes

[Josh Martin]

They think that being a founder is simply a title and all the Founders have is the prestige of knowing they created the organization.

This is entirely correct, except to the extent that the organization's rules provide otherwise. Nothing in RONR grants any special power to the founders of an organization. In most organizations, it is a purely ceremonial title.

From the further information you have provided, it appears that the Founders in your organization are lifetime members and have permanent ex-officio status on the National Executive Board, but unless there's more in your Bylaws about the founders, that's the extent of it.