Council on Legislation Update
 

Posted by Carol Toomey on May 09, 2019
Every three years, representatives from Rotary districts around the world meet in Chicago, Illinois, USA, to consider changes to the constitutional documents that govern Rotary International. This year’s Council considered more than 100 proposals.  The representatives -- one from each Rotary district -- review and vote on proposals that seek to change Rotary's constitutional documents and on resolutions that express an opinion or make a recommendation to the Rotary International Board of Directors. Carol Toomey attended on behalf of District 7910 and filed this report.
Successful Changes:
 
  1. Council elevates Rotaract. The change broadens the definition of membership in Rotary International to include Rotaract clubs. The change is intended to increase the support that Rotaract clubs receive from RI and to enhance their ability to serve.
     
  2. RI’s charitable status to a section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. It is presently a 501(c)(4). A task force has been studying the possible change for 18 months and says it will offer benefits that include tax reductions and vendor discounts that will reduce expenses.
     
  3. Dues that clubs pay to RI per member will increase to $34.50 per half year in 2020-21, $35 per half year in 2021-22, and $35.50 per half year in 2022-23. The dues will not be raised again until a future Council votes to change it.
     
  4. The Council approved calling the general secretary a chief executive officer (CEO) in circles outside Rotary, to increase his stature in dealings with other intergovernmental organizations.
     
  5. The Council also changed the name of the General Surplus Fund to RI Reserve
     
  6. The RI Bylaws and standard Rotary Club Constitution. these documents have not received a comprehensive review like this in almost two decades and have accumulated redundancies and archaic language. The Council approved two measures that clean up and modernize these two documents, making them more understandable.
 
Other COL facts:
 
  • Deadline for Enactments: December 31, 2019
  • Who can propose an enactment? Any Rotarian in good standing
  • Next Council: April 2022
Representative serves as follows:
  • 3-year terms, currently 1 July 2017 through 30 June 2020.  
  • Representatives participate in 2017, 2018, and 2019 Councils on Resolutions, and 2019 Council on Legislation