Definition of "Full Term"

[Guest LT. 103]

In December of 2009, we had our elections of company officers in which there was a huge issue with our bylaws. The master copy was not updated since 1991 and changes that have been made since then were not updated into the master copy. Therefore it was decided that since the changes were not made, we had to go off of the 1991 copy. In the next meeting, in January 2010, it was determined that changes were made to the bylaws and they had to be followed, regardless of what the master copy stated. To make a long story short, the election of officers dragged out until the first week in February 2010 where the officers for 2010 were elected finally.

My question is this. Due to the fact that the company totally messed up the elections and since the election wasn't held until February 2010, the current officers technically only served 11 months out of the 12 month year. Does serving the 11 months technically count as a full term, or full year? Can someone elaborate or cite a section in the Roberts Rules book for reference?

Thank you very much in advance.

LT.

[Larry Cisar]

In December of 2009, we had our elections of company officers in which there was a huge issue with our bylaws. The master copy was not updated since 1991 and changes that have been made since then were not updated into the master copy. Therefore it was decided that since the changes were not made, we had to go off of the 1991 copy. In the next meeting, in January 2010, it was determined that changes were made to the bylaws and they had to be followed, regardless of what the master copy stated. To make a long story short, the election of officers dragged out until the first week in February 2010 where the officers for 2010 were elected finally.

My question is this. Due to the fact that the company totally messed up the elections and since the election wasn't held until February 2010, the current officers technically only served 11 months out of the 12 month year. Does serving the 11 months technically count as a full term, or full year? Can someone elaborate or cite a section in the Roberts Rules book for reference?

Thank you very much in advance.

LT.

Yes, they served a full term. Page 432, lines 21-22

[Guest LT. 103]

Lawrence,

Thanks for the reply. Our bylaws state that in order to run for Captain, a member must serve a year as Lieutenant. Does the word "year" indidcate 12 months, or a full term?

[Josh Martin]

Our bylaws state that in order to run for Captain, a member must serve a year as Lieutenant. Does the word "year" indidcate 12 months, or a full term?

You're on your own on that one. It is up to the organization to interpret its own Bylaws. See RONR, 10th ed., pgs. 570-573 for some Principles of Interpretation.