According to the Constitution of Rotary International there will be a Council on Legislation (COL) once every three years to make changes to the documents that define how Rotary functions. The next COL will be held in a couple of weeks and the results will make some changes that will take effect in a few months. The important question is how many of us will actually pay attention to their decisions.
Consider a few examples of the kinds of things they will consider in one small area regarding who is eligible to be a member of a Rotary Club. There is a proposal insert the words sincerely motivated and enthusiastic to Article 5 Membership, Section 2 Composition of Clubs, and another to make alumnus of any Rotary program, including Interact or RYLA eligible for membership, and another to add “having interrupted her employment or having never worked in order to care for her children or to assist her spouse in his work” as a qualifying category. I especially like that last one since I live in a neighborhood with a lot of people with financial resources that allow at least one spouse to be a professional community volunteer.
These are only three of the hundred interesting proposals that will change the basic rule of Rotary, but how many of us will pay attention to the decisions that come from the COL this year. At the COL that was held in 2007 two provisions were added that expanded the definition of who would be eligible to join Rotary; being a community leader who has demonstrated through personal involvement in community affairs a commitment to service and the Object of Rotary, having the status of Rotary Foundation alumnus as defined by the board.
I have responded to several questions over the six years since those provisions of eligibility were enacted regarding who we can propose and invite to join our organization. I guess people believe the old adage that all past district governors can find an appropriate classification to fit any situation. The reality is that we spend too much time trying to limit who we bring into Rotary; even when Rotary is trying to find ways to open our doors and arms to a larger number of people in the community.
Let us all resolve to read what the current COL decides and implement their decisions by amending our by-laws and changing our entrenched beliefs, even if they seem like new-fangled ideas that we don’t all agree with.