As with anything in our world, change is necessary to stay relevant. The same holds true with Rotary. How are these changes in Rotary made? How do we make changes to embrace technology, a changing world, volunteers’ schedules, and diverse communities?
Each Rotary district selects a Council on Legislation/Council on Resolutions representative. This Rotarian must be a Past District Governor and he/she will serve a three-year term. An alternate is also selected in case the representative cannot fulfill their term.
Once a year, representatives vote online on proposed resolutions which are requests to the RI Board or the Rotary Foundation Trustees to take action that is outside the scope of the constitutional documents. Clubs, districts, and the RI Board can submit resolutions to the Council for consideration. Once every three years, representatives convene in Evanston, Illinois, home of Rotary International, to vote on proposed legislation, or proposed enactments which seek to change Rotary’s constitutional documents.
Here are a few of the proposed resolutions recently voted on, and the result of the vote, you may find interesting. All results can be found at https://my.rotary.org/en/council/cor/vote.
24R-10 To request the RI Board to consider implementing enhancements to the training for assistant governors; Adopted; Yes: 266; No: 186
24R-17 To request the RI Board and TRF Trustees to consider amending the Code of Policies to state that officers will refrain from making public statements in support of or against conflicts around the world when acting in their official capacity; Adopted; Yes: 342; No: 111
24R-25 To request the RI Board to consider undertaking a detailed review of the cost-to value proposition associated with the Rotary magazines; Adopted; Yes: 318; No: 134
24R-26 To request the RI Board and the Trustees to consider creating a special giving day on 23 February; Rejected; Yes: 166; No: 286
24R-28 To request the RI Board to consider respecting all religions prior to deciding matters of place, date and time for meetings; Adopted; Yes: 248; No: 197
24R-30 To request the RI Board to consider proposing legislation to a future Council on Legislation to change the frequency of the RI Convention; Rejected; Yes: 188; No: 266
24R-32 To request the Trustees to consider modifying the (DDF) SHARE allocation ratio for district grants from 50:50 to 60:40; Adopted: Yes: 283; No: 167
If your you or your club is interested in learning more about proposing a resolution or legislation, please contact me, Kim LeSage, kimlesage@sbcglobal.net.