Proposed OI Bylaws Changes

The Optimist International Bylaws regulate and manage the affairs of Optimist International, primarily stating who are members, how we elect Officers and Directors at Large, and how often a convention is held. With the adoption of new bylaws provisions over the past several years, additional language has been added and new sections inserted, interrupting the flow of the Articles.

The Governance Committee, under the direction of the International Board of Directors, was asked to perform a comprehensive review of the Optimist International Bylaws, including identifying confusing or redundant language, looking at the organization of the Articles and separate Sections, and clarifying wording.

Several changes have been proposed. The changes do not include any substantive changes to the bylaws or the way we do business, but rather remove redundant language, move provisions to different Articles or Sections for better organization and improve clarity. These changes are presented to the Clubs as a comprehensive bylaws amendment called a “Restatement” as set forth in this document. 

Adoption of these restated bylaws will be presented at the 2024 Optimist International Convention. 

Detailed Explanation of Proposed Changes

Please review the proposed restatement of the OI bylaws. The restated bylaws are explained in this document, which includes a comment area in the right margin with details about which portion of the original bylaws which have been restated and why. No provisions of the bylaws have been changed except Article III Section 1(A)(d) and Article IX Section 2(B)(5). Also, you will notice that Article IV, International Conventions and Elections, have been divided into separate Articles: Article V deals only with Elections, and Article IV only deals with Conventions.

Special Rules:

For a revision of this scale, special rules are necessary to avoid significant confusion and time overruns:

1.     The proposed restated bylaws have added an additional Article, have reorganized sections within each Article, and have moved some sections from one Article to another. As a result of these changes, it will be difficult to consider other bylaws amendments due to the overall organizational change of the document and because any bylaws amendment must state the original bylaw with strikeouts and new language, along with a clean version of the proposed change. Therefore, no other bylaws amendments will be presented for consideration at the 2024 Optimist International Convention. Optimist Clubs may submit any bylaws amendment for consideration at the 2025 convention pursuant to OI Bylaws and Board Policies.

2.     There are two separate advance opportunities for Clubs to propose revisions to the restated bylaws proposal. 

3.     Any revisions received by the first deadline of November 30, 2023, will be reviewed by the Governance Committee and presented to the Board of Directors for approval at their January meeting.

4.     Any revision(s) received by the second deadline of February 8, 2024, will be reviewed by the Governance Committee and presented to the Board of Directors for approval at the March 1-2, 2024, meeting.

5.     The restated bylaws proposal which has been approved by the Board of Directors will be distributed to all Clubs.

6.  Amendments to the restated bylaws may not be submitted on the floor of the convention.

7.  At the convention, Articles I and II of the restated bylaws will require a 2/3 majority vote to pass. Articles III to XI of the restated bylaws will require a simple majority to pass.

If your club has questions, comments or a proposed amendment, please contact Optimist International at: headquarters@optimist.org.