West Virginia commonly permits corporations, and nonprofits to conduct remote and virtual meetings. Remote meetings contingent on an association’s articles of incorporation, charter, or bylaws. The West Virginia Nonprofit Corporation Act governs nonprofit corporations regarding corporate structure and procedure. If an association is organized as a nonprofit, as is the case with most West Virginia associations, it will be governed by the Nonprofit Corporations Act. Contact your association’s attorney to see what your community’s options are for virtual meetings based upon your governing documents.
Section 31-1-73. Action by shareholders, members or directors without a meeting. … (c) If the articles of incorporation or the bylaws so provide, one or more directors or shareholders may participate in a meeting of the board, a committee of the board or of the shareholders by means of conference telephone or similar electronic communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Whenever a vote of the shareholders or directors is required or permitted in connection with any corporate action this vote may be taken orally during this electronic conference. The agreement thus reached shall have like effect and validity as though the action were duly taken by the action of the shareholders or directors at a meeting of shareholders or directors if the agreement is reduced to writing and approved by the shareholders or directors at the next regular meeting of the shareholders or directors after the conference.
(a) Unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise, the board of directors of a corporation may adopt bylaws to be effective only in an emergency defined in subsection (d) of this section. The emergency bylaws, which are subject to amendment or repeal by the members, may make all provisions necessary for managing the corporation during the emergency, including:
(1) Procedures for calling a meeting of the board of directors;
(2) Quorum requirements for the meeting; and
(3) Designation of additional or substitute directors.
(b) All provisions of the regular bylaws consistent with the emergency bylaws remain effective during the emergency. The emergency bylaws are not effective after the emergency ends.
(c) Corporate action taken in good faith in accordance with the emergency bylaws:
(1) Binds the corporation; and
(2) May not be used to impose liability on a corporate director, officer, employee, or agent.
(d) An emergency exists for purposes of this section if a quorum of the corporation's directors cannot readily be assembled because of some catastrophic event.
(a) In anticipation of or during an emergency defined in subsection (d) of this section, the board of directors of a corporation may:
(1) Modify lines of succession to accommodate the incapacity of any director, officer, employee, or agent; and
(2) Relocate the principal office, designate alternative principal offices or regional offices, or authorize the officers to do so.
(b) During an emergency defined in subsection (d) of this section, unless emergency bylaws provide otherwise:
(1) Notice of a meeting of the board of directors need be given only to those directors whom it is practicable to reach and may be given in any practicable manner, including by publication and radio; and
(2) One or more officers of the corporation present at a meeting of the board of directors may be deemed to be directors for the meeting, in order of rank and within the same rank in order of seniority, as necessary to achieve a quorum.
(c) Corporate action taken in good faith during an emergency under this section to further the ordinary affairs of the corporation:
(1) Binds the corporation; and
(2) May not be used to impose liability on a corporate director, officer, employee, or agent.
(d) An emergency exists for purposes of this section if a quorum of the corporation's directors cannot readily be assembled because of some catastrophic event.