This is a quick guide on how to continue a meeting at a later date if you can’t get everything done at the current meeting and don’t want to wait until the next regular meeting or call a special meeting.
The Skinny
- What motion should you use to continue a meeting?
Use the motion called Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn.
- What should you say when making this motion?
Say This: “I move that when this meeting adjourns, it adjourn to meet at 7:00PM on March 3, 2023.”
- When can you make this motion?
Anytime. This motion is the highest-ranking motion so it always has priority over what is already on the floor. For more information about how ranking motions work together, read this post.
- Can you interrupt another speaker to make this motion?
No. You must be recognized first by the Chair.
- Does someone have to say “Second” after this motion is proposed?
Yes.
- Can people debate the pros and cons of this motion?
No, unless no other motions are pending. Typically, this motion is made when other motions are already on the floor, so debate is not allowed.
- Can this motion be amended?
Yes. You can amend the date, time, or place of the motion to continue a meeting.
- How many votes does this motion need to pass?
Majority. More than half of the votes cast must be in favor of continuing the meeting at the later specified date.
An Example
- A controversial main motion is on the floor.
- Time allotted for the meeting is running out. Or it’s late and people want to go to bed.
- The group is not ready to vote on the controversial main motion.
- The group doesn’t want to wait until the next regular meeting to keep talking about the motion.
- The group doesn’t want to jump through the hoops of calling a special meeting to keep talking about the motion.
- A member seeks recognition by the Chair, and once recognized, says, “I move that when this meeting adjourns, it adjourn to meet at 9:00AM tomorrow.”
- Another member says, “Second.”
- The Chair takes a vote on the motion to continue the meeting.
- If a majority agrees, when the meeting adjourns, it will adjourn until 9:00AM on the next day, and at 9:00AM on the next day, the group will pick up where the prior meeting had left off.
- If there is not a majority, then business continues as usual. Continue the motion process with the next motion that’s on the floor.
What the Pros Know
- This motion has no effect on when the current meeting adjourns. It’s simply a motion to continue the current meeting whenever it does in fact adjourn.
- This motion can be made when other motions are on the floor, or when no motions are on the floor. If it’s made when no motions are on the floor, people can debate the pros and cons of continuing the meeting. If it’s made when other motions are on the floor, no one can debate the pros and cons of continuing the meeting.
- You can’t set a date to continue this meeting that is after another regularly scheduled meeting.
- If your group doesn’t have a regular place that it meets, then include the place in the motion to continue the meeting.
- No notice has to be given of the continued meeting because it’s not a separate, special meeting. It’s just a continuation.
Where to Learn More
