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HIGHLIGHTS OF ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT ITS JUNE AND “JULY” 2010 MEETINGS
The 2009-10 RI Board of Directors held its fourth and final meeting on 11–15 June 2010 in Evanston, Illinois, USA. The 2010-11 RI Board held its first meeting on 25-26 June 2010 in Montreal, Canada. At these meetings the Board reviewed reports from 12 committees and recorded 124 decisions.
June 2010 Board Meeting Highlights
The 2010 Council referred numerous resolutions to the Board. In response, the Board:
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Encouraged clubs to appoint a training and leadership committee if it meets the club’s needs. |
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Encouraged clubs to provide people with disabilities appropriate access to club meetings and the opportunity to participate in club service activities. |
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Requested districts to take a more active role in club public relations efforts. |
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Agreed that RI does not issue formal statements for or against any specific issue, as it is the policy of the association to maintain a neutral position. |
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Did not agree to consider implementing a new program for Rotary Peace Communities. |
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Did not agree to establish a disaster relief committee, but encouraged Rotarians to work with established disaster relief organizations. |
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Agreed to study the concept of a new RI program for children under 12. |
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Recognized the valuable contributions Inner Wheel makes in association with Rotary clubs. |
The Board revised the purpose of Rotary institutes: to provide current, incoming, and past RI officers with policy and program updates; to provide a forum for Rotary leaders to interact with RI directors; and to provide fellowship and a participative learning experience that will inspire continued leadership and service among current, incoming, and past governors. The Board further identified common purposes for district conferences: to recognize district-wide service programs and projects; to give Rotarians a broader vision of RI beyond the club level; and to provide fellowship and an opportunity to interact with Rotary leaders.
In discussing vocational service issues, the Board agreed that the classification system is a critical club-level activity and requested clubs to ensure that a member’s classification is included on all club badges and updated to reflect current professions.
The Board agreed to move ahead as quickly as possible with realigning those districts that fall below the current and future membership minimums specified in the RI Bylaws. It also requested the general secretary, working with the appropriate RI directors and Rotary coordinators, to contact district leadership in large districts to ascertain their willingness to divide into two districts or to realign clubs in the district.
In discussing RI membership issues, the Board requested that clubs submit their membership goals to the governor-elect by 1 May, and that the governor-elect submit district membership goals to RI by 15 May. The Board suggested that governors-elect increase their district membership goals by at least three percent after receiving club goals. The Board also raised the minimum number of charter members for a new Rotary club from 20 to 25, beginning 1 January 2011.
The Board opened the Republic of Nauru, a Micronesian island nation in the South Pacific, for the extension of Rotary clubs, to be included in District 9600.
The Board designated the conveners, dates, and meeting places for RI director nominating committees that will meet in September 2010 to select directors-nominee for election at the 2011 RI (New Orleans) Convention. Directors will be selected from zones 2, 8, 11, 15, 19, 21, 24, and 33.
The Board adopted a new investment policy statement for the Rotary International General Surplus Fund and further adopted, based on the Fund’s objectives and spending policy, a new asset allocation mix.
The Board appointed the firm Grant Thornton to audit RI’s financial statements for fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013, subject to the successful negotiation and execution of a contract by the general secretary.
The Board received a report on Rotary’s US$200 Million Challenge, indicating that as of mid-June 2010, RI received over US$133,600,000 toward this fundraising goal to eradicate polio.
The Board identified several key messages (published in the final minutes to this meeting) to help sharpen the focus of the Rotaract and Rotary Community Corps programs. The moratorium on recognizing new RAGs was extended until the Board’s November 2010 meeting, and the Board agreed to recognize the Rotarians on Social Networks Fellowship. The Board also discontinued the Best Cooperative Projects award, recognizing that RI has other methods for honoring and tracking these kinds of projects.
Youth Exchange students may undertake approved travel with host parents or for Rotary club or district events only after the district obtains written permission from parents or guardians for travel outside their local community. For all other travel, host districts must ensure that parents or legal guardians are provided specific details about the program, location, itineraries, accommodations, and contact information.
Noting that Council enactments regarding RI magazine subscriptions will take time to implement, the Board agreed that a full online version of The Rotarian will be available by 1 July 2011, when joint magazine subscriptions to the same household will also be allowed.
The Board granted its highest award, the Rotary International Award of Honor, to Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan.
The Board tentatively selected Atlanta, Georgia, USA, to host the 2017 RI Convention.
“July” 2010 Board Meeting Highlights
To encourage participation in multidistrict PETs, the Board authorized districts that have not attended such seminars within the previous five years to initiate or join an existing multidistrict PETS for a single year without first obtaining the consent of two-thirds of the clubs involved (as required policy) provided the incoming governors responsible for planning the proposed multidistrict PETS unanimously agree.
The Board amended its policy regarding club voting strength in district elections to require the governor to notify clubs in the district at least 15 days before the balloting regarding the number of votes to which the club is entitled.
Recognizing that governors have extensive responsibilities in managing and administering the clubs in their districts, the Board broadened their expense categories eligible for reimbursement from RI. Current governors will be provided details via email.
The Board welcomed the appointment of Thomas M. Thorfinnson as 2010-11 RI vice president, K.R. Ravindran as 2010-11 treasurer, and elected John Blount as chair of its executive committee. The Board confirmed its election of Stephen R. Brown, Dong Kurn Lee, Anne L. Matthews, and Kazuhiko Ozawa as Rotary Foundation trustees.
On recommendation of President Klinginsmith, the Board established the 2010-11 RI committees and resource group, and approved their terms of reference. The Board agreed that zones 1, 5, 9, 14, 18, 23, 25, 28, and 31 shall select committees in 2010-11 to nominate RI directors for election at the 2012 RI convention.
The Board confirmed the 2010-11 RI budget with revenues of US$84,938,000 and expenses of US$84,054,000, and further approved The Rotary Foundation’s 2010-11 budget of US$93,157,000 million for Foundation programs that are funded with unrestricted Annual Programs Fund contributions.
Rotarians, alumni, and guests will be able to purchase one-day passes for New Orleans convention activities on Saturday, 21 May.