I read the comments on LinkedIn several times a week; especially those in the groups relating to Rotary. What surprises me is how many clubs and Rotarians are involved in controversies and disputes and how few of those involved know there is a way to resolve those disputes.
Several of those comments related to how unhelpful their District Governor was in fixing some perceived problem or violations. The missing ingredient in many of these comments is a lack of understanding of how you and your club relate to Rotary International. Individuals do not belong to Rotary International, Rotary Clubs do. The relationship of Rotary International and your Rotary Club is very much like a franchisor – franchise relationship. District Governors do not possess the power to dictate resolution of conflicts, they do have the power to ask the Board of Directors to revoke the Charter of a local Rotary Club; an action that is not taken lightly or often.
What Rotary International has done to help resolve local disputes is provide a Standard Rotary Club Constitution; the same constitution that defines many of the rules that every Rotary club is obligated to follow. The Standard Rotary Club Constitution includes Article 16 – Arbitration and Mediation which provides a way to resolve many of these conflicts.
Conflict within a Rotary Club or between a Rotary Club, its members, other Rotary Clubs, the District or Rotary International can be costly in terms of members lost, money misplaced or projects not done. In the world of Rotary conflicts can be far more costly than most people understand. Mediation is an informal, voluntary process in which an impartial person, trained in facilitation and negotiation techniques, helps the parties reach a mutually acceptable resolution. What distinguishes mediation from other forms of dispute resolution, principally, arbitration and litigation, is that the mediator does not impose a solution but rather works with the parties to create their own solution.
Part of what I do in my non-Rotary hours (yes I do something other than Rotary) involves litigation support for matters relating to financial services; I am an expert witness and mediator for matters relating to stockbrokers and investment advisors. I am willing to assist, as a mediator, any Rotarians and Rotary Club in that capacity as part of my service above self. Utilizing technology would allow me to make that offer anywhere in the Rotary world. Please let me know if I can be of service to you or your club.
(For additional information see https://pdg.stevegarrett.com/mediation/)