ROTARY CLUB OF BELLINGHAM

Membership and Classification

Every Rotarian has the right and duty to seek qualified members.  In this way, all members can help our club achieve full representation of the business and professional life of the community.

Rotary was founded on the principle that leaders from various vocations best representing the business community form a club.  The diversity of self-reliant personalities is an essential basis of a dynamic and interesting club. 

Rotary membership is by invitation.  When considering people for membership, emphasis should be on quality. Quality members will be those who are open-minded, honest, generous with leadership qualities, who are prepared to share their professional knowledge and abilities with others, and who wish to belong to Rotary in order to serve others.  Membership development is first and foremost a search for the right people and not for people with the right classification. 

Classification and Membership Committee

Committee Composition – The Classification and Membership Committee will be composed of seven members, including the chairperson, all appointed by the President. 

Committee Member Terms – Members serve a maximum of three years, with staggered terms, so that one-third of the members is replaced each year.  Having holdover members will provide continuity and familiarity with the processes. 

Chairperson – The chairperson should have served as a member of the committee for at least one year before being named chairperson.  If none of the existing members wishes to be appointed chairperson, a member who has had experience on the committee will be appointed.

Responsibilities – In addition to the responsibilities outlined below, the Classification and Membership Committee will:

1.      At least annually at a club assembly, review the membership process for all members.

2.      Make information regarding the RI and RCOB websites available to all members wishing to propose someone for membership. 

Membership Types and Qualifications

There are two kinds of membership, namely:  Active and Honorary. 

1.      Active Membership

A person possessing the qualifications set forth in Article V, Section 2 of the RI constitution may be elected to active membership in this club.  Those qualifications are:

a.       A club shall be composed of active members who are adult persons of good character and good business and professional reputation:

(1)   Engaged as a proprietor, partner, corporate officer, or manager of any worthy and recognized business or profession, OR

(2)   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

(3)   Having retired from any position listed in 1 or 2 above.

And

Having their places of business or residence located in the locality of the club or the surrounding area. 

b.      Each club shall have a well-balanced membership in which no one business or profession predominates. 

The 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% of the club's active membership.  Single institutions or organizations will not be represented by more than five percent (5%) of the Club’s Members and broad categories of classifications (e.g. “Law”) will not be represented by over 10% of the membership.  Members who are retired shall not be included in the total number of members from a classification.

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 above limitations.  If a member changes classification, the club may continue the member's membership under the new classification notwithstanding these limitations.

c.       In addition, all candidates:

(1)   Must demonstrate high standards of past conduct.

(2)   Must not be a member of another service club (including another Rotary Club). 

(3)   Should have lived, or have their place of employment, within the territorial limits of the Club for a period of time sufficient to demonstrate active involvement in the community.

NOTE – Holders of public office:  Persons elected or appointed to public office for a specified time are not eligible for active membership 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.

2.      Honorary Membership – Eligibility and Rights and Privileges

a.       Eligibility – Persons who have distinguished themselves by meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals and those persons considered friends of Rotary for their permanent support of Rotary’s cause may be elected to honorary membership in this club.  The term of such membership shall be as determined by the Board.  Persons may hold honorary membership in more than one club.

b.      Rights and privileges – Honorary members shall be exempt from the payment of admission fees and dues, shall have no vote, and shall not be eligible to hold any office in this club.  Such members shall not hold classifications, but shall be entitled to attend all meetings and enjoy all the other privileges of this club.  No honorary member of this club is entitled to any rights and privileges in any other club, except for the right to visit other clubs without being the guest of a Rotarian.

NOTE:  Honorary membership is the highest distinction that a club may bestow and should be conferred only in exceptional cases.  Active members in good standing may submit proposals for honorary membership in writing to the Executive Secretary who will forward the proposal to the Board for consideration and action.

Membership Proposal and Approval Process

The proceedings and deliberations of the Classification and Membership Committee shall be held in strict confidence.  The Committee members and other club members must be permitted to engage in frank discussions about potential members because such discussions are important to RCOB’s continuing success.  The Committee requires its members, as well as others participating in the process, to keep the nature and substance of its deliberations in confidence.

The membership proposal and approval process for active membership follows:

1.      Proposing a candidate for membership

a.       A minimum of two active members in good standing is required to propose a new member.  At least one of the proposing members shall have been a member of the RCOB for a minimum of two years. This period allows the members to become familiar with Rotary objectives, RCOB procedures and culture and to have experience on committees.

b.      Members wanting to propose a candidate for membership will:

(1)   First, meet with the Chairperson of the Classification and Membership Committee BEFORE a proposed member is contacted.  This will insure the proposers understand the membership process.  Also, the chairperson can review (i) the candidate’s status and role within his/her organization or company to determine whether he/she meets RCOB’s requirements; (ii) the club’s overall demographics to insure that the club remains well balanced per RCOB and RI guidelines; (iii) the candidate’s lack of membership in another service organization.

(2)   Then, bring the prospective new member to at least three RCOB meetings and introduce the individual to the club membership as a guest, not as a prospective member.

c.       Following completion of the above, if proposers decide to formally propose a candidate, the proposers first need to convey to their candidate the attendance requirements, time commitments and minimum financial obligations to the club and RI.  While the right person vs. the right classification is important, ultimately the candidate’s ability to meet the initiation fee, dues, charity assessment and miscellaneous expenses is an important consideration before accepting membership in the club; and most importantly the candidate’s understanding that the object of Rotary is to serve – the club, the community, and the world at large.

d.      If the candidate understands the membership obligations and is willing to commit to the service, attendance, time and minimum financial obligations and if the proposers wish to continue the process to propose the candidate for membership, the proposers will formally propose the candidate using the regular proposal form in use at the time.  Proposal forms must be signed by both proposers, and the candidate who, by signing the application, acknowledges and authorizes discussions about his or her suitability for membership.  Also, the candidate’s signature authorizes the club to publish the candidate’s name in The Tattler in the event the C&M Committee recommends the candidate to the board of directors for membership.  The completed application will be submitted, in confidence, to the Executive Secretary, who shall deliver the form to the chairperson of the C&M Committee.

e.       Proposers of a new member should monitor the status of their proposal.  They may check the progress with the club’s Executive Secretary who maintains a checklist on each nominee. 

2.      Classification and Membership Committee Responsibilities

a.       After the proposers formally propose the candidate, using the club’s member proposal form, the committee will review the proposal.

(1)   The committee members shall carefully consider the prospective member’s suitability for membership including his or her character, business and professional standing, and the qualifications stated in “Active Membership” above.

(2)   The Committee members will attempt to confirm information provided in the proposal form and may contact members within the same classification, or other members to provide information useful in its evaluation. 

(3)   The Committee chairperson may invite the proposers to appear at the Committee meeting to answer any questions that may arise.  The proposers should not contact individual Committee members during this process.  

(4)   The proposers may request to appear before the C&M Committee to support their candidate before the committee votes on the candidate. 

b.      The Committee members shall approve or reject a membership proposal through a majority vote. 

(1)   The Committee Chairperson shall forward any recommendation for membership to the Club President for action as outlined below.

(2)   The Committee Chairperson will inform the proposers of any negative decision through a simple letter announcing the Committee’s decision.

(3)   There is no appeal process from the Committee’s decision.

3.      Following committee approval

Membership proposals favorably passed upon by the committee shall be forwarded as follows:

a.       The recommendation for membership will be forwarded to the Board for action.  The Board shall consider and approve or disapprove the recommendation of the committee and shall then notify the proposers of its decision through the Executive Secretary.

b.      If the membership proposal is approved by the Board:

(1)   A representative of the committee and the proposers will meet with the proposed member to determine if he/she wishes to join and confirm the prospective member understands the privileges and responsibilities of Rotary. 

(2)   The name of the candidate, classification and occupation will be published in The Tattler. 

(3)   If there are no objections from the membership after two weeks following the publication date, the new member will be inducted.

4.      Review process, if written objection is received

a.       A member may object by communicating in writing directly to the president within the two weeks following publication of the candidate’s name in The Tattler.  The communication should simply state, “I object to (candidate’s name)” without stating any reasons.  It should be signed and sent directly to the president.

b.      The president will contact the objector to determine the reasons for the objection.  If the president concludes there is no merit to the objection then the objector will be informed and the candidate will be inducted.

c.       If the president determines the objection should be investigated, the president will refer the specifics of the objection to the C&M Committee for investigation.  The president shall not reveal the name of the objector to the committee unless the objector waives the right to confidentiality.

d.      The committee members will conduct an investigation of the objection and ultimately, but expeditiously, make a recommendation to the president on the candidate’s membership.  If the committee recommends approval of the candidate, it will go forward as though no objection(s) had been made.  If the committee recommends against membership, the president is informed by the C&M chairperson, and the president reports to the board with the C&M’s recommendation.  

e.       Board Action – At the next board meeting following completion of the review process, the Board may vote to accept or reject the C&M recommendation.  The Board’s decision is final.

The rules in section 2 of “Classification and Memberships Committee Responsibilities” above shall apply.

Adopted by the Board December 8, 2005