Duties and Term of Office

Q : At what point do some of the newly elected officers start their jobs?  In particular, is the newly elected Membership Chair able to begin her job a month before the fiscal year?  May she begin by sending out notices that the dues for the new year will be due within the next month, and start the cammpaign for new members, or does the present Chair make the decisions as to how the committee will operate in the new fiscal year?

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised states: "An officer-elect takes possession of his office immediately upon his election's becoming final, unless the bylaws or other rules specify a later time."  Also . . . "An election to an office becomes final immediately if the candidate is present and does not decline, or if he is absent but has consented to his candidacy." (see page 430)

If your bylaws do not specify when the term of office begins, it is immediate upon acceptance of the person elected. Some organizations will specify in their bylaws when the term of office begins, such as immediately after the annual meeting, or on a specific date. If there is no special provision to do so, the term begins once the election is final.

As for taking on the duties before assuming office, this is not allowed. The current officeholder has all the rights and responsibilities connected with the office until he/she resigns or until the term of office ends.  Although the newly elected Membership Chair can certainly prepare for her term in advance, she cannot take on the duties until her term begins.  The current Membership Chair has no authority beyond her term and cannot make decisions as to how the committee will operate in the new term.