(a) At each meeting of members, a chair must preside. The chair is to be appointed as provided in the bylaws or, in the absence of a provision in the bylaws, by the board of directors.
(b) The chairperson, unless the articles of incorporation or bylaws provide otherwise, shall determine the order of business and has the authority to establish rules for the conduct of the meeting.
(c) Any rules adopted for, and the conduct of, the meeting are to be fair to members.
(d) The chair of the meeting shall announce at the meeting when the polls close for each matter voted upon. If no announcement is made, the polls are to be deemed to have closed upon the final adjournment of the meeting. After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes, nor any revocations or changes to a ballot, proxy or vote, may be accepted.
(e) Any member may participate in any meeting of members by means of remote communication to the extent the board of directors authorizes such participation for members. Participation as a member by means of remote communication shall be subject to such guidelines and procedures as the board of directors adopts.
(f) Members participating in a members meeting by means of remote communication shall be deemed present and may vote at such a meeting if the corporation has implemented reasonable measures to:
(1) Verify that each person participating remotely as a member is a member or a members proxy; and
(2) Provide such members a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the members, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meetings, in a manner substantially concurrent with such proceedings.
(g) Unless expressly prohibited by the articles of incorporation or bylaws, the board of directors may determine that any meeting of members shall not be held at any place and shall instead be held solely by means of remote communication in conformity with subsection (f).
(h) Amendments to this 31E-7-708 passed during the regular session of the 2021 Legislative Session shall be effective upon passage and shall apply to all such member meetings held on or after March 1, 2020.
Structure West Virginia Code
Chapter 31E. West Virginia Nonprofit Corporation Act
Article 7. Members – Meetings and Voting
§31E-7-701. Annual Meeting; Regular Meeting
§31E-7-703. Court-Ordered Meeting
§31E-7-704. Action Without Meeting; Validity of Actions at Meetings Not Properly Called
§31E-7-708. Conduct of the Meeting
§31E-7-720. Members' List for Meeting
§31E-7-721. Members' Voting Rights
§31E-7-723. Corporation's Acceptance or Rejection of Votes
§31E-7-724. Quorum and Voting Requirements
§31E-7-725. Action by Single and Multiple Classes of Members
§31E-7-726. Other Quorum or Voting Requirement