Change meeting locations?

[Guest Mike Forino]

Short background:

The BOD for an enthusiast club currently meets monthly at a rented meeting hall - the fees aren't high ($100/month), but the money could definitely be used elsewhere. Several people in the club have checked with a number of neighboring restaurants and have been told by each one that they would let us use (for free) their meeting rooms. The club also provides pizza at every meeting, also not expensive (about $100 worth each mtg). Several options have come up ranging from status quo to move to a free meeting venue and let the members pay for their own meals. Middle ground seems to be move venues and have the club maintain the free food by just buying $100 worth of appetizers - hungrier members can then supplement out of their own pocket if they wish.

My question is - can the BOD authorize any of these options or must they all be proposed and voted on by the membership? Nowhere in any of the clubs papers is a paid for meeting hall or a full stomach mentioned.

Thanks in advance!

[hmtcastle]

My question is - can the BOD authorize any of these options or must they all be proposed and voted on by the membership? Nowhere in any of the clubs papers is a paid for meeting hall or a full stomach mentioned.

Absent an unusual provision in your bylaws, the board should be free to meet wherever it wants. The important thing is that all board members are aware of the date, time, and place.

How the club's money is spent is a separate issue.

[Guest Mike Forino]

Absent an unusual provision in your bylaws, the board should be free to meet wherever it wants. The important thing is that all board members are aware of the date, time, and place.

How the club's money is spent is a separate issue.

I messed that one up.

The first statement should read, "The general membershipfor an enthusiast club currently meets monthly at a rented meeting hall..."

The BOD already meets at a restaurant - no issues w/ cost there as they all pay their own way.

[hmtcastle]

I messed that one up.

The first statement should read, "The general membershipfor an enthusiast club currently meets monthly at a rented meeting hall..."

Well, if you're now asking if the board can tell the general membership where to meet I'd have to say the answer is probably no.

In any case, your board has only the authority given it by your bylaws. No more, no less.

[Gary Novosielski]

I messed that one up.

The first statement should read, "The general membership for an enthusiast club currently meets monthly at a rented meeting hall..."

The BOD already meets at a restaurant - no issues w/ cost there as they all pay their own way.

Well, that's even easier. A motion can be made at the general membership meeting. They certainly have the authority to decide where to meet.

[Josh Martin]

The BOD general membership for an enthusiast club currently meets monthly at a rented meeting hall - the fees aren't high ($100/month), but the money could definitely be used elsewhere. Several people in the club have checked with a number of neighboring restaurants and have been told by each one that they would let us use (for free) their meeting rooms. The club also provides pizza at every meeting, also not expensive (about $100 worth each mtg). Several options have come up ranging from status quo to move to a free meeting venue and let the members pay for their own meals. Middle ground seems to be move venues and have the club maintain the free food by just buying $100 worth of appetizers - hungrier members can then supplement out of their own pocket if they wish.

Only the general membership has the authority to change the location of its meetings. The spending issue is trickier. How did the club start paying these expenses? Was it a motion adopted by the board or the general membership? The amount of authority your Bylaws give to the board is also an important factor.