Program Description

Decisions made at membership and board meetings that are not validly held, or that use improper procedures, can be challenged in court. This program will explore the legal aspects of holding board and membership meetings. This is an area of law affected by common law and modified by statute in many jurisdictions, but the underlying principles are similar.

This program will address the requirements for holding a valid meeting, for proper notice of issues to be raised at the meeting, and handling decision making that can sometimes be contentious. Pitfalls to avoid and common concerns will be discussed, including advice on quorum, required votes, whether a guide to meeting rules should be used, what rules apply if there are no adopted rules, what types of procedural matters can raise legal concerns, and how to preserve a procedural or substantive objection for legal review.

Program Faculty

• Thomas J. Balch, JD, PRP Co-author Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (11th ed.) Fredericksburg, VA
• Travis Barrick, JD, MPA, PRP Gallian Welker & Beckstrom, L.C. Vice President American College of Parliamentary Lawyers Las Vegas, NV
• Daniel Ivey-Soto, JD, MBA, MAEd, PRP, CP-T State Senator New Mexico Legislature Shareholder inAccord, P.C. Albuquerque, NM
• Jim Slaughter, JD, PRP, CPP-T Partner Rossabi Black Slaughter Author Complete Idiot's Guide to Parliamentary Procedure Fast-Track Greensboro, NC
• Alison Wallis, JD, PRP, CP-T President American Institute of Parliamentarians New Orleans, LA
• Michael E. Malamut, JD, PRP, CPP-T, CGT (Moderator) Chair ABA Business Law Section Nonprofit Organizations Committee Co-author AIP Code of Standard Parliamentary Procedure Boston, MA
• Carl S. Silverman, JD, LLM, PRP (Materials Coordinator) President American College of Parliamentary Lawyers Baltimore, MD

Registration & Tuition

Register with the ABA. Tuition varies as follows:

• $125 Business Law Section Members, Solo, Small Firm, and General Practice Division Members
• $150 ABA Members
• $195 General Public
• $99 Government Attorneys
• $95 Each additional registrant at the same location