New Rotary Year, New Rotary Changes
The start of the 2013-14 Rotary year brings a few small changes to the way Rotary Intentional operates.
When 2013-14 Rotary International President Ron D. Burton took office July 1, he brought with him a wave of changes. Ron is a member of the Rotary Club of Norman, Oklahoma, and Rotary’s 103rd president.
For the first time ever, a woman is serving as vice president of Rotary International. Anne Matthews of the Rotary Club of Columbia East, South Carolina, is serving alongside President Ron Burton. Matthews, a former director of South Carolina’s Department of Education, is president of Matthews and Associates, an educational consulting firm.
In other news:
•The name of Rotary's Fifth Avenue of Service has changed from "New Generations Service" to "Youth Service."
•Dues clubs pay to Rotary International have increased by $1, to $53 per member.
•Rotarians will be allowed to form satellite club, whose members meet at a different time and location from their parent clubs. The change, approved by the Council on Legislation in April, is intended to make it easier for members to develop the core for a new club.
•Districts will be able to form an unlimited number of e-clubs. The Council removed a limit of two e-clubs per district. The change is designed to bring in new members and appeal to young professionals, who may be less able to meet in person weekly.
•A redesigned Rotary website will be launched in late summer.