Understanding changes to Rotary's rules
Each Rotary District sends a representative to the Council. Representatives deliberate and act upon all proposed enactments and resolutions. Enactments seek to change Rotary’s constitutional documents, and resolutions express an opinion or make a recommendation to the Rotary International (RI) Board.
The RI Board reviews and acts on resolutions adopted by the Council and items referred to the Board. Past District Governor Tony Fortune has represented the District for the last 3 CoLs including the latest in April 2016. Tony will / has circulated this information. Some of the most relevant enactments are listed below. These may present some increased flexibility for Clubs in achieving their goals but care needs to be taken when making changes to consult with members.
2016 Council on Legislation (The numbers in brackets identify the relevant legislative enactments).
Ability to change rules. Clubs may relax or tighten attendance requirements and termination policies for non-attendance. However, Clubs are still expected to forward attendance reports to the Governor. Any Club that wishes to continue adhering to the traditional attendance requirements may do so. (16-21)
Rule of 85. Rotarians can be excused from attendance if the combined total of their years of membership in one or more Clubs plus their age equals at least 85, with their years of membership totaling at least 20. (16-35)
Treasurer. A Club treasurer is now a permanent member of the Club board. (16-02)
Admission fees. New members can be admitted without paying admission fees. However, Clubs may also choose to retain these fees, and they have the flexibility to add admission or other fees to their bylaws. (16-07)
Ability to change meeting schedules. Clubs can now vary their meeting days and times, and can cancel meetings, as long as they meet at least twice a month. However, any Club that wishes to adhere to the traditional requirements regarding meetings and cancellations may do so. (16-21)
Canceling a meeting. Clubs can cancel a meeting if it falls during a week that includes a holiday. (16-26)
Proposed legislation. Only two types of proposals will be considered: enactments, which seek changes to RI’s constitutional documents, and position statements from the RI Board. (16-113)
Moving Clubs into adjacent Districts. The Board can merge a district with fewer than 1,100 members, or divide districts with more than 100 Clubs by moving clubs into adjacent Districts. (16-84)
Vice-Governors. Having a Vice-governor is no longer mandatory. This role replaces the Governor in case of that person’s inability to perform their duties. If the District uses a nominating committee, the committee selects a past governor proposed by the Governor-elect. If the nominating committee doesn’t receive a nomination, or if a nominating committee was not used, the Governor-elect may choose a past governor as vice governor. The Vice-governor serves in the year following his or her selection. (16-74, 16-76, 16-77)
E-clubs and Rotary Clubs. The distinction between traditional Clubs and E-clubs was eliminated. While references to E-clubs have been removed from Rotary’s constitutional documents, E-clubs may continue to name and promote themselves as Rotary Clubs that meet exclusively or primarily on-line. (16-82)
Concurring with a Governor selection challenge. The number of Clubs that must concur with a Club’s challenge to the nominated candidate has been increased to 10 other cCubs, or 20 percent of the total number of Clubs in the District, whichever number is higher. Only Clubs that are at least one year old as of
1 July of that year are counted in the total and may concur with a challenge. (16-71)
Joint magazine subscriptions. Two Rotarians residing at the same address may choose to subscribe jointly to The Rotarian or to the regional magazine prescribed for their Club. (16-96)
Rules and qualifications. Clubs may determine their own rules or requirements for transferring members, dual membership, and honorary members. They’re also free to continue following the traditional provisions for these members. The only mandatory qualifications for membership are that Rotarians must be adults who have demonstrated good character, integrity and leadership; have a good reputation in their business, profession, and community; and are willing to serve in their community and around the world. (16-36, 16-38)
Charter member minimum. New clubs need at least 20 members to be chartered. (16-83)
Suspension of membership. Clubs may now suspend a member for a maximum of 90 days. At the end of that time, they must either terminate or reinstate the member. A suspended member has the right to appeal the suspension or request mediation or arbitration. (16-49, 16-50)
Ability to change rules. Clubs may relax or tighten attendance requirements and termination policies for non-attendance. However, clubs are still expected to forward attendance reports to the governor. Any club that wishes to continue adhering to the traditional attendance requirements may do so. (16-21)
Rule of 85. Rotarians can be excused from attendance if the combined total of their years of membership in one or more clubs plus their age equals at least 85, with their years of membership totaling at least 20. (16-35)
Treasurer. A club treasurer is now a permanent member of the club board. (16-02)
Admission fees. New members can be admitted without paying admission fees. However, clubs may also choose to retain these fees, and they have the flexibility to add admission or other fees to their bylaws. (16-07)
Ability to change meeting schedules. Clubs can now vary their meeting days and times, and can cancel meetings, as long as they meet at least twice a month. However, any club that wishes to adhere to the traditional requirements regarding meetings and cancellations may do so. (16-21)
Canceling a meeting. Clubs can cancel a meeting if it falls during a week that includes a holiday. (16-26)
Proposed legislation. Only two types of proposals will be considered: enactments, which seek changes to RI’s constitutional documents, and position statements from the RI Board. (16-113)
Moving clubs into adjacent districts. The Board can merge a district with fewer than 1,100 members, or divide districts with more than 100 clubs by moving clubs into adjacent districts. (16-84)
Vice-governors. Having a vice governor is no longer mandatory. This role replaces the governor in case of that person’s inability to perform their duties. If the district uses a nominating committee, the committee selects a past governor proposed by the governor-elect. If the nominating committee doesn’t receive a nomination, or if a nominating committee was not used, the governor-elect may choose a past governor as vice governor. The vice governor serves in the year following his or her selection. (16-74, 16-76, 16-77)
E-clubs and Rotary clubs. The distinction between traditional clubs and e-clubs was eliminated. While references to e-clubs have been removed from Rotary’s constitutional documents, e-clubs may continue to name and promote themselves as Rotary clubs that meet exclusively or primarily on-line. (16-82)
Concurring with a governor selection challenge. The number of clubs that must concur with a club’s challenge to the nominated candidate has been increased to 10 other clubs, or 20 percent of the total number of clubs in the district, whichever number is higher. Only clubs that are at least one year old as of
1 July of that year are counted in the total and may concur with a challenge. (16-71)
Joint magazine subscriptions. Two Rotarians residing at the same address may choose to subscribe jointly to The Rotarian or to the regional magazine prescribed for their club. (16-96)
Rules and qualifications. Clubs may determine their own rules or requirements for transferring members, dual membership, and honorary members. They’re also free to continue following the traditional provisions for these members. The only mandatory qualifications for membership are that Rotarians must be adults who have demonstrated good character, integrity and leadership; have a good reputation in their business, profession, and community; and are willing to serve in their community and around the world. (16-36, 16-38)
Charter member minimum. New clubs need at least 20 members to be chartered. (16-83)
Suspension of membership. Clubs may now suspend a member for a maximum of 90 days. At the end of that time, they must either terminate or reinstate the member. A suspended member has the right to appeal the suspension or request mediation or arbitration. (16-49, 16-50)