Bylaws/Robert’s Rules

All

I was not copied on the following, but it found its way to me this
A.M.

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From: jpcirone@warwick.net
To: JAsher@catholicnews.com; elizabeth.jia@gmail.com
CC: xlntdragon@hotmail.com; margaret@lawsonmulvihill.com;
minalbopaiah@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Board approval of the ballot
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 10:12:06 -0400

Julie:

Don’t be hard on yourself.

Robert’s Rules specify that a nominating
committee’s report does NOT get voted on, so you were correct in
that statement.

Our Bylaws contradict that and themselves,
since they state that Robert’s Rules should be followed.

I did not make any comment prior to now
because I was busy at work and after hours with trying to deal
with a once-every-three-years military ceremony and my first
briefing to a new boss, plus I did not feel it was worth
disagreeing on and it was easy for folks to simply vote.

But it is not a lesson forgotten for next
year. (It’s on my “list”).

Rest assured that if the vote was against
the committee’s report, I would have spoken up at that point.

If needed, I’d be happy to setup Survey
Monkey if Amy or someone else cannot.

I just need to know and also need to know
what our account name and password is.

R/

Joe Cirone

I am afraid I must disagree with Joe. Here is what the bylaws say
about approving the slate.

Article Three- Nominations

…

Section 5: The nomination process shall include publication of the
slate, as approved by the Executive Board; a formal notice
in the Chapter’s January newsletter calling for nominations from
the membership; and space provided for write-in candidates from
the membership on the official ballot.

Here is what they say about Robert’s Rules

Article Eleven- Parliamentary Authority

Section 1: Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the
parliamentary authority of this Chapter.

As I read the bylaws, Robert’s Rules is applicable to the conduct of
meetings. They do not trump specific directives of the bylaws about
the nominating process, which is not a part of a “meeting.” Even if
the Committee of the Whole became the nominating committee and
performed that function at the meeting, the bylaws would require a
vote on the slate, regardless of what Robert’s Rules say.