Proposed LifeRing Bylaw Changes
Twenty-Sixth Annual Congress | Sunday, June 7, 2026
Notice of Proposed Bylaws Amendment to Change
BYLAW AMENDMENT TO UPDATE ELEGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ANNUAL CONGRESS MEETING, DELEGATES, AND BOARD CANDIDATE NOMINATIONS.
ACTION:
Should the membership vote in favor, the subsections of Section 6 of the LifeRing Secular Recovery Bylaws shall be amended to reflect a consistent numerical continuum.
ARTICLE 6 | Annual Congress
In Section 6.4 of LifeRing Secular Recovery’s Bylaws, "as defined in Section 6.5 below)” shall be changed to "active, chartered (as contained in Article 12 below)”
In Section 6.4 of LifeRing Secular Recovery’s Bylaws, "selection” shall be changed to "registration”
In Section 6.4 of LifeRing Secular Recovery’s Bylaws, the addition of language will be included directly following the current concluding sentence: "A meeting must maintain its active, chartered status continuously from the time of delegate registration through the close of the Absentee Election in order for its delegate to remain eligible to vote at the Annual Congress and in the Absentee Election. In the event a meeting's charter is suspended or revoked at any point during that period, the delegate's voting eligibility shall be suspended or revoked accordingly and any votes cast by that delegate after the effective date of the suspension or revocation shall be deemed invalid."
Section 6.4.1 will be added to LifeRing Secular Recovery’s Bylaws: "In order to be eligible to serve as a delegate, a person must have maintained continuous sobriety, defined as complete abstinence from alcohol and illicit or non-medically indicated drugs, for a minimum of three (3) months immediately prior to the final date of their registration as delegate. Delegates must maintain sobriety during their term of service as a delegate."
Section 6.5 of LifeRing Secular Recovery’s Bylaws will be removed.
Section 6.6 of the Bylaws shall be changed to Section 6.5
Section 6.7 of the Bylaws shall be changed to Section 6.6
Section 6.7.1 of the Bylaws shall be changed to Section 6.6.1
Section 6.7.2 of the Bylaws shall be changed to Section 6.6.2
Section 6.8 of the Bylaws shall be changed to Section 6.7
Section 6.9 of the Bylaws shall be changed to Section 6.8
Section 6.10 of the Bylaws shall be changed to Section 6.9
Section 6.11 of the Bylaws shall be changed to Section 6.10
Section 6.12 of the Bylaws shall be changed to Section 6.11
Section 6.13 of the Bylaws shall be changed to Section 6.12
Section 6.14 of the Bylaws shall be changed to Section 6.13
ARTICLE 8 | Board Nominations
In Section 8.2 of LifeRing Secular Recovery’s Bylaws, "in absentia" will be removed.
In Section 8.2 of LifeRing Secular Recovery’s Bylaws, the language "at least seven days prior to the Annual Congress" will be added.
In Section 8.2 of LifeRing Secular Recovery’s Bylaws, the language "regular" will be added.
In Section 8.2 of LifeRing Secular Recovery’s Bylaws, the language "postmarked" will be added.
In Section 8.2 of LifeRing Secular Recovery’s Bylaws, "seven" will be replaced with "fourteen".
In Section 8.2 of LifeRing Secular Recovery’s Bylaws, the language "No nominations for Board directors shall be accepted from the floor of the Annual Congress. Any nomination not submitted in accordance with the deadlines and methods set forth in this section shall be deemed invalid." will be added.
Section 8.3 will be removed.
ARTICLE 9 | Elections
In Section 9.4 of LifeRing Secular Recovery’s Bylaws, the language "representing a meeting that maintains active, chartered status through the close of the Absentee Election" will be added.
PROPOSED BYLAWS LANGUAGE CHANGES:
BYLAWS ARTICLE 6 | ANNUAL CONGRESS
Section 6.4
Current Language
6.4 Each public (as defined in Section 6.5 below) LifeRing Secular Recovery meeting may select one delegate to the Annual Congress. The term of service of each delegate shall be from the time of selection through the forthcoming Annual Congress for which that delegate was selected and shall expire immediately after the Absentee Election related to and following that Annual Congress.
Proposed Language
6.4 Each public (as defined in Section 6.5 below) active, chartered (as contained in Article 12 below) LifeRing Secular Recovery meeting may select one delegate to the Annual Congress. The term of service of each delegate shall be from the time of selection registration through the forthcoming Annual Congress for which that delegate was selected and shall expire immediately after the Absentee Election related to and following that Annual Congress. A meeting must maintain its active, chartered status continuously from the time of delegate registration through the close of the Absentee Election in order for its delegate to remain eligible to vote at the Annual Congress and in the Absentee Election. In the event a meeting's charter is suspended or revoked at any point during that period, the delegate's voting eligibility shall be suspended or revoked accordingly and any votes cast by that delegate after the effective date of the suspension or revocation shall be deemed invalid.
Section 6.4.1
Current Language:
No current LifeRing Bylaws Section 6.4.1
Proposed Language:
6.4.1 In order to be eligible to serve as a delegate, a person must have maintained continuous sobriety, defined as complete abstinence from alcohol and illicit or non-medically indicated drugs, for a minimum of three (3) months immediately prior to the final date of their registration as delegate. Delegates must maintain sobriety during their term of service as a delegate.
Section 6.5
Current Language:
6.5 A meeting is “public” for the purposes of these Bylaws if it convenes in a location accessible to the public and if its location, day, and time are posted in a manner likely to give public notice. The term “location” may also include Internet address.
BYLAWS ARTICLE 8 | BOARD NOMINATIONS
Section 8.2
Current Language
8.2 Delegates in absentia may submit nominations for Board directors in connection with an Annual Congress so long as such nominations are submitted in writing to LifeRing, either by email at [email protected], or by mail at the mailing address listed on LifeRing’s website, at least seven days prior to the Annual Congress.
Proposed Language:
8.2 Delegates in absentia may submit nominations for Board directors in connection with an Annual Congress so long as such nominations are submitted in writing to LifeRing, either by email at [email protected] at least seven days prior to the Annual Congress, or by regular mail at the mailing address listed on LifeRing’s website and postmarked at least seven fourteen days prior to the Annual Congress. No nominations for Board directors shall be accepted from the floor of the Annual Congress. Any nomination not submitted in accordance with the deadlines and methods set forth in this section shall be deemed invalid.
Current Language:
8.3 Absentee nominations shall be presented to each Annual Congress
BYLAWS ARTICLE 9 | ELECTIONS
Section 9.4
Current Language
9.4 Each registered delegate may cast one vote per matter listed on the Absentee Ballot in the Absentee Election, without regard to the number of unique qualifications held by that delegate.
Proposed Language:
9.4 Each registered delegate representing a meeting that maintains active, chartered status through the close of the Absentee Election may cast one vote per matter listed on the Absentee Ballot in the Absentee Election, without regard to the number of unique qualifications held by that delegate.
IMPACT:
Impact of Bylaws Amendments
The proposed amendments to Current Bylaws would impact language included in Eligibility Requirements currently and annually posted on the LifeRing website during the Annual Conference Season.
Operational Impact
Impact on the vetting processes for meetings, meeting delegates, and board nominees should be minimal.
Financial Impact
None.
Impact on Nonprofit Status
None.
Support for Bylaws Amendment Request:
Proposed Bylaws Changes were submitted by the LifeRing Meetings & Convenors Collaboration Committee.