The Council on Legislation - First day comes to an end
9/4/2016 02:13 Council arrives in Chicago
Rotary members from all over the world have begun arriving in Chicago to discuss changes to the policies guiding Rotary clubs. Council members are arriving Saturday and early Sunday, then will have a day of orientation Sunday where they get settled in before getting down to business Monday morning. In their week stay, council members will discuss more than 150 pieces of legislation, either enactments or resolutions to the Board.
9/4/2016 02:15 What does the council do?
The council is like Rotary's own version of a congress. Held every three years, it gives clubs a say in how their organization is governed, and allows members to adapt Rotary to keep it relevant in a rapidly changing world. On the table this year are proposals that could give clubs greater flexibility in the timing and nature of their meetings, enhancing the ability to attract members who are at different stages of their careers.
10/4/2016 08:29 Welcoming committee
Rotary members from the Chicago area, including the Rotary Club of Chicago O'Hare, greeting council members at the airport today as they arrive for the Council.
11/4/2016 19:29 Ready to go
The council chamber is buzzing with conversation. The chair has just announced council will begin in two minutes.
11/4/2016 19:42 Exchanging ideas
Council members exchange ideas as they wait for today's session to begin
11/4/2016 19:46 And we're off
After a test vote to check the equipment, in which the council overwhelmingly "mock voted" to move the proceeding to Tahiti, the council has begun. Discussion is under way on the first proposal, to require clubs to provide members with minutes of their board meetings within 60 days.
11/4/2016 19:54 The first vote
And the proposal to require clubs to provide members with minutes of their board meetings passes, 318 to 136.
11/4/2016 20:18
The council is truly an international event. As debate is presented in other languages, members follow along in their own language through the translation devices provided. Hard working interpreters will be at work all week.
11/4/2016 20:39 Toward stronger clubs
This morning's dicussions so far center around club administration. Various ideas have been floated to help make clubs stronger by improving the efficiency of the club's leadership.
11/4/2016 21:06 How many committees does a club need?
The council has approved a change to the Standard Rotary Club Constitution that clubs use as a model, to help smaller clubs by reducing the number of committees they need to form. Previously, the model suggested 15. But the proposal, narrowly approved, suggests clubs have five: club administration, membership, public relations, Rotary Foundation, and service projects. Presenters argued that since 90 percent of clubs have fewer than 60 members, finding 45 plus members to serve on 15 committees can prove a challenge. The five committees can be formed easily, and are the most critical. Larger clubs could still appoint other committees as needed.
11/4/2016 21:07 Break time
After an eventful morning, council members adjourned for a morning break.
11/4/2016 21:47 Coffee break
Coffee break is popular!
11/4/2016 22:02 Admission fees
In its closest vote yet, the council narrowly approved removing references to admission fees from the bylaws. Proponents argued that the concept of an admission fee does not project a modern image of Rotary, which instead should be built upon dynamic membership and service. Doing away with admission fees, they argue, would expand the pool of prospective members.
11/4/2016 23:02 Fifth avenue of service stays
After more than a half hour of lively debate, the council kept youth service as the fifth avenue of service. The fifth avenue was first added to the original four -- club, vocational, community, and international -- by the 2010 Council.
11/4/2016 23:05 Want more results?
As a reminder, we are sharing highlights of today's actions here, not a breakdown of every piece of legislation. Full results of today's voting will be available tomorrow morning.
11/4/2016 23:08 Lunch break
The council has adjourned for lunch. Having tackled 12 pieces of legislation, progress has been a bit slow when you consider the council has more than 180 proposals to get through this week. Still, speed will inevitably pick up as the council progresses and gets a better feel for its deliberations.
12/4/2016 00:43 Council profiles
Ramasamy Asokan, a general surgeon from Virudhunagar, India, is taking part in his first council. "This is a new adventure. You get ideas from a lot of people. You come with your own ideas, but then you listen to other ideas and find your thoughts changing. This is good for the democracy of Rotary."
12/4/2016 00:48 Club meeting flexibility
Stay tuned. Big vote coming up. By special order, the council has skipped ahead to a proposal by the RI Board, enactment 16-21, which would give clubs greater powers of flexibility in deciding for themselves the time and day they meet, how many times they meet, when to cancel a meeting, and what counts as a meeting.
12/4/2016 01:06 Flexibility debate
An amendment to the Board's flexibility measure has passed. The amendment specifies clubs have to meet a miminum of two times a month. Discussion of the measure itself continues.
12/4/2016 01:36 It passes!
Applause broke out as the council overwhelmingly approved a measure to give clubs more flexiblity in deciding the times and days they meet, how often they meet, when to cancel a meeting, and what counts as a meeting. By a previous amendment, clubs will still be required to meet at least twice a month. Proponents believe these changes are historic and necessary for Rotary to thrive and attract new members.
12/4/2016 01:42 Another key proposal: membership types
Council is now considering another RI Board-backed proposal to give clubs more freedom in deciding the kinds of membership they offer.
12/4/2016 01:54 Council quotes
"Creativity in our clubs is very great.They have already been trying many of these measures."
12/4/2016 02:04 Membership types
Following its earlier action, the council gave clubs a second big vote of confidence, approving a measure to allow clubs greater flexibility in deciding membership. Some previous experiments have included corporate membership, which allows several people from one company to share a membership.
12/4/2016 02:43 Council profiles
Catherine Zimmerman, a technical college administrator, from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA, is encouraged by today's council action giving clubs greater flexibility. "I think it's very exciting. Some clubs are already trying these things. Now clubs can do so with greater freedom. And those clubs who don't want to change don't need to. They still have flexibility to do what works within their area, district, culture, or country."
12/4/2016 04:20 First day comes to an end
The first day of action draws to a close. Several proposals were withdrawn, as they suggested similar changes in flexibility to those approved earlier in the afternoon. Vote totals to all action will be available tomorrow morning.