Removal of Presiding officer from Chair for all or part of a session

RONR 11^th edition has a new section in the chapter of  “Discipline.”  It is called “Removal of Presiding officer from Chair for all or part of a session.” It gives a way to temporarily replace the chair when he is not fulfilling his role when conducting a meeting.  If the person presiding is a chairman pro tem, he can be removed by a motion to “declare the chair vacant and proceed to elect a new chairman.”  RONR states that this is a “question of privilege affecting the assembly and is an incidental main motion requiring a majority vote for adoption.”  The procedure is in the first footnote at the bottom of page 652. 

If the presiding officer is the official officer, then the procedure is different.  A member must make the motion to Suspend the Rules to take away his authority to preside during part or all of the meeting.  A motion to suspend the rules can’t be made for future meetings at the present meeting.  It would have to be made at each meeting the assembly wanted someone else to preside. 

“Removal from Office and other remedies for Dereliction of Duty in Office or Misconduct

In #62, page 650, RONR 11^th edition, the section is named: “Removal from Office and other remedies for Dereliction of Duty in Office or Misconduct,” there is a new section that shows the procedure of how to remove a presiding officer from the chair for all or part of a session.  If the person presiding is an appointed or elected chairman pro tem, a member can make the motion to “declare the chair vacant and proceed to elect a new chairman.”  RONR states this is a question of privilege and is an incidental main motion requiring a majority vote for its adoption. Once the motion is seconded the chairman is required to state the motion to the assembly, then step down from presiding. The secretary takes his place and takes the vote. If the motion is adopted, then the chairman steps down and the members elect another new chairman pro tem.  The secretary presides until a new chairman is elected. 

Electronic Meetings.

#3.  The 11^th edition of RONR has added pages concerning electronic meetings.  Although many people want to do things electronically they often don’t know how to do it. The book gives procedures to consider.  The highest use of electronic means in organizations is e-mail communication.  To save money many want to send out notices of meetings by e-mail.  See page 89.  It states, “When notice is required to be sent, unless a different standard is specified that requirement is met if written notice is sent to each member either: a) by postal mail to the member’s last known address; or b) by a form of electronic communication, such as e-mail  or fax, by which the member has agreed to receive notice.”  The key here is “by which the member has agreed to receive notice.”  Organizations should have a policy that about electronic notice.  The Washington State Non Profit Code has a law that authorizes e-mail notifications and also states what the procedure should be. The code requires organizations to have a signed record that the person wants to receive notifications by e-mail and a provision for opting out of it.  All organizations who want to do e-mail notification should consider something similar to what this code requires—have a signed record that proves the person wants to receive e-mail notifications and a way to opt out and return to getting the notice by mail. 

Procedures in small boards

Here is more information about the changes in 11th edition of RONR. See "procedures in small boards. Page 487." Several big changes have been made. In the 10th edition it stated that in small boards one did not have to obtain the floor. In the 11th edition it states that a member “may raise a hand instead of standing when seeking to obtain the floor.” So now they are basically saying that even in small boards one must obtain the floor to speak. This will certainly keep people from interrupting one another.

The next big change is on page 488 in the first footnote. It allows the board to close and limit debate. It specifically states that these motions are in order in small boards, but qualifies the statement with “occasions where they are necessary or appropriate may be rarer than in larger assemblies.” In the 10th edition it stated that “motions to close or limit debate generally should not be entertained.” This change certainly could help expedite business where someone wants to drone on and on about a subject.

A board cannot reverse an action of the assembly

Here's our first post. Under "Boards" page 483, it clarifies a rule that has been in the last several editions. The rule is that a board cannot reverse an action of the assembly. In this edition it states that if the board does reverse an action of the assembly it is null and void. It then refers the reader to page 577. It gives an example that if the assembly adopts a budget and wants the boa...rd to be able to change it when contingencies that arise, the assembly has to empower the board to do it either by a motion or a provision in the bylaws. If the assembly doesn't give permission nor do the bylaws, then the board does not have the power to change the budget; the assembly must make the changes.

Changes to the 2011 ed. of Robert's Rules of Order: Changes to the 2011 ed. of Robert's Rules of Order...

Changes to the 2011 ed. of Robert's Rules of Order: Changes to the 2011 ed. of Robert's Rules of Order...: Changes in the 11 th Edition of RONR Here is another change that was made in the book under boards, page 486, “Conduct of Business in Boar...

Changes to the 2011 ed. of Robert's Rules of Order

Changes in the 11^th Edition of RONR

Here is another change that was made in the book under boards, page 486, “Conduct of Business in Boards.”

Now boards may adopt its own special rules of order or standing rules if they do not conflict with any rules of the society.

It now can protect itself against “breaches of order” by a member.  This means it can assess a penalty against an unruly member who may be rude to others or causing a disruption.  The book refers to pages 645—49 under discipline which gives procedures for handling such outbursts.  It then goes on to say that the maximum penalty which can be imposed on a disorderly board member is to leave the meeting room during the remainder of the meeting.