Legal Counsel

At August 14, 2021's meeting of the House of Delegates, two proposed bylaw changes will be introduced for consideration, debate and vote. The District Board recommends that the delegates vote to adopt the proposed changes.
The first proposed bylaw change seeks to eliminate the new member add fee in favor of a pro-rated dues structure. Kiwanis International ("KI") currently requires Districts to delete the new member add fee from their respective fee structures, to be replaced by pro-rata District dues for new members. New York District Bylaws require an amendment to effectuate this change. Additionally, KI will permit the continued waiver of pro-rata dues for former SLP members.
Accordingly, the District Board proposes that Article X Section 2 of its bylaws be amended to state "Prorated district dues shall be charged for each new member of a club on the same prorated schedule used by Kiwanis International. Prorated district dues are waived for any new member who was a former member of a Kiwanis International service leadership program. Prorated district dues are also waived for former military personnel as defined in Article X Section 4."
Article X Section 4 would relieve a Kiwanis Club of the obligation to pay District dues for a club member for a period of two (2) full administrative years from the date of joining the club, provided the proposed member was a member of a Kiwanis International Service Leadership Program or is an active, retired or honorably discharged member of New York State or US military services.
The second proposed bylaw change seeks to add title of "Executive Director" to the position of District Secretary. Many Districts have acknowledged that the position is in line with a not for profit's office of executive director. KI made this change in its office structure several years ago. The District Bylaws contain nineteen (19) separate references to the position of District Secretary. The District Board requests that all of these references be changed to the term "Executive Director" where they occur. Thus, the language of Articles III, IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX and XIII would be changed to delete the term "District Secretary" or "Secretary", where such term refers to the District Secretary, to be replaced by "Executive Director".

Column Posted on Web Site July 14, 2021