Parliamentary Procedure Q&A

Q: I'm currently the President of a Little League baseball organization. I've been involved for 10 years and know the procedures the past Board of Directors has followed on running the elections. This past September we had our elections for the Board of Directors. We elected five officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Player Agent. I have just found out that the organization should have voted on new members before the election process began. First I've ever heard of it. Can you explain?

And a simple question: What is the difference between a Director and an Officer?

Thanks! - D.W.H., Oct. 3, 1998

A: It's unusual that your BOD runs the election. Usually general elections are conducted by the organization's President.

RONR does not require that the vote for new members be conducted before the election, but it makes sense. The officers and directors will be representing them, so it follows that they should be elected by them and the "old" members.

Boards are empowered to act for the organization between its regular meetings. The officers of the organization are often automatically members of the BOD; and the President and Secretary of the organization are often the President and Secretary of the BOD. Often, directors are also chairmen of important committees such as Finance or Program. (RONR p. 472)

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