Who cares? Those governing societies and charities are, generally, not too worried about what’s in the organisation’s constitution (and some of those in governance may never have read the Constitution!). However, they should be concerned, as the proceedings of meetings called without adequate notice to members can be declared to be invalid (as occurred in […]
As noted in another article (Whose meeting is it anyway?LINK) it is basic to the concept of any formal meeting that democratic processes should and will be followed. If the meeting is to be democratic, formal and well-run: It should not be dominated by an authoritarian chairperson or by any aggressive participant(s), Those taking part […]
Lessons from the COVID-19 Epidemic The issues relating to the COVID-19 epidemic gave rise to some difficult problems for many organisations that are required to hold regular meetings of members (including companies and not-for-profit organisations such as societies and charities). This is particularly pertinent after mid-March 2020 when many organisations faced the need to hold […]
What to know in advance of a potentially difficult meeting In my experience (having chaired a number of “difficult” meetings), the chairperson of a potentially difficult meeting needs to know the type of meeting to be chaired, the subject matter, why it is expected to be “difficult,” and the attitudes of those likely to attend. […]
Two personal experiences as a background In 2014, a meeting of an organisation that had abandoned its previous meeting because of disorder was debating whether to appoint me as an independent chairman when one of those opposing my appointment had a heart attack, and the meeting was temporarily (but rather informally) adjourned for some 20 […]
Boring meeting procedure? Mention “meeting procedure” and the almost universal reaction is “Boring!!!” A meeting that is a disorganised rambling affair or one punctuated by points of order about meeting processes and procedural motions can, indeed, be boring. If the alternative is the frustration experienced in a badly run meeting (where time is wasted and […]
Unit Titles Act 2010 One of my memorable 2014 engagements was to act an independent chair of a disorderly body corporate, and this required careful consideration of the Unit Titles Act 2010 and its 2011 Regulations. Despite being relatively recently enacted (and amended) the Act and Regulations are strangely deficient in directing how body corporate […]
What is a “proxy”? Just as there is often confusion about the quorum for meetings, discussed in another articleLINK, so, too, there is often confusion about proxies at meetings. The first point to note is that, unless expressly permitted by an organisation’s constitution, members must be present at a meeting in person to exercise their […]
There are often misunderstandings about the rules which apply to the quorum for a meeting (the minimum number of members that must be present for a “lawful” meeting). General principles As it may be difficult to attract a majority of members to the meetings of some organisations, the quorum is commonly set at a fraction […]
It is basic to the concept any formal meeting of a society or trust (and of other formal bodies such as local authorities and school boards of trustees) that democratic processes should and will be followed. That statement it has a number of implications: Domination of the meeting by an authoritarian chairperson or by aggressive […]
Address: 25 Muritai Crescent, Havelock North 4130
Phone: 027 4523 530
Email: mark@NfPLaw.co.nz