RSR Bylaws - approved July 27, 2022

 

1. Board:     The Board of Directors of this club. 
2. Director:  A member of this club's Board of Directors. 
3. Member:  A member, other than an honorary member, of this club. 

4. Quorum: The minimum number of participants who must be present when a vote is taken: 1/3 of the club’s members for club decisions and a majority of the   

                   directors of the club for board decisions.
5. RI:           Rotary International. 
6. Year:       The twelve-month period that begins on 1 July. 

 

The governing body of this club shall be the board consisting of up to 14 members of this club, 2 directors at-large elected in accordance with article 3, section 1, of these bylaws, and the president, vice-president, president-elect (or president-nominee, if no successor has been elected), secretary, treasurer, and the immediate past president. Standing committee members in accordance with article 8 of these bylaws shall be directors of the board.   

 

Section 1 – One month before elections, members nominate candidates for president, 

vice president, secretary, treasurer, and any open director positions for a total of up to 12. The nominations may be presented by a nominating committee, by members from the floor, or both. 

 

The officers and directors, so elected, together with the immediate past president shall constitute the board. The candidate who receives a majority of the votes for each office is declared elected to that office.  

 

Section 3 – A vacancy in the board or any office shall be filled by action of the remaining directors. 

 

Section 4 – A vacancy in the position of any officer-elect or director-elect shall be filled by action of the remaining directors-elect.

 

Section 5 – The terms of office for each role are:

     President – one year

President –elect – one year

Vice Present – one year

Treasurer – 

Secretary – 

Director - 

Sergeant-at-arms -

 

Section 1 – President. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at meetings of the club and the board and to perform other duties as ordinarily pertains to the office of president. 

 

Section 2 – President-elect. It shall be the duty of the president-elect to preside at the board in the absence of the president, as well as to serve as a director, prepare for his or her term of office and to perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the president or the board. Such duties should include, but not be limited to, facilitating and staffing local fundraisers as long as those events are relevant to the club.

 

     It shall be the primary responsibility of the president-elect to provide the necessary leadership to prepare a recommendation for club committees, mandates, goals and plans for presentation to the board in advance of the term of office. This includes preparation of the president-elect’s budget for the term of office.

 

Section 3 – Vice-President. It shall be the duty of the vice-president to perform other duties as ordinarily pertains to the office of vice-president. Such duties should include, but not be limited to, facilitating and staffing a major fundraiser for the club.

 

Section 4 – Secretary. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep membership records; record attendance at meetings; send out notices of club, board and committee meetings; record and preserve the minutes of such meetings; report as required to RI, including the semiannual reports of membership on 1 January and 1 July of each year, and prorated reports on 1 October and 1 April of each active member who has been elected to membership in the club since the start of the July or January semiannual reporting period, report changes in membership; provide the monthly attendance report, which shall be made to the district governor within 15 days of the last meeting of the month; collect and remit RI official magazine subscriptions; and perform other duties as usually pertain to the office of secretary.

 

Section 5 – Treasurer. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to work with the hired CPA so long as we have one, to maintain and have custody of all funds, accounting for it to the club annually and at any other time upon demand by the board, and to perform other duties as pertains to the office of treasurer. Upon retirement from office, the treasurer shall turn over to the incoming treasurer or to the president all funds, books of accounts, or any other club property.

 

Section 6 – Sergeant-at-Arms. The duties of the sergeant-at-arms to maintain order in club meetings and shall generally be the supervision of attendance and the collection of fees at meetings and other duties as may be prescribed by the president or the board.

 

Section 7 – Immediate past president serves as a director on the club board.

 

Section 8 – A director attends club and board meetings.

 

Section 1 – Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of this club shall be held no later than December 31, at which time the election of officers and directors to serve for the ensuing year shall take place.   

 

Section 2 – The regular bi-monthly meetings of this club shall be held on Thursdays.  Due notice of any changes in or canceling of the regular meeting shall be given to all members of the club. All members excepting an honorary member (or member excused pursuant to article 8, sections 3 and 4 of the standard Rotary club constitution), must be counted as present or absent, and attendance must be evidenced by the member’s being present.

 

Section 3 – Required Attendance in a Fiscal Year. Attendance is required for regular and associate members. Honorary and excused members are exempt.

 

Section 4 – Regular meetings of the board shall be held each month.  Special meetings of the board shall be called by the president, whenever deemed necessary, or upon the request of two (2) directors, due notice having been given.

 

 

Section 1 – The admission fee shall be $100.00 to be paid for the applicant to qualify as a member. The $100.00 application fee shall be waived by a simple majority vote of the board of directors for active Rotarians who are in good standing with their current Rotary club.

 

Section 2 – The membership dues shall be $150 payable annually or semiannually on the first day of July and the first day of January, with the understanding that a portion of each payment shall be applied to each member’s subscription to the RI official magazine. 

 

     Members pay an annual fine of $20 for birthdays and anniversaries.

 

    Associate members pay $75 annually with a two year limit in this membership category. An associate is a first time Rotarian. 

 

The business of this club shall be transacted by voice vote or show of hands except the election of officers and directors, which shall be by ballot if there is more than one candidate for a position. The Board may determine that a specific resolution be considered by ballot rather than by voice vote.  

 

Club committees coordinate their efforts to achieve the club’s annual and long-range goals. The president-elect, president and immediate past president should work together to ensure continuity of leadership and succession planning. When feasible, committee members should be appointed to the same committee for two years to ensure consistency. The president-elect is responsible for appointing committee members to fill vacancies, appointing committee chairs and conducting planning meetings prior to the start of the year in office.  It is recommended that the chair have previous experience as a member of the committee.  Standing committees should be appointed as follows: 
 

·       Membership Committee

Membership and Attendance, this committee should develop and implement a comprehensive plan for the recruitment and retention of members. This committee shall also develop and implement plans for vocational tours or talks as well as schedule and coordinate fellowship activities and events.

 

·       Fundraising Committee

This committee shall develop and manage a major fundraiser for the club. 

 

·       Club Administration Committee

Club Service and Public Relations, this committee should develop and implement plans to provide the public with information about Rotary and to promote the club’s service projects and activities. This committee shall also be in charge of the weekly programs and newsletters
 

·       Youth Services Committee
This committee should conduct activities associated with the club’s service projects that relate to youth activities and support  
 

·       Service Projects Committee
This committee should develop and implement educational, humanitarian and community service projects that address the needs of its community. 
 

·       The Rotary Foundation and International Service Committees
This committee should develop and implement plans to support The Rotary Foundation through financial contributions, program participation and international service.

 

Additional ad hoc committees may be appointed as needed. 

 

(a) The president shall be ex officio a member of all committees and, as such, shall have all the privileges of membership. 

 (b) Each chair shall be responsible for regular meetings and activities of the committee, shall supervise and coordinate the work of the committee and shall report to the Board on all committee activities.

 

The duties of all committees shall be established and reviewed by the president for his or her year. In declaring the duties of each, the president shall make reference to appropriate RI materials. 

 

Each committee shall have a specific mandate, clearly defined goals, and action plans established by the beginning of each year for implementation during the course of the year. 

 

Upon written application to the board, setting forth good and sufficient cause, leave of absence may be granted excusing a member from attending the meetings of the club for a specified length of time.

 

the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Reno South may terminate membership for good cause in accordance with Section 5 of the Rotary International Standard Club Constitution, which states in Section 5 – Termination – Other Causes. “(a) Good Cause. The Board may terminate the membership of any member who ceases to have the qualifications for club membership or for any good cause by a vote of at least two-thirds of the board members present and voting, at a meeting called for that purpose.

 

Section 1 – Prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, the board shall adopt a budget of estimated income and expenditures for the year, which shall stand as the limit of expenditures for these purposes, unless otherwise ordered by action of the board as recommended by the president-elect.

 

Section 2 – The treasurer shall deposit all club funds in a bank, named by the board. The club funds shall be divided into two separate parts: club operations and service projects. 

 

Section 3 – All bills shall be paid by the treasurer or other authorized member only when approved by two other officers or directors.

 

Section 4 – A thorough review of all financial transactions by a qualified person shall be made once each year.

 

Section 5 – The fiscal year of this club shall extend from 1 July to 30 June, and for the collection of members' dues shall be divided into two (2) semiannual periods extending from 1 July to 31 December, and from 1 January to 30 June.  

 

 

Section 1 – The name of a prospective member, proposed by an active member of the Club, shall be submitted to the Membership Committee.  This Proposal shall be kept confidential, except as otherwise provided in this Procedure.

 

Section 2 – The Membership Committee shall meet with the proposed member to inform him/her of the purposes of Rotary, privileges and responsibilities of membership, and financial and attendance obligations associated with membership in the Club.

 

Section 3 – The Membership Committee shall determine the appropriate Classification and shall ensure that the proposed member meets all the membership requirements of the standard Rotary Club and Constitution.

 

Section 4 – If after meeting with the proposed member, the Membership Committee feels that this person meets all the requirements and is a “good fit” for the Club, the proposed member shall be asked to fill out an Application and the name of the proposed member shall be published in the Newsletter for two consecutive weeks, after receipt of the Application.  If the Membership Committee feels that this proposed member is a not a “good fit” for this Club, the Committee shall request a discussion with the Board before an Application is offered and before the name is published.  If the Board “approves” the proposed member, an Application will be forwarded and publication will ensue upon receipt of the Application.  If the Board does not “approve” the proposed member, he/she shall immediately be informed that the Club does not see this as a “good fit”.

 

Section 5 – If no Objections have been received up to seven (7) days after the Second Publication, then between seven (7) and (14) days after the Second Publication, the Membership Committee shall present this person’s Application to the Board for a formal vote.  The Application must be approved by at least 75% of the Board.  Email votes are acceptable.

 

Section 6 – If an Objection is presented it must be in writing and the member providing the Objection must meet with the Board at its next meeting.  At the end of the Publication period, the Board shall vote on the proposed member.  The Application must be approved by at least 75% of the Board.

 

Section 7 – After election by the Board, the proposed member shall be considered elected to membership, pending payment of current dues and any other financial obligations.

 

Section 8 – Following this election, the President/Secretary shall arrange for the new member’s induction, membership card/pin, and Rotary new member Packet.  The new member shall be informed that payment of dues, etc. shall occur before or at the Induction meeting.

 

In addition, the President/Secretary shall report the new member information to RI.

 

Section 9 – As part of this Induction process, the new member shall be given a Red Badge and a list of requirements to complete in order to receive ones official Blue Badge.

 

Section 10 – The Club may elect, in accordance with the standard Rotary club constitution, honorary members proposed by the Board.

 

The club shall not consider any resolution or motion to commit the club on any matter until the board has considered it.  Such resolutions or motions, if offered at a club meeting, shall be referred to the board without discussion

 

Each regular meeting should include:

 

Meeting called to order.

Pledge

Thought of the Day

4 Way Test

Introduction of visitors.

Correspondence, announcements and Rotary Information.

Committee reports if any.

Any unfinished business.

Any new business.

Address or other program features.

Adjournment.

 

These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting, a quorum being present, by a two-thirds vote of all members present, provided that notice of such proposed amendment shall have been mailed to each member at least ten (10) days before such meeting. No amendment or addition to these bylaws can be made which is not in harmony with the standard Rotary club constitution and with the constitution and bylaws of RI.