DG Selection | District 9620

Stage 1 - Formation of the DG Nominating Committee

The selection process for a District Governor starts in November-December each year with the call for expressions of interest in being a member of the District Governor Nominating committee.

The District Governor nominating committee consists of:

District Governor (ex-officio)
District Governor Elect (ex-officio)
District Governor Nominee (ex-officio)
Nominating Committee Chair (A Past District Governor appointed by the District board. Traditionally, but not necessarily, the Immediate Past District Governor.)
Two District Rotarians/ Rotaractors determined by a majority decision of the committee members listed above. They will have held office for a term in a District Leadership position (not a District Governor) or full term as President of a district Rotary or Rotaract club in District 9620, 9630 or 9600 during the five years prior to the establishment of the nominating committee.

No more than one person on the nominating committee can be from any one club.

No member of the nominating committee can be from the club of an applicant.

The chair of the nominating committee will call for expressions of interest to sit on the nominating committee from district Rotarians and Rotaractors in December each year. Notwithstanding this, Rotarians and Rotaractors may express interest at any time by email to the Immediate Past District Governor who will hold expressions of interest in confidence for the nominating committee chair when appointed.

Stage 2 - Applications for the District Governor Nominee Designate Position received by the Nominating Committee

Occupying the role of a Rotary District Governor is a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to give service to our organisation, Rotary International. While it does take time it also provides opportunities to learn from the wider Rotary family, to extend your leadership skills, and to enjoy friendship with others undertaking similar opportunities across the globe.

The journey to becoming District Governor starts with appointment by the District, on the advice of the District Governor Nominating committee, of a District Governor Nominee Designate (DGND), usually in March of each year. The DGND immediately becomes an informal member of the "G-Train" which consists of the Immediate Past District Governor (IPDG), the District Governor (DG), the District Governor-Elect (DGE), the District Governor Nominee (DGN). On July 1 of that year they formally take the office of DGN and join the District Board as a full member.

To nominate for consideration as a future DG, the Rotary International process requires that you check that you meet the required qualifications, complete the Nomination Form and District Election Guidelines form, and have it signed by your club Secretary. In District 9620 we also require that you forward a succinct written statement regarding your application and include a CV. It is also important to note that, in District 9620 this appointment means you will be both a Rotary District Governor and the Chair of our Company during your year as District Governor, and while a member of the District Board you will be a company director. So in addition to meeting the RI qualifications, you will need to be qualified to be a member of the board of a company limited by guarantee and either have or obtain a Director ID issued by the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS).

The chair of the nominating Committee shall call for nominations by email communication with club secretaries no later than the end of December, but clubs can suggest candidates at any time by submitting the DG Nominee form to the IPDG, who will hold all suggestions in confidence for the committee chair until the chair is appointed.

The nomination period remains open till the last day of February at 5pm.

The DG Selection Process is governed by RI Bylaws articles 12 and 13 and the Rotary Code of Policies sections 17.030.3, 17.040, 19.030 and 26.070.

RI By-laws 16.010, 16.020 and 16.030 state the qualifications of the Governor-nominee, the qualifications of the Governor and the duties of the District Governor:

16.010. Qualifications of a Governor-nominee.

Unless excused by the board (of Rotary International), the person selected as a governor-nominee shall at the time of selection:

be a member in good standing of a functioning club in the district;
have served as club president for a full term or as charter president for at least six months;
demonstrate willingness, commitment, and ability to fulfil the duties and responsibilities of a Governor in section 16.030;
demonstrate knowledge of the qualifications, duties, and responsibilities of governor as prescribed in the bylaws; and
submit to RI a statement that the Rotarian understands those qualifications, duties, and responsibilities, is qualified for the office of governor, and is willing and able to assume and faithfully perform those duties and responsibilities.

16.020. Qualifications of a Governor.

Unless excused by the board (of Rotary International), a governor, when taking office, must have attended the international assembly for its full duration, have been a Rotarian for at least seven years, and continue to possess the qualifications in section 16.010.

16.030. Duties of a Governor.

The governor is the officer of RI in the district, functioning under the general control and supervision of the board. The governor shall inspire and motivate the clubs in the district. The governor shall ensure continuity within the district by working with past, current, and incoming district leaders. The governor is responsible for:

(a) organising new clubs;
(b) strengthening existing clubs;
(c) promoting membership growth;
(d) working with district and club leaders to encourage participation in a district leadership plan as developed by the board;
(e) furthering the Object of Rotary by providing leadership and supervision of the clubs in the district;
(f) supporting TRF;
(g) promoting cordial relations among the clubs and Rotaract clubs and between the clubs, Rotaract clubs, and RI;
(h) planning for and presiding at the district conference and assisting the governor-elect in planning and preparing the PETS and the district training assembly;
(i) conducting an official visit to each club, individually or in multi-club meetings, that maximizes the governor’s presence to:

focus attention on important Rotary issues;
provide special attention to weak and struggling clubs;
motivate Rotarians to participate in service activities;
ensure that the club constitution and bylaws comply with the constitutional documents, especially following councils on legislation; and
personally recognise the outstanding contributions of Rotarians in the district;

(j) issuing a monthly communication to each club;

(k) reporting promptly to RI as required by the president or the board;

(l) providing the governor-elect, before the international assembly, full information about the condition of clubs and recommended action to strengthen them;

(m) assuring that district nominations and elections comply with the constitutional documents and RI’s established policies;

(n) inquiring regularly about the activities of Rotarian organisations in the district;

(o) transferring district files to the governor-elect; and

(p) performing any other duties as are inherent of an RI officer.

Stage 3 - Selection of District Governor Nominee Designate from Qualified Candidates

Each year during March, qualified candidates will be interviewed by the nominating committee.

The nominating committee will make its decision based on the written application, the interview and their own knowledge and inquiries. The committee shall nominate the best qualified Rotarian who is available to serve as Governor and not be limited to those names submitted by clubs in the district.

The nominating committee will reach a decision usually shortly following the final interview and shall then inform the District Governor of its recommendation within 24 hours of reaching its decision. The District Governor shall notify clubs in writing of the name and club of the nominee within 3 days. As a matter of courtesy, the chair of the nominating committee will usually inform candidates of the decision of the nominating committee at an earlier stage.

RI Bylaw 12.030 sections 7 to 9 outline the procedure for challenges to the decision of the nominating committee.

12.030.7. Challenging Candidates.

Any club in the district in existence for at least one year as of the beginning of that year may also propose a challenging candidate for governor-nominee, but only if it previously suggested the candidate to the nominating committee. A club in existence for less than one year as of the beginning of that year may propose a challenging candidate if the candidate is a member of that club and was already suggested to the nominating committee. The name of the challenging candidate shall be submitted by a resolution of the club adopted at a regular meeting and filed with the governor by the date set by the governor, which shall be within 14 days of notification of the selection for governor nominee.

12.030.8. Concurrence to Challenges.

The governor shall inform all clubs through a form prescribed by RI of any challenging candidate and ask whether any club concurs with the challenge. In order to concur, a club must adopt a resolution at a regular meeting and file it with the governor by the date set by the governor. A valid challenge requires concurrences by either:

(a) 10 other clubs; or
(b) 20 percent of the total number of clubs which have been in existence for at least one year as of the beginning of that year in that district,

whichever is higher. A club shall concur with only one challenging candidate.

12.030.9. Challenging Nominations.

Within seven days after the deadline, the governor shall notify clubs that there is a valid challenging candidate. The notice shall include the name and qualifications of each challenging candidate, the names of the challenging and concurring clubs, and state that the candidates will be voted on in a club ballot or at the district conference, if the challenge remains valid for 30 days after the notice by the governor.

Nomination Form

You can download the District Governor Nominee Form and District Election Guidelines by clicking the button below.