Club Constitution

Section 1Period. Membership shall continue during the existence of this club unless terminated as provided below.

Section 2Automatic Termination.

  1. Exceptions. Membership shall automatically terminate when a member no longer meets the membership qualifications, except that when a member moves from the locality of this club or the surrounding area, but continues to meet all conditions of club membership, the board may:
    (1) allow a member to remain in this club; or
    (2) grant a special leave of absence, not to exceed one year, to enable the member to visit and become known to a club in the new community.
  2. Rejoining. When a member in good standing has their membership terminated as described in subsection (a), that person may apply for membership again, under the same or another business, profession, occupation, community service, or other classification.
  3. Termination of Honorary Membership. Honorary membership shall automatically terminate at the end of the term of membership set by the board, unless extended. The board may revoke an honorary membership at any time.

Section 3 Termination Non-payment of Dues.

  1. Process. Any member who fails to pay dues within 30 days after they are due shall be notified in writing by the secretary. If the dues are not paid within 10 days after the notification, the board may terminate membership, at its discretion.
  2. Reinstatement. The board may reinstate the former member to membership if the former member requests and pays all debts to this club.

Section 4Termination Non-attendance.

  1. Attendance Percentages. A member must:
    (1) attend or make up at least 50 percent of regular club meetings or satellite club meetings; engage in club projects, events, and other activities for at least 12 hours in each half of the year; or achieve a proportionate combination of both; and
    (2) attend at least 30 percent of this club’s regular meetings or satellite club meetings or engage in club projects, events, and other activities in each half of the year (assistant governors, as defined by the RI board of directors, shall be excused from this requirement).
    A member who fails to attend as required may be terminated unless the board consents to the non-attendance for good cause.
  2. Consecutive Absences. Non-attendance may be considered a request to terminate membership in this club, if a member fails to attend or make up four consecutive regular meetings, unless otherwise excused by the board for good and sufficient reason or pursuant to article 10, sections 4 or 5. After the board notifies the member, the board, by a majority vote, may terminate the member’s membership.
  3. Exceptions. The bylaws may include provisions not in accordance with article 13, section 4.

Section 5Termination — Other Causes.

  1. Good Cause. The board may terminate the membership of any member who ceases to have the qualifications for club membership or for any good cause by a vote of at least two-thirds of the board members present and voting, at a meeting called for that purpose. The guiding principles for this meeting shall be article 8, section 1; The Four-Way Test; and the high ethical standards of a Rotarian.
  2. Notice. Before the board acts under subsection (a) of this section, the member shall be given at least 10 days’ written notice and an opportunity to respond in writing to the board. Notice shall be delivered in person or by registered letter to the member’s last known address. The member has the right to appear before the board to state his or her case.

Section 6Right to Appeal, Mediate, or Arbitrate Termination.

  1. Notice. Within seven days after the board’s decision to terminate or suspend membership, the secretary shall notify the member in writing. Within 14 days after the notice, the member may give written notice to the secretary of an appeal to the club or a request for mediation or arbitration. The procedure for mediation or arbitration is provided in article 17.
  2. Appeal. In the event of an appeal, the board shall set a date for the hearing at a regular club meeting held within 21 days after receipt of the notice of appeal. At least five days’ written notice of the meeting and its special business shall be given to every member. Only members shall be present when the appeal is heard. The action of the club is final and binding on all parties and shall not be subject to arbitration.

Section 7Board Action Final. Board action shall be final if no appeal to this club is taken and no arbitration is requested.

Section 8 Resignation. A member’s resignation from this club shall be in writing, addressed to the president or secretary. The board shall accept the resignation unless the member owes debt to this club.

Section 9Forfeiture of Property Interest. Any person whose club membership is terminated in any manner shall forfeit all interest in any funds or other property of this club if, under local laws, the member acquired any right to them upon joining the club.

Section 10Temporary Suspension. Notwithstanding any provision of this constitution, if in the opinion of the board

  1. credible accusations are made that a member has refused or neglected to comply with this constitution, or is guilty of conduct unbecoming a member or harmful to the club; and
  2. those accusations, if proved, constitute good cause for terminating the membership of the member; and
  3. no action should be taken on the membership of the member, pending the outcome of a matter or an event that the board believes should properly occur first; and
  4. it is in the best interests of the club to temporarily suspend the member without a vote on the member’s membership and to exclude the member from attendance at meetings and other club activities and from any club office or position;

the board may, by at least a two-thirds vote, temporarily suspend the member for a reasonable period up to 90 days and with any other conditions the board sets. A suspended member may appeal the suspension or may request mediation or arbitration as provided in section 6 of this article. During the suspension, the member shall be excused from attendance requirements. Before the suspension ends, the board must either move to terminate the suspended Rotarian or reinstate the Rotarian to full regular status.