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Special Meeting Adjournment


Guest tootsie

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If a special meeting is called and there is a quorum present, can the meeting be ended without a formal motion to adjourn.

If the assembly has completed all the business in the call of the meeting, I see no reason why not.

If one is not asked for and meeting is ended, what is the status of the meeting?

The meeting is adjourned.

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If a special meeting is called and there is a quorum present, can the meeting be ended without a formal motion to adjourn?

Yes.

It is possible -- If done right.

If one is not asked for and meeting is ended, what is the status of the meeting?

It depends on what happened.

• If the chair, in a huff, throws a fit, and screams, "This meeting is adjourned!", and walks out, then the meeting is
not
adjourned. The vice chairman should assume the position of chair, and continue the meeting.

• If the chair reaches the end of the agenda, prompts the assembly for new business ("Is there any further business?"), hears none, then the chair can indeed declare the meeting adjourned, without a formal motion.

• If people walk out, so that, over the course of minutes, there is no quorum, and eventually everyone goes home to sleep, then THAT meeting is adjourned, even if the chair failed to prompt the assembly for a proper motion, even if the chair did not rap the gavel (in front of 1 or 2 members?) and announce adjournment formally.

I must tell you: We get questions all the time about insane chairmen who abruptly "adjourn" their meetings.

Such behavior is not consistent with Robert's Rules of Order.

Adjournment must have the consent of the assembly.

Yet The Book does say that the assembly need not be kept in hostage, and if the agenda is completed, and if no one has anything more to offer as legitimate business, or a legitimate announcement (a la "Good of the Order"), then the chair can facilitate the will of the assembly by adjourning on his own, as long as the assembly was given every opportunity to continue the meeting with legitimate business.

Q. What was YOUR scenario? Was your chair acting properly?

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