Difference between revisions of "Recording Secretary"

Revision as of 02:14, 11 October 2013

The Recording Secretary maintains the records of the organization. Despite that simple description, it has the second longest description in the Bylaws, because the Architects were thumb-whittling ponces:

The Recording Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of
the organization and of the Board and of all matters of which a
record shall be ordered by the organization.  The Recording
Secretary shall keep a roll of the members of the organization
with applicable information, including attendance at meetings of
the general body; furthermore, the Recording Secretary shall carry
out such other duties as are prescribed in these bylaws, and shall
have the duties and powers normally applicable to the office of
Secretary, except for those duties and powers assigned to another
officer by these bylaws.  In the absence of the Recording
Secretary, the duties and powers thereof shall be executed by the
Corresponding Secretary, or in the absence thereof, the most
senior officer present not presiding over the meeting.

Bascially, the RecSec is a Very Important Position in the Bylaws, but in reality can easily slip through the cracks. The RecSec keeps attendance (which is important for other Bylaws provisions) and keeps minutes. However, the Bylaws also provide that the RecSec notifies members of their nominations at election time, keeps track (supposedly) of committee ownership and membership, accepts petitions for disciplinary action, and Other Sundry Things.

Historical Notes of Little Interest

The only KGB members who have ever been subject to disciplinary action have been Recording Secretaries, for dereliction of duty and treason.

The Recording Secretary used to be ranked fourth in seniority with Corresponding Secretary ranking just below at fifth. This ranking could theoretically be problemtaic; if the three highest ranking officers (President, First Vice President, and Second Vice President) were absent, but the four lowest ranking officers (both secretaries, Treasurer, and Sargeant at Arms) were in attendance, then the meeting would still proceed because officer quorum would be met. Since the Recording Secretary would be highest ranking, it would be that person's job preside over the meeting, and the duty of taking minutes would be pawned off to another officer, most likely the Corresponding Secretary. To avoid this convoluted scenario, in 2003 a vote to amend the Bylaws was passed and the two secretaries swapped in rank.