1. 2019 District 7030 Conference
Subject Council on Legislation 2019 held in Chicago April, 2019
Presenter PDG Tony Watkins
Date April, 2019

2. 538 Credentialed Delegates

3. Enactments considered at COL 2019
117 Proposed
15 Withdrawn
55 Rejected
47 Adopted
NOTE:
Any enactment adopted becomes effective on July 1, 2019
A 2/3 majority is needed to amend
RI Constitution otherwise a simple majority.

4. Important Legislation Passed
Admission of Rotaract clubs to RI membership
Per Capita dues
Authorize RI Board to change RI’s tax status
Provision for making up an absence
Amend provisions on membership
Amend term of club President
Amend provision for terminating a club
Amend provisions regarding membership in clubs
Allow RI Board to propose urgent enactments
Modernise and streamline RI ByLaws and Club Constitutions

5. To admit Rotaract clubs to RI membership
This enactment was proposed by RI President Barry Rassin. The first time a sitting President has ever proposed an item. This enactment did not get the 2/3 majority needed and after much discussion amongst delegates outside of the Council chamber, It was re-introduced the following morning and obtained 74%.

6. It should be noted that:
Rotaract clubs will still have their standard Constitution but will receive greater support from RI.
b) Rotaractors will not be considered Rotarians.
c) Rotary clubs will still sponsor Rotaract clubs.
d) No dues for Rotaractors has as yet been considered by RI board.

7. To increase per capita dues
Each club shall pay to RI per capita dues for each of its members as follows:
US$34.00per half year in ,
US$34.50per half year in ,
US$35.00per half year in ,
andUS$35.00per half year in and thereafter. Such dues shall remain constant until changed by the council on legislation.

8. To authorize RI Board to take appropriate action to change RI’s tax status
Under this change RI could obtain several benefits such as
a) discounts from vendors
b) reduction in taxes
c) eligibility in corporate sponsorship/funding
d) opportunities for tax benefits for US taxpayers
e) helping to stabilise membership dues

9. To amend the provisions for making up an absence
To amend Article 12 of Standard Rotary Club Constitution so that a member is NOT restricted to 14 days before or after the regular meeting BUT if within SAME YEAR the member does a make-up by usual methods.
It is expected that this measure would provide motivation for increased member participation in projects.

10. To amend the provisions on membership
To amend Article 4 of RI By Laws on limitations on membership in Clubs by adding the following sentence: “Each Club shall endeavor to build a well-balanced membership that celebrates Diversity”

11. To amend the term of Club President
To amend Article 13 section 5 of standard Club Constitution. This amendment relates to the case where a successor has not been duly elected then the term of current President shall be extended for one year ONLY.

12. To amend the provisions for terminating the membership of a club
This amendment to Article 3 of By Laws of RI
allows the Board to terminate a club upon the request of the Governor if its membership falls below six members.

13. To amend the provisions regarding membership in clubs
This amendment allows public officers
to be Rotarians in their original classification.

14. To allow the RI Board to propose urgent Enactments to the Council on Resolutions
The Council on Resolutions is conducted annually and is convened through electronic communication.
This amendment of RI By Laws would allow the Board to bring urgent enactments to Council on Resolutions rather than wait for Council of Legislation.

15. To modernise and streamline the By Laws of RI and Standard Club Constitution without making any substantive changes
Every 3 years the COL meets and makes changes to the constitutional documents. Each change is independently drafted and adopted. The last time the RI Bylaws underwent a comprehensive review was 1995 and 2001 for Club Constitution.
The changes are cosmetic, removing redundancies and improving readability and access by Rotarians.

16. It has been a privilege to represent District 7030 at COL 2019
It has been a privilege to represent District 7030 at COL I wish to thank PDG Roger for giving me this opportunity. It is a unique experience to serve on the Legislative arm of RI.