Its always instructive to learn more about the way Rotary International operates. You can imagine the challenge of 33,000 clubs in over 200 countries! Every three years Rotary International’s Council on Legislation meets to debate and vote on legislation submitted by clubs, districts, the RI Board, and the general council or conference of RIBI.  The Council has the authority to amend RI’s constitutional documents, as well as adopt resolutions.  Every district sends one representative to the Council, and every club and district may propose legislation. The next council will meet in Chicago in April 2016. We bring this up now because proposals for legistative changes or ammendments are due no later than Dec 31, 2014. 
 
 
 
The last Council in 2013 considered 173 pieces of proposed legislation and approved 53 of them. Among those approved were:
  • Ammendments to the Standard Rotary Club Constutition
  • Provision for satellite clubs and e-clubs
  • The Fifth Avenue of Service changed from New Generations to Youth Service
Perhaps one of the most significant changes came at the Council in 1989 when the Constitution was ammended to admit women to membership!