If President Elect Is Asked To Step Down Prior To Starting Term

[Guest Roxanne E. Fox]

The President-Elect of our non-profit organization is experiencing extreme personal problems and has not shown the ability to perform the duties of the President when she goes into office January 1, 2011. Several of the Past Presidents are concerned and are wanting to set up a meeting to ask the President Elect to step down. The President-Elect has made very little effort to put together her Council.

Who is the proper person to take over as President if this person steps down? The present President extends their term? Or the next President-Elect takes over.

What is the proper step?

Thank you

[George Mervosh]

Assuming she actually heeds your wishes and resigns, there is no automatic vacancy filling procedure in RONR for the office of President-Elect in mid-stream. "It is also customary to provide in the bylaws for some method to fill a vacancy in the office of president-elect, should one occur between elections. It is important to consider these provisions with great care." RONR, p. 441

[hmtcastle]

Assuming she actually heeds your wishes and resigns, there is no automatic vacancy filling procedure in RONR for the office of President-Elect in mid-stream.

Come January 1, wouldn't there be a vacancy in the office of president and then wouldn't the vice-president move up?

[George Mervosh]

Come January 1, wouldn't there be a vacancy in the office of president and then wouldn't the vice-president move up?

Maybe. There might be a new President-Elect January 1, who might fill a vacancy if one ever exists..... ""When the bylaws of an organization provide for a president-elect, it is usual to provide also that if the president should be absent, or if the office of the president should become vacant between elections, the president-elect shall preside, if present, or shall fill the vacancy." RONR, 441

Let me know when you find out.

[Ann Rempel]

Come January 1, wouldn't there be a vacancy in the office of president and then wouldn't the vice-president move up?

For all we know, there may not be a vice-president in this organization. Too many unknowns to be very helpful here. This points again to the need to review bylaws in their entirety.

Happy Holidays to all!

[Gary Novosielski]

The President-Elect of our non-profit organization is experiencing extreme personal problems and has not shown the ability to perform the duties of the President when she goes into office January 1, 2011. Several of the Past Presidents are concerned and are wanting to set up a meeting to ask the President Elect to step down. The President-Elect has made very little effort to put together her Council.

Who is the proper person to take over as President if this person steps down? The present President extends their term? Or the next President-Elect takes over.

What is the proper step?

Thank you

Wait. Is this person currently in the office of President-Elect, an office actually listed in the bylaws as an officer of the society?

Or, as is more common, is this just the person who, as it happens, was elected president recently, but hasn't yet taken office because her term hasn't started yet, commonly referred to as president-elect?

It matters.

[hmtcastle]

Wait. Is this person currently in the office of President-Elect, an office actually listed in the bylaws as an officer of the society?

Given the capitalization, and the reference to the next President-Elect, I think it's safe to assume (or as safe as it ever is) that this is an actual office.

I suppose there is some justification for such an office but it seems to have more potential downsides than benefits. A lot can happen in the year (or more!) between the election and the assumption of office. Why lock yourself in?