[D9640general] [eFlash_Rotary] Digest Number 695

[Garry & Anne Krischock]

 Messages 
  1. 1348: RI Board Highlights - June and July Meetings 
 Wed Aug 22, 2007 4:41 am (PST) 
Highlights of Actions Taken by the Board of Directors of Rotary 
International

June and July 2007 Board Meetings
The fourth and final meeting of the 2006-07 RI Board of Directors was 
held on 7-13 June 2007 in Evanston, Illinois, USA. The first meeting 
of the 2007-08 RI Board was held on 21 June 2007 in Salt Lake City, 
Utah, USA. At these meetings the Board reviewed reports from 15 
committees and recorded 128 decisions.

June 2007 Board Meeting Highlights
CLUB AND DISTRICT MATTERS
The 2007 Council on Legislation referred numerous resolutions to the 
Board for study. In response, the Board:

Advises that a new pilot project beginning 1 July 2007 through 30 
June 2013 will gather more information on how Rotary club meeting 
frequency impacts clubs. 
Encourages clubs to welcome Rotary Foundation alumni as guests at 
their meetings, particularly alumni who have recently moved to the 
locality of the club. 
Agrees to devise a more equitable zone alignment throughout the 
Rotary world. 
Reaffirms its long-standing encouragement to clubs to support 
international understanding and peace, and recognizes the efforts of 
clubs that support Model United Nations programs to instill these 
values in youth. 
Advises that Rotary's membership database will be upgraded during 
2007-08 to allow "read-only" access for Rotarians using the Members 
Access Portal. This upgrade will include a review of the feasibility 
of expanding access to allow Rotarians to update their own membership 
records, among other "self-service" functions. 
Requests the general secretary to examine RI's current translation 
policy, to include a recommendation regarding the minimum number of 
Rotarians who speak a particular language to qualify that language as 
an officially recognized RI language. 
Does not agree to dedicate certain months to particular causes. 
A few Council resolutions were deferred to the Board's November 2007 
meeting, others were referred to the Foundation Trustees. Responses 
to all resolutions will be provided to the proposers in a timely 
manner.

The Board adopted a code of ethics for district governors. Some key 
points of the code provide that governors will adhere to all 
applicable laws in the conduct of Rotary business and in their 
private lives, and they will carry out their work with due diligence 
and care; governors serve for the benefit of Rotarians and will not 
use the office for personal prestige or benefit; governors will take 
actions based on an essential fairness to all concerned; and 
governors will promote transparency and prohibit the disclosure of 
confidential information. All governors-nominee must read and agree 
to the code of ethics at the time of their selection.

The Board established responsibilities for governors-nominee that 
will be shown in an appendix to the June Board meeting minutes and 
posted on the RI Web site. The Board also agreed that the governor's 
allocation shall include reimbursement of business card and 
stationery expenses while serving as governor-nominee. 

The Board opened Kiribati, an island republic in the Western Pacific, 
for extension of Rotary clubs. Kiribati will be part of District 
9920. The Board also took action to regroup clubs in seven districts 
in Argentina into five new districts, effective 1 July 2008.

RI ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCES
The RI Strategic Planning Committee met twice since the February 2007 
Board meeting to further develop RI's Strategic Plan. Based upon its 
recommendations, the Board adopted priorities and goals for the next 
three years, approved "core values" as part of the strategic plan, 
and approved a mission and vision statement for Rotary International 
as follows:

The mission of Rotary International, a worldwide association of 
Rotary clubs, is to provide service to others, to promote high 
ethical standards, and to advance world understanding, goodwill, and 
peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community 
leaders.

The vision of Rotary International is to be universally recognized 
for its commitment to "Service Above Self" to advance world 
understanding, goodwill, and peace.

Approved components of the RI Strategic Plan were presented to the 
2007 International Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, and will 
be discussed at the 2007-08 Rotary institutes.

The Board designated the conveners, dates, and meeting places for RI 
director nominating committees that will meet in September 2007 to 
select directors-nominee for election at the 2008 RI (Los Angeles) 
Convention. Directors will be selected from zones 1, 6, 9, 14, 19, 
23, 27, and 29.

The Board revised its policy regarding cooperative relationships with 
other organizations, which will be shown in an appendix to the June 
2007 Board meeting minutes and posted on the RI Web site. It also 
revised the minimum requirements for any memorandum of understanding 
with another organization.

The Board extended its relationship with external auditors Deloitte 
and Touche through 2009-10.

The governor's allocation policy was amended to require documentation 
on the initial 70% allocation advance, or the return of unused funds 
to RI, no later than 30 September following the governors year of 
service. Training on this policy will be provided at future 
international assemblies.

RI PROGRAMS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND AWARDS
The Board requested future RI presidents-elect to include information 
on Rotaract at the International Assembly, and recommended that 
future Rotary institute conveners give emphasis to Rotaract in their 
programs and allocate booth space at their institutes for Rotaract.

The Board waived its Youth Exchange certification requirements for 
districts that may wish to send Youth Exchange students without 
serving as hosts. For those multi-country districts where not all 
countries wish to participate in Youth Exchange, the non-
participating countries need not be certified. The Board commended 
Youth Exchange leadership throughout the world for their cooperation 
and acceptance of the new certification policies.

INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS
To encourage their attendance at the 2008 RI (Los Angeles) Convention 
and alumni reunion, the Board set a significantly lower registration 
fee for recent Foundation alumni and current TRF awardees.

Expressing concern that all necessary contracts and other related 
matters for the 2009 convention were not yet in place, the Board 
rescinded its decision to hold the convention in Seoul, Korea, and 
tentatively selected Birmingham, England as the site for the 2009 RI 
Convention.

The Board approved significant revisions to the site selection 
procedures for future RI conventions.

July 2007 Board Meeting Highlights
The Board welcomed the appointment of Michael K. McGovern as 2007-08 
RI vice-president, Ian H.S. Riseley as 2007-08 treasurer, and elected 
Örsçelik Balkan as chair of its executive committee.

The Board formally ratified President Wilkinson's appointment of 
David D. Morgan, Louis Piconi, José Antonio Salazar-Cruz, and Carl-
Wilhelm Stenhammar as Rotary Foundation trustees.

On recommendation of President Wilkinson, the Board established the 
2007-08 RI committees and resource groups, and approved their terms 
of reference.

The Board agreed that zones 3, 8, 10, 12, 16, 26, 31, and 34 shall 
select committees in 2007-08 to nominate RI directors for election at 
the 2009 RI convention.

The Board confirmed the 2007-08 RI budget with revenues of US$83.3 
million and expenses of US$82.9 million.

The Board approved The Rotary Foundation's 2007-08 budget of US$86.3 
million for all Foundation programs, with expenditures coming from 
unrestricted Annual Programs Fund contributions.

Source:Rotary International
Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary
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