Honorary members

Rotarians are often a little unsure about the rights and privileges of their Honorary members. The information below may assist.

 

Honorary Membership.

(a) Eligibility for Honorary Membership. People who have distinguished themselves by meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals may be elected to honorary membership of a Rotary club. The term of such membership will be as determined by the Board of that Rotary club. People may hold honorary membership in more than one club.

 

(b) Rights and Privileges. Honorary members are exempt from the payment of admission fees and dues. They have no voting privileges and are not eligible to hold any office in your club. Such members do not hold classifications, but are entitled to attend all meetings and enjoy all the other privileges of the club. No honorary member of a club is entitled to any rights and privileges in any other club, except for the right to visit other clubs without being the guest of a Rotarian.

 

(c) Termination of Honorary Membership. Honorary membership is automatically terminated at the end of the term for such membership as has been determined by the Board of your Rotary club. The Board may extend an honorary membership for an additional period and the Board may also revoke an honorary membership at any time.

Source: Redacted from the standard RI Club Constitution

 

From the RI Code of Policies 2002:

Clubs should guard the election to honorary membership as exclusively a distinction for meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals. Honorary membership is the highest distinction that a club may bestow and should be conferred only in exceptional cases. The General Secretary shall transmit to every club a clear statement of the basis for election to honorary membership in which it is to be emphasized that all attempts to preserve the integrity of RI's membership provisions are rendered futile if there is a broad highway of preference for the admission of honorary members.

 

Honorary members of clubs shall not have the privilege of proposing prospective members to membership in the club. Each club should amend its bylaws to include provision that a prospective member may be proposed only by an active member in good standing in the club.