Changes from past councils included club flexibility in number of meetings per month, meeting attendance requirements, meeting make-up criteria and the recognition of Rotaract Clubs as a new type of Rotary membership. Respecting and maintaining these changes were central to the decisions made by the 2022 COL Representatives as several enactments proposing reversal of past decisions on meetings and attendance failed. The 2022 COL had proposed enactments by the RI Board that would increase the Board control of RI Committees and the financial audit process. These proposals were not supported by your District Representative; however, the democratic process of the COL resulted in the enactments being adopted.
An interesting part of this event involves the “lay of the land” of the Rotary world. If one looks at the home page of the Rotary International website, you will see three pieces of information; namely, membership, service hours and Foundation monies allocated to meaningful projects. These three pieces of information denote the efforts made by Rotarians and Rotaractors demonstrating Service Above Self and the Rotary Foundation’s support of those efforts.
Why is this important? Rotary International and specifically the Rotary Foundation has earned the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. As such our Foundation is in the top 1% of charities to donate to in the United States. This rating supports the Rotary Foundation around the world. A strong foundation is supported by its membership, their service and how that service positively impacts humanity.
Rotary is working to increase membership by making itself more appealing to a larger audience; and, Rotary feels that without these changes, it could ultimately cease to exist. Flexibility, technology, diversity, equity and inclusion, professional development, youth, financial transparency and administrative efficiency at all levels are elements that Rotary is working to enhance.
As you review the adopted enactments below, take opportunity to witness the adjustment and change occurring in our Rotary world.
As always please forward any questions to me. I would be happy to discuss with you.
Pat Voegelin PDG
D6330 COL Representative
Legend:
Rotary – Constitution of Rotary International
Bylaws – Bylaws of Rotary International
Club – Standard Rotary Club Constitution
# | Enactment Statement | For/ | Document | Comment |
Club Administration | Against | Impacted | ||
22-07 | To amend the amount of time club boards have to provide minutes to their members | 329/155 | Club | Change from within 60 days to 30 days. |
Membership | ||||
22-10 | To add equity and inclusion to the building of a well-balanced membership | 420/56 | Bylaws | Added "equity and inclusion" to Article 4.070 Diversity of Membership |
22-13 | To remove the requirement that a member must work or reside in the locality of their club | 402/75 | Rotary & Club | Membership in any community. Supports creation of online clubs and enables flexible growth. |
22-14 | To allow active members to propose prospective members in any club | 329/151 | Bylaws | A member can propose a prospective member to any club. Club approval process still applies. |
22-15 | To amend the provisions for membership in a satellite club | 308/160 | Bylaws & Club | All clubs in the community can propose members to a satellite club. |
Rotaract | ||||
22-18 | To state that Rotaractors may be members of RI committees | 393/79 | Bylaws | As stated |
RI Officers and Elections | ||||
22-20 | To revise the timeline for president and director elections | 413/71 | Bylaws | Electronic balloting enables the shortening of submission time frames. |
22-21 | To amend the qualifications for director and membership on the director nominating committee | 280/208 | Bylaws | Removing requirement for attending institutes and conventions within 36 months of being proposed. Increasing number of candidates globally. |
22-27 | To authorize the board to remove a Rotarian's past officer status (amended) | 295/164 | Bylaws | Most interesting enactment of the COL. Ability to remove past office status for just cause. |
Rotary International - General | ||||
22-28 | To revise the process for changing sections in a zone | 380/92 | Bylaws | The right to modify zones includes right to modify sections within a zone. |
22-32 | To amend the officers of RIBI | 423/43 | RIBI | RIBI amended the titles of senior leaders. |
The Rotary Foundation - Trustees | ||||
22-38 | To authorize the Board to suspend or terminate a club or Rotaract club for initiating litigation against a district | 352/130 | Bylaws | Added "the District" to 3.020.1 Suspension or Termination. |
Rotary International - Committees | ||||
22-39 | To amend the provisions regarding RI committees | 376/104 | Bylaws | RI Board establishes key standing committees each year with ability to create additional as needed. |
Per Capita Dues | ||||
22-46 | To increase per capita dues | 285/205 | Bylaws | Dues increases for 2023-2026, aligned with 5 year financial plan. $4 23/24, $3.50 in 24/25 and 25/26 |
Rotary International - Finances | ||||
22-52 | To amend the provisions regarding the audit committee and audited financial statements | 357/102 | Bylaws | Maintain the authority, composition and independence of the audit committee within the RI Bylaws. |
22-53 | To amend where the Board must report expenditures from the RI reserve | 432/33 | Rotary | Board shall report expenditures from the reserve at next convention and COL. |
22-54 | To publish the RI budget and annual report on the Rotary website | 433/41 | Bylaws | As stated. |
Councils - Pre-meeting Procedures | ||||
22-56 | To amend how districts may propose legislation and resolutions | 400/65 | Rotary & District | Removing need to endorse enactments at a district conference. |
22-57 | To provide for the type of urgent enactments that may be considered by the Council on Resolutions | 255/216 | Bylaws | Urgent enactments limited to those that occur between COLs and not interpreting "urgent" in an overly broad manner. |
22-59 | To amend the deadline for the RI Board to propose position statements | 258/217 | Bylaws | Position statements by the RI Board has a deadline of 31 December prior to COL. |
22-61 | To eliminate inconsistencies in the RI Bylaws | 459/16 | Bylaws | Removing contradictory statements and criteria created from previous COL deliberations. |
Councils - Miscellaneous | ||||
22-69 | To provide Governors are notified of actions taken on adopted resolutions | 329/144 | Bylaws | Reinstating requirement that RI Board report on action taken on resolutions from COR. |
22-70 | To modernize and streamline the RI Constitution without making any substantive changes | 423/52 | Rotary | Update of language. |
District Administration | ||||
22-71 | To provide for the administration of clubs in a pilot project | 324/150 | Bylaws | Endorses planned pilot activity in Australia/NZ and RIBI. Six year pilot activity being planned. |
22-72 | To revise the criteria for changing district boundaries | 247/234 | Bylaws | Clarifying minimums and maximums in Rotarians and Clubs within a district. |
22-78 | To amend the Avenues of Service to include positive peace | 249/219 | Club | Adding concept of positive peace and peaceful societies to Avenues of Service. |
Club Meetings and Attendance | ||||
22-84 | To allow Rotaractors to attend Rotary club meetings | 426/45 | Bylaws | Rotarians and Rotaractors may attend regular meeting or satellite club meeting of other Rotary Clubs. |
22-85 | To remove the attendance report requirement | 319/162 | Bylaws | Attendance reports no longer required. |
22-92 | To revise the process for approving excused absences | 233/229 | Club | Non-attendance for age + service (85 factor), eligible member does not need club board approval. |