Attached is my summary of my October 2019 voting as a Delegate to Council of Resolutions. This report should be made available to our members in whatever method you believe is appropriate.Art Zeitler, COR and COL District 5930 Delegate
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Report to District Membership
As our District 5930’s delegate to Rotary International’s Council of Resolutions and Legislation, I voted online on October 16, 2019 on the 33 Resolutions submitted to the Council for 2019.
A. I voted in favor on the following:
1. Request the Rotary International Board to consider recommending that clubs a form Strategy Committees.
2. Request the Rotary International Board amend the Recommended Club Bylaws to clarify procedures related to confidentiality of membership applications until approved by the Club’s Board and requiring all resolutions requesting Club action to first be submitted to the Club’s Board.
3. Request the Rotary International Board to consider recommending guidelines for operation of Rotaract Clubs.
4. Request the Rotary International Board to consider informing Rotarians about the progress of Rotary International’s tax status change.
5. To request the Rotary Foundation Trustees to allow modifications to the original approved Global Grant budget of subsequent budget changes to streamline reporting requirements.
6. To request the Rotary Foundation Trustees to consider including environmental justice as the 7th criteria in the definition of sustainability.
7. To request the Rotary International Board to consider piloting a first year dues reduction for new members.
8. To request the Rotary International Board to consider delaying (by 15 days) the semiannual dues invoice dates.
B. As to Resolutions that I declined to support:
1. There were a number of other Resolutions. A number of them involved creating more concepts such as a Rotary oath, and emphasizing certain matters which seemed to be of local interest but should not be applied worldwide.
2. There were also a number of issues that appear to arise from disputes and administration matters unique to India, which should also not be adopted worldwide.
3. There were also various Resolutions that attempted to prioritize various Rotary concepts such as Vocational Service or a particular disease that were basically efforts to push a specific District’s personal priority.
4. There was a proposal to add “elderly and aging” as a 7th Area of Focus, but there is already an Area of Focus that covers medical services for all including the elderly.
5. I seriously considered voting to consider “arts and cultural grants” as a 7th Area of Focus, but considering the other priority needs and a possibility of funds maxing out, I did not vote for it.
6. There was a proposal to remove hydrogeological surveys as a requirement for ground water projects, but that would really impact potential sustainability in a lot of water projects.
7. There was also a proposal to create a 7th Area of Focus for “electricity supply projects” but those projects are very expensive and such projects on a more limited basis are allowed under Community Development if they will actually provide training or specific economic development.
Results will be made available later this year and then we will see how the Rotary International Board and Rotary Foundation Trustees respond to Resolutions that are adopted. Unlike COL actions, the Resolutions are not mandatory (only requests representing significant support).
Submitted,
Art Zeitler, COR and COL District 5930 Delegate