PROPOSED ENACTMENTS RELATED TO ARTICLES: 9 and 12
Article 9 Attendance
1. Enact the removal of the strikethrough print from Article 9.
2. Enact the addition of the underlined print to Article 9.
Article 9 Attendance
Section 1-General provisions. Each club member brings a uniqueness of knowledge, skills and character that contributes to the health and vitality of the club. Therefore, all Rotarians are encouraged to actively participate in the regular weekly meetings and projects of the club to the best of their ability.
Section 2-Make-ups.If unable to attend a regular meeting, members may participate in a make-up at another club or by means of the e-Club option.
Section 3-Leave of absence. Upon written application to the board, a club member in good standing, setting forth good and sufficient cause, may be granted a Leave of Absence excusing him/her from attending the meetings of the club for a specified length of time. (Note: Such leave of absence does operate to prevent forfeiture of membership and does not operate to give the club credit for the member’s attendance. Unless he/she attends a regular meeting of some other club or e-Club the excused member shall be recorded as absent.)
(Select one introductory paragraph to Section 1)
Section 1 — General Provisions. Each member should attend this club’s regular
meetings. A member shall be counted as attending a regular meeting if the member is
present for at least 60 percent of the meeting, or is present and is called away
unexpectedly and subsequently produces evidence to the satisfaction of the board that
such action was reasonable, or makes up for an absence in any of the following ways:
or
Section 1 (for e-Clubs) — General Provisions. Each member should attend this
club’s regular meetings. A member shall be counted as attending a regular meeting if
the member participates in the regular meeting posted on the club’s Web site within one
week following its posting, or makes up a missed meeting in any of the following ways:
(a) 14 Days Before or After the Meeting. If, within fourteen (14) days before or after
the regular time for that meeting, the member
(1) attends at least 60 percent of the regular meeting of another club or of a
provisional club; or
(2) attends a regular meeting of a Rotaract or Interact club, Rotary Community
Corps, or Rotary Fellowship or of a provisional Rotaract or Interact club, Rotary Community Corps, or Rotary Fellowship; or
(3) attends a convention of RI, a council on legislation, an international assembly,
a Rotary institute for past and present officers of RI, a Rotary institute for
past, present, and incoming officers of RI, or any other meeting convened
with the approval of the board of directors of RI or the president of RI acting
on behalf of the board of directors of RI, a Rotary multizone conference, a
meeting of a committee of RI, a Rotary district conference, a Rotary district
assembly, any district meeting held by direction of the board of directors of
RI, any district committee meeting held by direction of the district governor,
or a regularly announced intercity meeting of Rotary clubs; or
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(4) is present at the usual time and place of a regular meeting of another club for
the purpose of attending such meeting, but that club is not meeting at that time
or place; or
(5) attends and participates in a club service project or a club-sponsored
community event or meeting authorized by the board; or
(6) attends a board meeting or, if authorized by the board, a meeting of a service
committee to which the member is assigned; or
(7) participates through a club web site in an interactive activity requiring an
average of 30 minutes of participation.
When a member is outside the member’s country of residence for more than fourteen
(14) days, the time restriction shall not be imposed so that the member may attend
meetings in another country at any time during the travel period, and each such
attendance shall count as a valid make-up for any regular meeting missed during the
member’s time abroad.
(b) At the Time of the Meeting. If, at the time of the meeting, the member is
(1) traveling with reasonable directness to or from one of the meetings specified
in sub-subsection (a) (3) of this section; or
(2) serving as an officer or member of a committee of RI, or a trustee of The
Rotary Foundation; or
(3) serving as the special representative of the district governor in the formation
of a new club; or
(4) on Rotary business in the employ of RI; or
(5) directly and actively engaged in a district-sponsored or RI- or Rotary
Foundation-sponsored service project in a remote area where making up
attendance is impossible; or
(6) engaged in Rotary business duly authorized by the board which precludes
attendance at the meeting.
Section 2 — Extended Absence on Outposted Assignment. If a member will be working
on an outposted assignment for an extended period of time, attendance at the meetings
of a designated club at the site of the assignment will replace attendance at the regular
meetings of the member’s club, provided there is a mutual agreement between the two
clubs.
Section 3 — Excused Absences. A member’s absence shall be excused if
(a) the absence complies with the conditions and under circumstances approved by the
board. The board may excuse a member’s absence for reasons which it considers to be good and sufficient. Such excused absences shall not extend for longer than
twelve months.
(b) the age of the member is 65 and above and the aggregate of the member’s years of
age and years of membership in one or more clubs is 85 years or more and the
member has notified the club secretary in writing of the member’s desire to be
excused from attendance and the board has approved.
Section 4 — RI Officers’ Absences. A member’s absence shall be excused if the member
is a current officer of RI.
Section 5 — Attendance Records. In the event that a member whose absences are excused
under the provisions of subsection 3(b) or section 4 of this article attends a club
meeting, the member and the member’s attendance shall be included in the membership
and attendance figures used to compute this club’s attendance.
Article 12- Duration of Membership
1. Enact the removal of the strikethrough print from Article 12, Section 4.
2. Enact the addition of the underlined print to Article 12, Section 4.
Article 12 Duration of Membership
Section 1 — Period. Membership shall continue during the existence of this club unless
terminated as hereinafter provided.
Section 2 — Automatic Termination.
(a) Membership Qualifications. Membership shall automatically terminate when a
member no longer meets the membership qualifications, except that
(1) the board may grant a member moving from the locality of this club or the
surrounding area a special leave of absence not to exceed one (1) year to
enable the member to visit and become known to a Rotary club in the new
community if the member continues to meet all conditions of club
membership;
(2) the board may allow a member moving from the locality of this club or the
surrounding area to retain membership if the member continues to meet all
conditions of club membership.
(b) How to Rejoin. When the membership of a member has terminated as provided in
subsection (a) of this section, such person, provided such person’s membership
was in good standing at the time of termination, may make new application for
membership, under the same or another classification. A second admission fee
shall not be required.
(c) Termination of Honorary Membership. Honorary membership shall automatically
terminate at the end of the term for such membership as determined by the board.
However, the board may extend an honorary membership for an additional period.
The board may revoke an honorary membership at any time.
Section 3 — Termination Non-payment of Dues.
(a) Process. Any member failing to pay dues within thirty (30) days after the
prescribed time shall be notified in writing by the secretary at the member’s last
known address. If the dues are not paid on or before ten (10) days of the date of
notification, membership may terminate, subject to the discretion of the board.
(b) Reinstatement. The board may reinstate the former member to membership upon
the former member’s petition and payment of all indebtedness to this club.
However, no former member may be reinstated to active membership if the former
member’s classification is in conflict with article 8, section 2.
Section 4 — Termination Non-attendance.
(a)Absences Unless otherwise excused by the board, any member who fails to attend or make up a number of regular meetings as determined at the discretion of the board, shall be informed by the board that the member’s non-attendance may be considered a request to terminate membership in this club. Thereafter, the board, by majority vote, may terminate the member’s membership.
(a) Attendance Percentages. A member must
(1) attend or make up at least 50 percent of club regular meetings in each half of
the year;
(2) attend at least 30 percent of this club’s regular meetings in each half of the
year (assistant governors, as defined by the board of directors of RI, shall be
excused from this requirement).
If a member fails to attend as required, the member’s membership shall be subject
to termination unless the board consents to such non-attendance for good cause.
(b) Consecutive Absences. Unless otherwise excused by the board for good and
sufficient reason or pursuant to article 9, sections 3 or 4, each member who fails to
attend or make up four consecutive regular meetings shall be informed by the
board that the member’s non-attendance may be considered a request to terminate
membership in this club. Thereafter, the board, by a majority vote, may terminate
the member’s membership.
Section 5 — Termination Other Causes.
(a) Good Cause. The board may terminate the membership of any member who ceases
to have the qualifications for membership in this club or for any good cause by a
vote of not less than two-thirds of the board members, at a meeting called for that
purpose. The guiding principles for this meeting shall be article 7, section 1; The
Four-Way Test; and the high ethical standards that one should hold as a Rotary
club member.
(b) Notice. Prior to taking any action under subsection (a) of this section, the member
shall be given at least ten (10) days’ written notice of such pending action and an
opportunity to submit a written answer to the board. The member shall have the
right to appear before the board to state the member’s case. Notice shall be by
personal delivery or by registered letter to the member’s last known address.
(c) Filling Classification. When the board has terminated the membership of a
member as provided for in this section, this club shall not elect a new member
under the former member’s classification until the time for hearing any appeal has
expired and the decision of this club or of the arbitrators has been announced.
However, this provision shall not apply if, by election of a new member, the
number of members under the said classification would remain within provided
limitations even if the board’s decision regarding termination is reversed.
Formatted: Font: Not Italic
Section 6 — Right to Appeal, Mediate or Arbitrate Termination.
(a) Notice. Within seven (7) days after the date of the board’s decision to terminate
membership, the secretary shall give written notice of the decision to the member.
Within fourteen (14) days after the date of the notice, the member may give written
notice to the secretary of the intention to appeal to the club, request mediation, or
to arbitrate as provided in article 16.
(b) Date for Hearing of Appeal. In the event of an appeal, the board shall set a date for
the hearing of the appeal at a regular club meeting to be held within twenty-one
(21) days after receipt of the notice of appeal. At least five (5) days’ written notice
of the meeting and its special business shall be given to every member. Only
members shall be present when the appeal is heard.
(c) Mediation or Arbitration. The procedure utilized for mediation or arbitration shall
be as provided in article 16.
(d) Appeal. If an appeal is taken, the action of the club shall be final and binding on all
parties and shall not be subject to arbitration.
(e) Decision of Arbitrators or Umpire. If arbitration is requested, the decision reached
by the arbitrators or, if they disagree, by the umpire shall be final and binding on
all parties and shall not be subject to appeal.
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(f) Unsuccessful Mediation. If mediation is requested but is unsuccessful, the member
may appeal to the club or arbitrate as provided in subsection (a) of this section.
Section 7 — Board Action Final. Board action shall be final if no appeal to this club is
taken and no arbitration is requested.
Section 8 — Resignation. The resignation of any member from this club shall be in
writing, addressed to the president or secretary. The resignation shall be accepted by
the board if the member has no indebtedness to this club.
Section 9 — Forfeiture of Property Interest. Any person whose club membership has
been terminated in any manner shall forfeit all interest in any funds or other property
belonging to this club if, under local laws, the member may have acquired any right to
them upon joining the club.
Section 10 — Temporary Suspension.
Notwithstanding any provision of this constitution, if in the opinion of the board
(a) credible accusations have been made that a member has refused or neglected to
comply with this constitution, or has been guilty of conduct unbecoming a member
or prejudicial to the interests of the club; and
(b) those accusations, if proved, constitute good cause for terminating the membership
of the member; and
(c) it is desirable that no action should be taken in respect of the membership of the
member pending the outcome of a matter or an event that the board considers
should properly occur before such action is taken by the board; and
(d) that in the best interests of the club and without any vote being taken as to his or
her membership, the member’s membership should be temporarily suspended and the member should be excluded from attendance at meetings and other activities of
this club and from any office or position the member holds within the club. For the
purposes of this clause, the member shall be excused from fulfilling attendance
responsibilities;
the board may, by a vote of not less than two-thirds of the board, temporarily suspend
the member as aforesaid for such period and on such further conditions as the board
determines, albeit for a period no longer than is reasonably necessary in all the circumstances.
