Hey folks...
Our bylaws are the same as most folks here (PTA that is). If we want to vote to dissolve, the vote has to be 2/3 of the membership with a 30-day notice. My question is this:

We have a hard time getting 1/10 of our membership to a meeting. From a strictly "legal" basis, what can we do? (I know that we can strongly encourage folks to come, etc. but that probably wouldn't be enough).

Any other "legal" advice on dissolution issues would certainly help as well.

Thanks.

Hey misterbob -

It's actually 2/3rds of those in attendance, provided a quorum has been met.

So you need to check on your quorum number. If quorom is 10, then you need to have 10 or more members in attendance for the vote to be valid.

If you have 12 in attendance, and the vote goes 9-3 for dissolving -- then you're dissolved.

Would be almost impssible for any organization to get any votes passed on anything without the quorum rule.

Tim

At the risk of being totally stupid...where do I find quorum (or how do I calculate it)?

Been a long time since my last Robert's Rule refresher.

thx

you can find "quorum" under the article of your bylaws that talks about meetings.

A quorum is minimum number of members that must be present to legally transact business.

nonmember's right - it should be defined in your bylaws. And the wording is very important. "Members" is different that "members present".

In case it's not - I dug out Robert's Rules for you. (Article XI, Sect. 64):

The quorum of a mass meeting is the number present at the time, as they constitute the membership at that time.

The quorum of a body of delegates, unless the by-laws provide for a smaller quorum, is a majority of the number enrolled as attending the convention, not those appointed.

It goes on to say.

In the case, however, of a society, like many religious ones, where there are no annual dues, and where membership is for life (unless it is transferred or the names are struck from the roll by a vote of the society) the register of members is not reliable as a list of the bona fide members of the society, and in many such societies it would be impossible to have present at a business meeting a majority of those enrolled as members. Where such societies have no by-law establishing a quorum, the quorum consists of those who attend the meeting, provided it is either a stated meeting or one that has been properly called.

Quorum is most likely addressed in your bylaws. For example most of our PTA bylaws will state a "majority of the board plus members present, constitutes a quorum" but we have a specific number of executive board (2/3) required at State. Quorum as it pertains to PTA bylaws, generally don't reflect the wording in Robert's Rules with the exception of the convention delegates. Robert's Rules are broad as they would pertain to any group gathering with members.
I also want to commend you on following the procedures to dissolve as they pertain to your current PTA bylaws. Not many groups do and I'm certain that no matter what decision your members finally make, it will be recognized that you presented it fairly.

[ 04-08-2005, 02:22 AM: Message edited by: Michelle B ]