Rotary clubs of District 6200 are collecting relief funds to help thousands of victims after record flooding devastated communities in southern Louisiana, USA, earlier this month. Torrential rains caused rivers, streams, and bayous to swell, damaging or destroying more than 60,000 homes and killing at least 13 people.
The U.S. Coast Guard and emergency responders helped rescue more than 30,000 residents from the rising flood waters. As of 25 August, more than 3,000 residents were still in emergency shelters even after the water receded.
The 2016 Council on Legislation, convened 10-15 April in Chicago, may well be remembered as one of the most progressive in Rotary history.
The Council granted clubs more freedom in determining their meeting schedule and membership, it also approved an increase in per capita dues of $4 a year for three years. The increase will be used to enhance Rotary’s website, improve online tools, and add programs and services to help clubs increase membership.
The Council is an important element of Rotary’s governance. Every three years, members from around the world gather in Chicago to consider proposed changes to the policies that govern the organization and its member clubs. "Enactments" seek to change Rotary's constitutional documents, and "resolutions" make a recommendation to the RI Board.
The RI Board set an early tone with two proposals to increase flexibility. The first measure allows clubs to decide to vary their meeting times, whether to meet online or in person, and when to cancel a meeting, as long as they meet at least twice a month. The second allows clubs flexibility in choosing their membership rules and requirements. Both passed.
Representatives also approved removing six membership criteria from the RI Constitution and replacing them with a simple requirement that a member be a person of good character who has a good reputation in their business or community and is willing to serve.
The $4 per year dues increase was based on a five-year financial forecast that predicted that if Rotary didn’t either raise dues or make drastic cuts, its reserves would dip below mandated levels by 2020. The yearly per capita dues that clubs pay to RI will be $60 in 2017-18, $64 in 2018-19, and $68 in 2019-20.
“We are at a moment in time when we must think beyond the status quo,” said RI Vice President Greg E. Podd. “We must think about our future.”
Other Council Decisions Include:
A Council on Resolutions will meet annually online to consider resolutions. Council members will serve three-year terms, participate in Council on Resolutions each years and Council on Legislation in the final year. The Council on Resolutions will free the Council on Legislation to concentrate on enactments. Council on Legislation can be shortened by a day, saving $300,000.
Rotaractors will be allowed to become members of Rotary clubs while they are still in Rotaract, in an effort to facilitate the transition from Rotaract to Rotary.
The distinction between e-clubs and traditional clubs will be eliminated as the distinction was no longer meaningful. Clubs that have “e-club” in their names can keep it.
The reference to admission fees will be removed from the bylaws.
A standing committee on membership was established, in recognition that membership is a top priority of the organization, and polio eradication was also reaffirmed to be a goal of the highest order.
All Council actions took effect July 1. - Arnold R. Grahl - August 2016 Issue: The Rotarian
