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Progress in Getting the Legals Right

More than 100 Rotary clubs have received their new Rules & Constitution for Incorporated Clubs (now called the Werribee Version) under a project initiated by District 9800 and reported in the December/January 2005 Rotary Down Under (It’s important to get the legals right).

These include clubs in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. Interest has also been expressed on a District basis from Western Australia and Queensland and by individual clubs from as far afield as the United States, Singapore and New Zealand.
Indeed, a copy of the solicitor’s PowerPoint presentation titled Who wants to sue Rotary? was recently requested by and sent to the Rotary Club of Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A. Interest has also come from other worldwide organisations with similar incorporation problems to Rotary.

The project has been so successful that Australia-wide Rules & Constitution for Incorporated Rotaract Clubs has now been prepared at the request of District 9800 Rotaractors.

This project has been strongly supported by District 9800 Past Governor Judy Nettleton who also supported the Rotary version. The resultant document is currently under consideration by R.I.’s lawyers in Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A. Just like the Rotary version, it complies with the laws of all eight Australian states and territories and with all R.I. requirements.

The additional security gained by incorporated Rotary and Rotaract clubs through the adoption of uniform and legally-effective rules is obvious.

Not only are the past mistakes and uncertainties removed, but any future difficulties will be shared and dealt with promptly, effectively and simultaneously on behalf of all user clubs.

Individual clubs are no longer left to their own devices in carrying out the endless task of making sure the defences of legal incorporation are intact and the members remain protected.

The District 9800 team of PDGs Ian Knight and Don Jago, PPs John Meehan (Central Melbourne Sunrise) and Gary Goldsmith (Camberwell) have worked with Ross Blair, Special Counsel – Future Law Team at McKean & Park to complete the Rotaract Rules & Constitution, to the same standard achieved by the Rotary document.

In the course of preparing and implementing both documents it has become obvious, and a matter of concern, that many clubs were relying on Rules which had never been approved by R.I. (as required) and which exposed the club and its members to risks, including the risk of legal liability, which incorporation is supposed to avoid.

Incorporation is an appropriate means for providing members with protection against individual liability, but only if that incorporation is properly implemented and maintained.

Interested members, clubs or Districts can visit the McKean & Park website www.mckeanpark.com.au where a special Rotary section has been posted or call Ross Blair on (03) 9670 8822 or email ross.blair@mckeanpark.com.au or Ian Knight, isknight@melbpc.org.au phone 03 9645 7742.
Ian Knight
Rotary Club of Werribee, Vic.
District 9900 Past Governor
Council on Legislation representative.

The real Rotary
In a world that dislikes rules, it may be useful to look at our own and see how they have changed to ensure the smooth operation of our organisation.

Our policies are found in the constitution and bylaws of Rotary International and Rotary clubs and in the Manual of Procedure. They are given to newly-inducted members by the most conscientious club presidents. These are the communication and training tools through which Rotary, that we all should respect, can evolve for the better.

It is important, especially now in a time when values are cast aside, if not ignored completely. This is a time when it is essential that Rotarians rediscover the spirit of Rotary, what I like to call the Real Rotary.

Paul Harris dedicated his life to upholding an ideal that benefited not only himself, but also many who were brought together by a need to be understood, supported and respected.

A simple rule should be that if we feel that relations with others are eroding or growing precarious, if we feel that values are being lost, our response should be to demonstrate the most exemplary conduct. That is the real Rotary.

There are two great challenges for our organisation; to strive to improve and to find the best way to expand Rotary. By that, I mean our ability to choose new members, train them, and keep current members informed. All the while bearing in mind the responsibility that comes with each of our choices.

What Rotary do we want? What do we want to promote? Service from an ill-defined multitude, or rather a service from individuals who, thanks to their culture and professional reach, can infuse it with value and efficiency.

It will take a profound understanding of Rotary’s policies to ensure safe and rational choices, capable of bolstering membership, installing value rather than producing more of the same.

It is best not to start theorising or spouting empty rhetoric, but rather, I have asked myself what are the problems of today’s clubs?

Do members have positive relationships with each other? Are there conflicts? If so, why? For what reason? Is there dissention? On what issues? Within or outside of the club?

Your tax deductible gift, in memory of a Rotarian called to higher service, to the Australian Rotary Foundation Trust, P.O. Box 1415, Parramatta, N.S.W., 2124, goes directly to the international humanitarian and educational programs of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

The bereaved family is notified by letter of every memorial gift. You will receive a thank you card, receipt and The Rotarian Foundation credits where they are appropriate.

Contact
Terry Davies
on (02) 9635 3537

We as Rotarians cannot ignore this. As Rotarians we must understand that every single member must be a leader. Because each member is a potential club president, governor, board member, vice-president or even a potential R.I. president.
In other words, a new member should have the professional capacity and leadership skills to have an influence on the complex operational framework that is Rotary.

We need members who are capable of nurturing our time-honoured beliefs, but always with an eye on the future.
We need young people. We need members of all kinds . . . men, women, young and older, who can be true leaders. Members capable of leading us to our shared objectives.

Capable leaders who accept the responsibilities not because they want to lead, but because they are asked to.
Members who propose new ideas. Members who can encourage regular attendance and promote active participation.
We must do whatever is necessary to make new members understand that Rotarians do not act in self-interest, but for others, both inside and outside the club. And that is the real value found within the Real Rotary.
Ron Geary
District 9470 Past Governor
Rotary Club of Belmont, W.A.

Positive action on membership
I read with interest and pleasure that the Rotary Club of Carindale, Qld., has five couples amongst its membership.
Many Rotary clubs throughout our zone have family members involved in the same club, one being Mont Albert & Surrey Hills in District 9810. The club presently has six couples as well as a mother and daughter in a membership of 28.