Your current pres is going to pass the torch to the next pres. If there is no next pres, she cannot pass the torch. As long as she is planning to pass the torch, she can hold it until there is someone to pass it to ...lol... sounds funny, but there it is... Make sure when you have your first meeting of the year that you instigate some sort of amendment to your bylaws so that this doesn't happen again.

Good Luck!

I'm trying to follow your response without reading anything into it...first of all, our bylaws do not have term limitations, so any officer can technically serve as long as they want (as long as they are voted back in each year). In this situation, you are saying that it can be looked at as if there was no successor elected for president, therefore the current president shall remain president (if willing)? Is there somewhere in Robert's Rules that this can be found? We don't want to do anything that we can't prove is by the book (because I am sure we would have to prove this!). The new VP is aware of all of this, and has said that the possibility of having to take over makes her very nervious. As for calling another election meeting now, that seems next to impossible (people are on vacation, etc.) and would probably be viewed negatively by some. We need to find the best possible solution and will need something in writing (from Robert's Rules) to back it up. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find the answer there.

Let me guess, you feel like you've put together toys with more clear instructions!

If she does not accept the position of President, in away your former President is still Prez. Now if in the case that this is a second term for this person then what could be asked if she would be willing to stay on until a new Prez can be elected. As far as a meeting, I would start calling/e-mailing members to see how many can get together to hold a new election. Even if it means meeting at the park or coffee shop, otherwise this will need to be resolved when school starts.

Whatever her reasons are for quitting, please don't let anyone dwell on it. "stuff" happens and you get a shovel and clean it up and move on. I've got tons of shovels .

In the case of the Vice President, this is really a kinda "fill -in" position until the election can be held, unless she decideds that she could do this then she would assume the office and a VP can be elected. Now, I know it sounds and reads confusing but officers don't "move down" in roles. This is the resposiblity and in the duties of the Vice President to cover for the President.

Things like this happen and for this to happen now seems like the world may end but your group will be fine. Better now than during the school year!

We have a problem that is not covered in our bylaws. Our election for new officers was held at our last meeting a month ago, but new officers are not installed until mid summer. The person who was just elected as president thinks she will decline the office in the next few days, although she previously accepted her election. Who then becomes president? Since she is not technically an officer yet, would it be the VP or the person who ran against her? Robert's Rules is not clear in this area; if the new VP takes over, then we will have to have a new election in September for a VP. Robert's Rules says in the case of a resignation from office, to fill the vacancy according to the bylaws, but then it also says if a member is elected and declines, no notice is required to complete the election immediately. What if someone is elected, then changes her mind before her term begins?