* The bylaws of Rotary International provide that each club admitted to membership in RI shall adopt this prescribed standard club constitution.
As used in this constitution, unless the context otherwise clearly requires, the words in this article shall have the following meanings:
The name of this organization shall be Rotary Club of Skaneateles (4859) (Member of Rotary International)
The locality of this club is as follows: Skaneateles New York, U.S.A.
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
First. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
Second. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
Third. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;
Fourth. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
Rotary's Four Avenues of Service are the philosophical and practical framework for the work of this Rotary club.
1. Club Service, the first Avenue of Service, involves action a member should take within this club to help it function successfully.
2. Vocational Service, the second Avenue of Service, has the purpose of promoting high ethical standards in businesses and professions, recognizing the worthiness of all dignified occupations, and fostering the ideal of service in the pursuit of all vocations. The role of members includes conducting themselves and their businesses in accordance with Rotary's principles.
3. Community Service, the third Avenue of Service, comprises varied efforts that members make, sometimes in conjunction with others, to improve the quality of life of those who live within this club's locality or municipality.
4. International Service, the fourth Avenue of Service, comprises those activities that members do to advance international understanding, goodwill, and peace by fostering acquaintance with people of other countries, their cultures, customs, accomplishments, aspirations, and problems, through reading and correspondence and through cooperation in all club activities and projects designed to help people in other lands.
Section 1 - Regular Meetings.
Section 2 Annual Meeting. An annual meeting for the election of officers shall be held not later than 31 December as provided in the bylaws.
Section 1 - General Qualifications. This club shall be composed of adult persons of good character and good business, professional and/or community reputation.
Section 2 - Kinds. This club shall have two kinds of membership, namely: active and honorary.
Section 3 - Active Membership. A person possessing the qualifications set forth in article 5, section 2 of the RI constitution may be elected to active membership in this club.
Section 4 - Transferring or Former Rotarian. A member may propose to active membership a transferring member or former member of a club, if the proposed member is terminating or has terminated such membership in the former club due to no longer being engaged in the formerly assigned classification of business or profession within the locality of the former club or the surrounding area. The transferring or former member of a club being proposed to active membership under this section may also be proposed by the former club. The classification of a transferring or former member of a club shall not preclude election to active membership even if the election results in club membership temporarily exceeding the classification limits.
Section 5 - Dual Membership. No person shall simultaneously hold active membership in this and another club. No person shall simultaneously be a member and an honorary member in this club. No person shall simultaneously hold active membership in this club and membership in a Rotaract club.
Section 6 - Honorary Membership.
Section 7 - Holders of Public Office. Persons elected or appointed to public office for a specified time shall not be eligible to active membership in this club under the classification of such office. This restriction shall not apply to persons holding positions or offices in schools, colleges, or other institutions of learning or to persons who are elected or appointed to the judiciary. Members who are elected or appointed to public office for a specified period may continue as such members in their existing classifications during the period in which they hold such office.
Section 8 - Rotary International Employment. This club may retain in its membership any member employed by RI.
Section 1 - General Provisions.
(a) Principal Activity. Each member shall be classified in accordance with the member's business, profession, or type of community service. The classification shall be that which describes the principal and recognized activity of the firm, company, or institution with which the member is connected or that which describes the member's principal and recognized business or professional activity or that which describes the nature of the member's community service activity.
(b) Correction or Adjustment. If the circumstances warrant, the board may correct or adjust the classification of any member. Notice of a proposed correction or adjustment shall be provided to the member and the member shall be allowed a hearing thereon.
Section 2 - Limitations. This club shall not elect a person to active membership from a classification if the club already has five or more members from that classification, unless the club has more than 50 members, in which case, the club may elect a person to active membership in a classification so long as it will not result in the classification making up more than 10 percent of the club's active membership. Members who are retired shall not be included in the total number of members in a classification. The classification of a transferring or former member of a club, or a Rotary Foundation alumnus as defined by the board of directors of RI, shall not preclude election to active membership even if the election results in club membership temporarily exceeding the above limitations. If a member changes classification, the club may continue the member's membership under the new classification notwithstanding these limitations.
Section 1 - General Provisions. Each member should attend this club's regular meetings. A member shall be counted as attending a regular meeting if the member is present for at least 60 percent of the meeting, or is present and is called away unexpectedly and subsequently produces evidence to the satisfaction of the board that such action was reasonable, or makes up for an absence in any of the following ways:
(1) traveling with reasonable directness to or from one of the meetings specified in sub-subsection (a) (3) of this section; or
(2) serving as an officer or member of a committee of RI, or a trustee of The Rotary Foundation; or
(3) serving as the special representative of the district governor in the formation of a new club; or
(4) on Rotary business in the employ of RI; or
(5) directly and actively engaged in a district-sponsored or RI- or Rotary Foundation-sponsored service project in a remote area where making up attendance is impossible; or
(6) engaged in Rotary business duly authorized by the board which precludes attendance at the meeting.
Section 2 - Extended Absence on Outposted Assignment. If a member will be working on an outposted assignment for an extended period of time, attendance at the meetings of a designated club at the site of the assignment will replace attendance at the regular meetings of the member's club, provided there is a mutual agreement between the two clubs.
Section 3 - Excused Absences. A member's absence shall be excused if
Section 4 - RI Officers' Absences. A member's absence shall be excused if the member is a current officer of RI.
Section 5 - Attendance Records. Any member whose absences are excused under the provisions of subsection 3(b) or section 4 of this article shall not be included in the membership figure used to compute this club's attendance.
Section 1 - Governing Body. The governing body of this club shall be the board constituted as the bylaws may provide.
Section 2 - Authority. The board shall have general control over all officers and committees and, for good cause, may declare any office vacant.
Section 3 - Board Action Final. The decision of the board in all club matters is final, subject only to an appeal to the club. However, as to a decision to terminate membership, a member, pursuant to article 12, section 6, may appeal to the club, request mediation, or request arbitration. If appealed, a decision of the board shall be reversed only by a two-thirds vote of the members present, at a regular meeting specified by the board, provided a quorum is present and notice of the appeal has been given by the secretary to each member at least five (5) days prior to the meeting. If an appeal is taken, the action taken by the club shall be final.
Section 4 - Officers. The club officers shall be a president, a president-elect, and one or more vice-presidents, all of whom shall be members of the board, and a secretary, a treasurer, and a sergeant-at-arms, who may or may not be members of the board as the bylaws shall provide.
Section 5 - Election of Officers.
Every member shall pay an admission fee and annual dues as prescribed in the bylaws, except that any transferring or former member of another club who is accepted into membership of this club pursuant to article 7, section 4 shall not be required to pay a second admission fee. A Rotaractor who ceased to be a
member of Rotaract within the preceding two years, who is accepted into membership of this club, shall not be required to pay an admission fee.
Section 1 - Period. Membership shall continue during the existence of this club unless terminated as hereinafter provided. Section 2 - Automatic Termination.
(1) the board may grant a member moving from the locality of this club or the surrounding area a special leave of absence not to exceed one (1) year to enable the member to visit and become known to a Rotary club in the new community if the member continues to meet all conditions of club membership;
(2) the board may allow a member moving from the locality of this club or the surrounding area to retain membership if the member continues to meet all conditions of club membership.
Section 3 - Termination - Non-payment of Dues.
Section 4 - Termination - Non-attendance.
(a) Attendance Percentages. A member must
If a member fails to attend as required, the member's membership shall be subject to termination unless the board consents to such nonattendance for good cause.
(b) Consecutive Absences. Unless otherwise excused by the board for good and sufficient reason or pursuant to article 9, sections 3 or 4, each member who fails to attend or make up four consecutive regular meetings shall be informed by the board that the member's non-attendance may be considered a request to terminate membership in this club. Thereafter, the board, by a majority vote, may terminate the member's membership.
Section 5 - Termination - Other Causes.
Section 6 - Right to Appeal, Mediate or Arbitrate Termination.
Section 7 - Board Action Final. Board action shall be final if no appeal to this club is taken and no arbitration is requested.
Section 8 - Resignation. The resignation of any member from this club shall be in writing, addressed to the president or secretary. The resignation shall be accepted by the board if the member has no indebtedness to this club.
Section 9 - Forfeiture of Property Interest. Any person whose club membership has been terminated in any manner shall forfeit all interest in any funds or other property belonging to this club.
Section 10 - Temporary Suspension. Notwithstanding any provision of this constitution, if in the opinion of the board
(a) credible accusations have been made that a member has refused or neglected to comply with this constitution, or has been guilty of conduct unbecoming a member or prejudicial to the interests of the club; and
(b) those accusations, if proved, constitute good cause for terminating the membership of the member; and
(c) it is desirable that no action should be taken in respect of the membership of the member pending the outcome of a matter or an event that the board considers should properly occur before such action is taken by the board; and
(d) that in the best interests of the club and without any vote being taken as to his or her membership, the member's membership should be temporarily suspended and the member should be excluded from attendance at meetings and other activities of this club and from any office or position the member holds within the club. For the purposes of this clause, the member shall be excused from fulfilling attendance responsibilities;
the board may, by a vote of not less than two-thirds of the board, temporarily suspend the member as aforesaid for such period and on such further conditions as the board determines, albeit for a period no longer than is reasonably necessary in all the circumstances.
Section 1 - Proper Subjects. The merits of any public question involving the general welfare of the community, the nation, and the world are of concern to the members of this club and shall be proper subjects of fair and informed study and discussion at a club meeting for the enlightenment of its members in forming their individual opinions. However, this club shall not express an opinion on any pending controversial public measure.
Section 2 - No Endorsements. This club shall not endorse or recommend any candidate for public office and shall not discuss at any club meeting the merits or demerits of any such candidate.
Section 3 - Non-Political.
Section 4 - Recognizing Rotary's Beginning. The week of the anniversary of Rotary's founding (23 February) shall be known as World Understanding and Peace Week. During this week, this club will celebrate Rotary service, reflect upon past achievements, and focus on programs of peace, understanding, and goodwill in the community and throughout the world.
Section 1 - Mandatory Subscription. Unless, in accordance with the bylaws of RI, this club is excused by the board of directors of RI from complying with the provisions of this article, each member shall, for the duration of membership, subscribe to the official magazine or to the magazine approved and prescribed for this club by the board of directors of RI. The subscription shall be paid in six (6) month periods for the duration of membership in this club and to the end of any six (6) month period during which membership may terminate.
Section 2 - Subscription Collection. The subscription shall be collected by this club from each member semiannually in advance and remitted to the Secretariat of RI or to the office of such regional publications as may be determined by the board of directors of RI.
By payment of an admission fee and dues, a member accepts the principles of Rotary as expressed in its object and submits to and agrees to comply with and be bound by the constitution and bylaws of this club, and on these conditions alone is entitled to the privileges of this club. Each member shall be subject to the terms of the constitution and bylaws regardless of whether such member has received copies of them.
Section 1 - Disputes. Should any dispute, other than as to a decision of the board, arise between any current or former member(s) and this club, any club officer or the board, on any account whatsoever which cannot be settled under the procedure already provided for such purpose, the dispute shall, upon a request to the secretary by any of the disputants, either be resolved by mediation or settled by arbitration.
Section 2 - Date for Mediation or Arbitration. In the event of mediation or arbitration, the board shall set a date for the mediation or arbitration, in consultation with disputants, to be held within twenty-one (21) days after receipt of the request for mediation or arbitration.
Section 3 - Mediation. The procedure for such mediation shall be that recognized by an appropriate authority with national or state jurisdiction or be that recommended by a competent professional body whose recognized expertise covers alternative dispute resolution or be that recommended by way of documented guidelines determined by the board of RI or the trustees of The Rotary Foundation. Only a member of a Rotary club may be appointed as mediator(s). The club may request the district governor or the governor's representative to appoint a mediator who is a member of a Rotary club and who has appropriate mediation skills and experience.
Section 4 - Arbitration. In the event of a request for arbitration, each party shall appoint an arbitrator and the arbitrators shall appoint an umpire. Only a member of a Rotary club may be appointed as umpire or as arbitrator.
Section 5 - Decision of Arbitrators or Umpire. If arbitration is requested, the decision reached by the arbitrators or, if they disagree, by the umpire shall be final and binding on all parties and shall not be subject to appeal.
This club shall adopt bylaws not inconsistent with the constitution and bylaws of RI, with the rules of procedure for an administrative territorial unit where established by RI, and with this constitution, embodying additional provisions for the government of this club. Such bylaws may be amended from time to time as therein provided.
Throughout this constitution, the terminology “mail,” “mailing,” and “ballotby-mail” will include utilization of electronic mail (e-mail) and internet technology to reduce costs and increase responsiveness.
Section 1 - Manner of Amending. Except as provided in section 2 of this article, this constitution may be amended only by the council on legislation in the same manner as is established in the bylaws of RI for the amendment of its bylaws.
Section 2 - Amending Article 2 and Article 3. Article 2 (Name) and Article 3 (Locality of the Club) of the constitution shall be amended at any regular meeting of this club, a quorum being present by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of all voting members present and voting, provided that notice of such proposed amendment shall have been mailed to each member at least ten (10) days before such meeting, and provided further, that such amendment shall be submitted to the board of directors of RI for its approval and shall become effective only when so approved. The governor may offer an opinion to the board of directors of RI regarding the proposed amendment.