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Withdrawing a second


Guest Wanda

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A board member made a motion that was seconded, but after some discussion at which point the board was ready for the vote, the seconder withdrew her second. The implication was that she'd withdrawn her second earlier i.e., just after she made it, but no one had heard her. It appeared taht she decided to withdraw it because it was apparent that no one was in favour of the motion. Shouldn't we have voted anyway?

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A board member made a motion that was seconded, but after some discussion at which point the board was ready for the vote, the seconder withdrew her second. The implication was that she'd withdrawn her second earlier i.e., just after she made it, but no one had heard her. It appeared taht she decided to withdraw it because it was apparent that no one was in favour of the motion. Shouldn't we have voted anyway?

Yes. With one exception a member cannot withdraw a second. The purpose for a second is to aid the Chair in knowing that more than one member wish the motion considered. So that she didn't think that anyone else was in favor of the motion should not have influenced her if she understood the second's purpose.

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A board member made a motion that was seconded, but after some discussion at which point the board was ready for the vote, the seconder withdrew her second. The implication was that she'd withdrawn her second earlier i.e., just after she made it, but no one had heard her. It appeared taht she decided to withdraw it because it was apparent that no one was in favour of the motion. Shouldn't we have voted anyway?

Yes, you should have voted. After debate has begun, the lack of a second becomes immaterial. See RONR(10th ed.), p. 35, l. 29-32.

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Well that is not exactly correct. It is "about a dozen members present". The Small Board rules are based on members present rather than the total number of Board members.

Not completely:

  • The chairman can speak in discussion without rising or leaving the chair, and, subject to rule or custom within the particular board (which should be followed regardless of how many members are present), he usually can make motions and usually votes on all questions.

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Simply: Thanks

(ok, not so simple: why does this site require you to continually confirm those mindless codes? I don't mind doing it once or twice, but even in the midst of posting, one is requested to confirm again and again. I MOVE to reconfigure the system so that one is required to confirm a code one single time upon accessing the site. On a serious note,, this site is a great help)

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