I'll agree your bylaws state how voting on issues are accomplished.
But if you have 500 members, I would need the board to be a large representative group also.
The question that the majority opinion is not being represented in either discussion or voting would be to easily assumed in a small 5 or 6 person board.
As you describe it, you are operating completely within your organizations rules and with good intent. But, I'd be curious as to how big the board is.
We follow a similar model and it works very well. However, as a member, I would have concerns about a very small board (like 4-6 people) making all the decisions for the entire group.
In our PTO, since we are taking on that decision-making responsibility, we want to make sure the Board is large enough to truly represent the membership. So our Board consists of the elected officers (6), 4 school reps, 6 grade reps, and all the committee chairs.
So in addition to the fact that the bylaws give our Board the authority to vote on these decisions, we can also justify it by pointing out how broad and representative the board composition is to ensure that issues are considered fairly.
Originally posted by Michelle B: Your dead on. Just keep repeating this and show her the bylaws to back it up.
We all have one of those and like our children, we need to remain firm and consistent! [img]smile.gif[/img]
Don't forget to smile! That really gets their goat
Your dead on. Just keep repeating this and show her the bylaws to back it up.
We all have one of those and like our children, we need to remain firm and consistent! [img]smile.gif[/img]
We are a new PTO and things are running very well. However, we do have one general member that is challenging many things (of course, this person never volunteers to help - just to offer criticism and advice from the sidelines). Our bylaws state that the Board will conduct business on behalf of the PTO and outlines the rules for voting by the board. Our bylaws and budget were approved by the general membership. This member is now challenging why only the Board is allowed to vote. I am responding by indicating that, as in any organization, the Board transacts business on behalf of the PTO members and to have 500+ members vote on all items is not practical. Large items (i.e. ones that would significantly alter the budget) would be taken to the general membership. I think she wants the authority to just show up and vote on everything. Am I off base?
