Constitution of the Rotary Club of Utica, New York
Article I Definitions As used in this constitution, unless the context otherwise clearly requires, the words in this article shall have the following meanings: 1. Board: The Board of Directors of this club.
Article II Name The name of this organization shall be Rotary Club of
Utica (a Member of RI). Article III Locality of the Club The locality of this club is as follows: The city of
Utica, New York; the Towns (and all incorporated Villages therein) of
Deerfield, Marcy, Whitesboro, Westmoreland, Kirkland, New Hartford and
Paris, all located in the County of Oneida; the Towns (and all incorporated
Villages therein) of Schuyler, Frankfort and Litchfield, all located in the
County of Herkimer. Article IV Object 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.
Article V Meetings Section 1 - Regular Meetings. Section 2 - Annual Meeting. An annual meeting for the election of officers shall be held annually not later than the 31st of December as provided in the bylaws.
Article VI Membership Section 1 - General Qualifications. This club shall be composed of adult persons of good character and good business and professional reputation. Section 2 - Kinds. This club shall have two kinds of membership, namely: active and honorary. (Interim Provision Relating to Section 2 — Notwithstanding the provisions of article VI, section 2, no one who was a member of a Rotary club as of 1 July 2001 shall lose membership by reason of enactment 01-148 adopted by the 2001 Council on Legislation. The 2001 Council on Legislation adopted an enactment which eliminated types of membership (senior active, past service, and additional active) and revised the classification principle. However, no one who is a member of a Rotary club as of 1 July 2001 will lose membership by reason of the new provisions. All such persons will be considered active members.) Section 3 - Active Membership. A person possessing the qualifications set forth in RI Constitution, Article V, Section 2, may be elected to active membership in this club. Article V Membership, Section 2 (of RI) - Composition of Clubs states: (i) engaged as a proprietor, partner, corporate officer, or manager of any worthy and recognized business or profession; or(ii) hold an important position in any worthy and recognized business or profession or any branch or agency thereof and have executive capacity with discretionary authority; or (iii) having retired from any position listed in sub-subsection (i) or (ii) of this subsection and
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.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 - RI Employment. This club may retain in its membership any member employed by RI.
Article VII Classifications Section 1 - General Provisions. 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 from a classification. If a member changes classification, the club may continue the member’s membership under the new classification notwithstanding these limitations. (Interim Provision Relating to Section 2 — Notwithstanding the provisions of article VII, section 2, no one who was a member of a Rotary club as of 1 July 2001 shall lose membership by reason of enactment 01-148 adopted by the 2001 Council on Legislation. See footnote for Interim Provision to article VI, section 2 of this constitution.)
Article VIII Attendance 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 that such action was reasonable, or makes up for an absence in any of the following ways: (1) attends at least 60 percent of the regular meeting of another club or of a provisional club;or (2) attends a regular meeting of a Rotaract or Interact club or Rotary Community Corps or of a provisional Rotaract or Interact club or Rotary Community Corps; or(3) attends a convention of RI, a council on legislation, an international assembly, a Rotary institute for past and present officers of RI, a Rotary institute for past, present, and incoming officers of RI, or any other meeting convened with the approval of the board of directors of RI or the president of RI acting on behalf of the board of directors of RI, a Rotary multizone conference, a meeting of a committee of RI, a Rotary district conference, a Rotary district assembly, any district meeting held by direction of the board of directors of RI, any district committee meeting held by direction of the district governor, or a regularly announced intercity meeting of Rotary clubs; or(4) is present at the usual time and place of a regular meeting of another club for the purpose of attending such meeting, but that club is not meeting at that time or place; or(5) attends and participates in a club service project or a club-sponsored community event or meeting authorized by the board; or (6) attends a board meeting or, if authorized by the board, a meeting of a service committee to which the member is assigned. When a member is outside the member’s country of residence for more than fourteen (14) days, the time restriction shall not be imposed so that the member may attend meetings in another country at any time during the travel period, and each such attendance shall count as a valid make-up for any regular meeting missed during the member’s time abroad.
(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 DG 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. c.) Extended Absence on Outposted Assignment. If the member, while working within the member’s own country of residence for an extended period on an outposted assignment and with the mutual agreement of the member’s club and a designated club, attends meetings of the designated club. Section 2 - Excused Absences. A member’s absence shall be excused if:
Section 3 - RI Officers’ Absences. A member’s absence shall be excused if the member is a current officer of RI. Section 4 - Attendance Records. Any member whose absences are excused under the provisions of subsection (b) of section 2 of this article shall not be included in the membership figure used to compute this club’s attendance nor shall such absences or attendances be used for that purpose.
Article IX Directors and Officers 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 XI, section 6, may either appeal to the club 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. Article X Admission Fees and Dues 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 VI, section 4 shall not be required to pay a second admission fee.
Article XI Duration of Membership 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 is still active in the same classification and continues to meet all other 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 remains active in the same classification and continues to meet all other conditions of club membership; and (3) a member whose classification is lost without default of the member may retain such classification and be granted a special leave of absence not to exceed one (1) year to enable the member to obtain new employment in the current or a new classification. Such member must continue to meet all other conditions of club membership. Termination of membership would take effect only at the end of the period of leave granted to the member.
Section 3 - Termination - Non-payment of Dues.
Section 4 - Termination - Non-attendance.
(1) attend or make up at least 60 percent of club
regular meetings in each half of the year;
Section 5 - Termination - Other Causes.
Section 6 - Right to Appeal 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.
Article XII Community, National, and International Affairs 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. Article XIII Rotary Magazines 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.
Article XIV Acceptance of Object and Compliance with Constitution & Bylaws 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.
Article XV Arbitration 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 be
settled, upon a request to the secretary by any of the disputants, by
arbitration. The procedure utilized for such arbitration shall be as
provided in article XI, section 6, subsections (c) and (e). Article XVI Bylaws 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. Article XVII Interpretation Throughout this constitution, the terminology mail,
mailing, and ballot-by-mail will include utilization of electronic mail
(e-mail) and internet technology to reduce costs and increase
responsiveness. Article XVIII Amendments 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 II and Article III. Article II (Name) and Article III (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 a majority of members present and voting, provided that notice of such proposed amendment shall have been emailed, mailed or made available to each voting 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.
May 2002 |
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
