Highlights of actions taken by the RI Board of Directors
November 2008 Board Meeting Highlights
Board minutes - November 2008
The second meeting of the 2008-09 RI Board of Directors was held on 3–6 November 2008 in Evanston, Illinois, USA. At this meeting the Board reviewed reports from 15 committees and recorded 102 decisions.
Club and district matters
Noting the momentum gained from the 2007-08 and 2008-09 presidential membership conferences and the conferences’ important role in supporting the RI Strategic Plan, the Board reaffirmed its support for such conferences in the future.
The Board amended the RI statement on diversity to include the following statement:
A club that reflects its community with regard to professional and business classification, gender, age, religion, and ethnicity is a club with the key to its future.
In an effort to increase Rotary’s visibility on the Internet, the Board recommended that every Rotary club have some form of Internet presence, either through their own Web sites, on social networking sites, blogs, or other Web-related mediums.
The Board will not consider any modifications in the boundaries of any new district until three years following the promulgation and establishment of the boundaries of such district, unless there is shown to be a strong deleterious effect to Rotary in the region.
The Board encouraged governors to form intercountry committees between African countries and other Rotary countries outside the continent, and further encouraged governors to include information on Reach Out to Africa in their newsletters and Web sites.
RI administration and finances
The Board approved President-elect Kenny’s selection of four distinguished Rotarians to serve as Rotary Foundation Trustees to begin serving 1 July 2009. They are: Gustavo C. Gross, from the Rotary Club of El Rímac, Lima, Peru; Lynn A. Hammond, from the Rotary Club of Loveland, CO, USA; Ashok M. Mahajan, from the Rotary Club of Mulund Mah., India; and Wilfrid J. Wilkinson, from the Rotary Club of Trenton, ON, Canada.
The Board restored the investment earnings reserve to its maximum level. The reserve covers operating expenses during periods when investment earnings drop below budget. Additionally, the RI Finance Committee identified several cost-cutting measurers for consideration when preparing the budget for fiscal year 2009-10.
The Board accepted the audited statements and report on RI’s financial results for 2007-08. The results will be published in the annual report.
RI programs, communications, and awards
The Board agreed to continue RI’s cooperative relationships with the Dollywood Foundation, Goodwill Industries International, the International Reading Association, United Nations Population Fund, and the United States Agency for International Development.
The Board established roles and responsibilities for the district Rotary Fellowships chair. Their main role will be to encourage participation in Rotary Fellowships through presentations at club meetings and district conferences, and by publicizing fellowship events via district newsletters, Web sites, and other electronic communications.
The Board recognized the new Rotarian Action Group for Diabetes.
To highlight RI’s commitment to high ethical standards, the Board requested the general secretary to create a publication promoting vocational service to focus on The Four Way Test, the Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions, strategies for promoting high ethical standards in the workplace, and vocational service project ideas and examples. The publication will be distributed at PETS.
Noting that the RI Strategic Plan directs Rotary clubs and districts to the Four Avenues of Service as a guide for possible service projects, and that the Foundation’s Future Vision Plan has its six areas of focus, the Board decided to eliminate the Menu of Service Opportunities, which had been in place since 1999.
The Board selected 145 recipients for the 2008-09 Service Above Self award, which recognizes exemplary humanitarian service provided on a continual bases by Rotarians who might otherwise go unrecognized. The names of the recipients will be announced at the end of the Rotary year. The Board further amended its policy to allow for only one award recipient per district.
US$2 million has been allocated for public relations grants in 2009-10. The grants enable placement of television and radio public service announcements, billboards, banners, print ads, and newspaper supplements in local communities. Grant applications will be available to governors-elect in January 2009.
International meetings
The Board reviewed and approved plans for the 2010 RI (Montreal) Convention, including its logo, and theme, preliminary program, registration fees, and budget. It looked with favor on the 2015 convention being held in either Houston, Texas or Phoenix, Arizona, USA, or in São Paulo, Brazil. The Board also amended its policy on interpretation at RI conventions to require that all conventions provide simultaneous interpretation in French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and any additional language that is appropriate for the host country.
July 2008 Board Meeting Highlights
Board minutes - July 2008
The Board welcomed the appointment of Monty J. Audenart as 2008-09 RI vice-president, Bernard L. Rosen as 2008-09 treasurer, and elected Paul A. Netzel as chair of its executive committee.
The Board formally ratified President Lee’s appointment of Doh Bae, William B. Boyd, John F. Germ, and Samuel A. Okudzeto as Rotary Foundation trustees.
On recommendation of President Lee, the Board established the 2008-09 RI committees and resource groups, and approved their terms of reference.
The Board agreed that newly revised zones 4, 6, 10, 13, 17, 22, 26, 29, and 30 shall select committees in 2008-09 to nominate RI directors for election at the 2010 RI convention.
The Board confirmed the 2008-09 RI budget with revenues of US$86.4 million and expenses of US$86.2 million.
The Board approved The Rotary Foundation’s 2008-09 budget of US$87.8 million for all Foundation programs, with expenditures coming from unrestricted Annual Programs Fund contributions.