Before 1985, RIBI still had its own distinct Club Constitution, but at the RIBI conference of PRIBI Jim Watts, it was agreed to change to the RISCC (RI Standard Club Constitution).  The only exceptions were that in RIBI the title of immediate Past President would be kept and that of Sergeant at Arms would be omitted.   However, at the COL in Singapore in 1989 when this was going through, it was also adopted that every Rotary Club in the world would move on to the current RISCC.  

There were some 40+ clubs dating back earlier than 1922 (when the British and International Associations came together to form RI) who were  using their own constitution.  These clubs were given the opportunity to register any difference from RISCC with the RI General Secretary by the end of December 1989.  It was also stated that in the future all clubs could only make changes that would bring them nearer to the RISCC.  This caused uproar among the pioneer clubs and the Chicago Club threatened to sue RI!!  In the event the furor died down and the pioneer clubs registered their own different constitutions.  It was found that some were working on a different constitution, even though their club had already adopted a standard constitution years   previously.   

Meanwhile in RIBI in 1989, the Rotary Club of Cowdenbeath, one of several clubs which met fortnightly, received a notice from RI Zurich telling it that in future it would have to meet weekly.  On investigation by RID Bill Huntley it became apparent that there were some clubs in RIBI legally meeting every fortnight under the old RIBI Club Constitution but which was now illegal under the newly adopted RISCC.  These clubs were post 1922 but pre-1932.  

At least 11 such clubs were identified among them Newark and Buxton.  The problem was that clubs which had met every other week for up to 60 years were not going to change.   Bill Huntley took the problem to the RI General Secretary and an unofficial solution was agreed. 

These clubs were told that they should annually hold an extra-ordinary meeting with an agenda item of ‘This club shall meet weekly’.  If it failed no harm had been done as they had tried to bring themselves nearer to the rule.  These were mavericks...but identifiable ones.  Similar problems appeared with clubs which do not meet in the week of a Bank Holiday.   There were also in RIBI and in France some clubs which did not meet during the holiday season, typically August.       

Adapted by Basil Lewis from a letter written by PPRI Bill Huntley in 2002.  Posted by Jack Selway 10 April 2012

Also see www.ukirelandhistory.org -  http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/global/regions/ukireland.htm - and http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/clubs/clubs-of-rips/wolverhampton/index.htm