Every three years, Representatives from every Rotary District from around the world are summoned to Chicago to consider enactments to change the Rotary Bylaws and Rotary Constitution or pass along recommendations to the Board. The proposed enactments come from the individual clubs through their districts or from the Rotary International Board. The District Representatives must be a Past District Governor selected by the Governor following a district process. I was fortunate to have been selected to be your Representative to the 2022 Council in Chicago from April 20 to April 24, 2022.
Normally more than 350 District Representatives gather at a large Chicago Hotel Ballroom to vote on proposed enactments. Since besides English, representatives speak other languages such as Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese and many other languages, translators are stationed in booths and provide translations to attendees through earphones. Those in the room are another 150 non-voting attendees including the R.I Board of Directors, staff members and the General Secretary, John Hewko. This COL session was done in hybrid due to the pandemic and about 120 representatives participated remotely. Those in Chicago were in sessions from Monday through Thursday, all day to consider 94 Proposed Enactments. Breakfasts, lunch and some dinners were provided with the attending group so there was ample time to socialize. Like any legislature, the process was highly structured and very democratic with a proposer, pro and con discussion and a vote. Of the 94 Proposed Enactments, 26 passed and the rest were withdrawn or voted down.
District 5170 had one Proposed Enactment. It was written by Chris Miller, a Los Gatos Morning Rotarian, approved by his club and then approved by a vote of our district clubs. The enactment called for the establishment of a Standing Committee in Rotary International for Interact. My job was to present this proposal to the Council. I had 3 minutes. Unfortunately, prior to my presentation, the R.I. Board had proposed an Enactment to streamline R.I. Committees and eliminate all Standing Committees that were not directly impacting key operations like redistricting, finance, membership and strategic planning. The R.I. Board including our Director Vicki Puliz and R.I. President Nominee, Jennifer Jones spoke convincingly why these changes were needed. When it was my turn to present, re-establishing a Standing Committee for Interact did not make sense since. While I still got a large number of votes, our proposal failed to get a majority. Jennifer and Vicki talked to me after the vote and assured me that Youth Programs were high on their list for getting attention and Interact would not be ignored.
Below are 10 of the approved enactments that will impact our clubs and membership:
- Most important- dues increase were approved for $4-2022-23, $3.50 more for each of the two subsequent years. Loss of membership, inflation and continued services made these increases necessary. The proposed increase passed by a large margin.
- RI Board sponsored enactment were approved to reduce standing committees to audit, constitution and bylaws, redistricting, election review, finance, membership, operations, and strategic planning. All other standing committees eliminated such as Rotaract, conventions. The Board may establish committees as they choose. Called streamlining.
- The district 5170 proposal for a Standing Committee for Interact failed because of the streamlining enactment. Rotaract, Communications, Conventions, Standing Committees were eliminated and the need for any committee left in the hands of the Board.
- Approved members from another club to propose members to a club.
- “Equity and inclusion” as part of diversity of membership in clubs was added as a recommendation.
- Allowed members from more than one club in satellite clubs up to when satellite club becomes a Rotary Club on its own.
- Changed qualifications for Director and membership on Nominating Committees for Director.
- Added “striving for positive peace in the community” as one of the goals of community service.
- Vocation service added to recommended club committees.
- Rotoractors approved to have a standing invite to visit Rotary club meetings and Rotoractors can be selected for RI committee.
- Removed any requirement that a member must work or reside in the locality of a club.
- Authorized the R.I. Board to suspend or terminate a club that sues a District.
It was my pleasure to have been your representative to the Council on Resolutions.