We have scheduled a vote for our Thursday, September 10, ZOOM meeting, on a proposed modification of our Club Bylaws.

Specifically, the Board of Directors is unanimously endorsing a change to “Article 6: Fees & Dues.” 

The intent is to change the dues payment deadline from June 30 to June 1 and, for those who pay in two installments, from December 31 to December 1. Non-payment by the deadline(s) would result in being taken off the club rolls.

Here is the logic behind the proposed change. 

Rotary requires each Club to pay a fee for every member on the roster as of June 30 and December 31 no matter whether they have paid their local dues. We have been experiencing two situations that have unnecessarily cost our club money that should have gone toward supporting our community service projects: (1.) People who are seriously tardy in delaying payment, thus forcing the Club to put up money to cover their Rotary fee, and (2.) people who drop out but don’t bother informing us wind up wasting Club money without reimbursement. 

By changing the timing of payments, we will gain a firm handle on paid-up status and on precisely who remains part of the club roster.

The current Bylaws language reads:

Article 6: Fees and Dues

“Club annual dues will be based on dues levels set by Rotary International and District 7190 plus a Club membership fee of $20 above RI and District dues for first-year members and $30 above RI and District dues for all members after their first year. A $5 deduction from each member’s dues will become an annual contribution to the Rotary Foundation. All club fees are subject to modification by subsequent votes of the membership. Fees are payable annually no later than the last day of June, or semiannually no later than the last day of June and no later than the last day of December. Per Rotary International regulations, a portion of each payment shall be applied to each member’s subscription to the RI official magazine.“

The proposed new language that would be inserted in place of the current Sentence 4 reads:

“Fees are payable annually no later than the first day of June, or semiannually no later than the first day of June and no later than the first day of December. All members who have not paid 100% of their dues for the upcoming Rotary Year by June 1 of each year, or 50% installments by June 1 and December 1, will be deemed to have resigned from membership.”

Please mark your calendar for the September 10 vote and plan to participate in the vote, no doubt via ZOOM.