disregard for votes

[Guest Marguerite]

Is there any time a vote can be ignored or completely disregarded if procedure was followed? A few months the BOD voted on an issue but the president disregarded the vote. The BOD explained to her she does not have the power to disregard a vote.

Several years ago the membership voted to have 4 American Flags (3 x 5] hung along 5 Service Flags. These have been in place since Jan/Feb 2008. Now some members who were against the flags hung have taken the flags down. My understanding is a vote cannot be ignored this way.

Thank you

[hmtcastle]

Is there any time a vote can be ignored or completely disregarded if procedure was followed?

No.

But I think you already knew that.

On the other hand, just because your organization voted to hang the flags in 2008 doesn't mean they can't vote to take down the flags in 2010.

[Guest Marguerite]

Thank you! Yes, I did know that but wanted verification for the BOD this evening. There are a few members who need to see things in black and white.

[David A Foulkes]

Thank you! Yes, I did know that but wanted verification for the BOD this evening. There are a few members who need to see things in black and white.

Or perhaps red, white and blue.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

Is there any time a vote can be ignored or completely disregarded if procedure was followed?

...

Several years ago the membership voted to have 4 American Flags (3 x 5] hung along 5 Service Flags.

Yes, it is theoretically possible for a vote to be ignored/disregarded even if the procedure was correct.

(It is exceeding rare, but possible nonetheless.)

Do you need examples?

• The flags were stolen. Thus, the person responsible for hanging the flags cannot obey the adopted motion.

• The clubhouse burned down. Thus, the person responsible for hanging the flags cannot obey the adopted motion.

• The cabinet which holds the folded flags is locked, and no one has the key. Thus, the person responsible for hanging the flags cannot obey the adopted motion.

So, given a second set of details, it is entirely possible that the person responsible for hanging flags cannot obey a legitimate order of the organization, despite his best efforts.

Besides that, some motions become obsolete over time:

• An 1861 resolution regarding giving prime seating positions to employees of the Pony Express, cannot be meaningfully obeyed in 2010.

• An 1861 resolution regarding support (or condemnation) of the Underground Railroad, cannot be meaningfully exercised in 2010.