Proposed LifeRing Bylaw Changes
Twenty-fifth Annual Congress | Sunday, June 8, 2025
Notice of Proposed Bylaws Amendment to Change
BYLAW AMENDMENT TO REPLACE DATED AND STIGMATIZING LANGUAGE IN CURRENT LIFERING BYLAWS AND PROVIDE CLARITY OF LANGUAGE IN THE LIFERING MEETING CHARTER.
ACTION:
Throughout LifeRing Secular Recovery's Bylaws, "self-help" shall be changed to "self-empowerment." If the membership votes to do so, the Board shall similarly revise LifeRing's Articles of Incorporation.
In Articles 1 and 12 of LifeRing Secular Recovery's Bylaws, "recovering alcoholics and addicts" shall be replaced with "people overcoming substance use challenges." If the membership votes to do so, the Board shall similarly revise LifeRing's Articles of Incorporation.
In Section 6.7.1 of LifeRing Secular Recovery's Bylaws, "halfway houses and similar institutions with highly transient populations" shall be changed to "residential treatment centers and similar facilities with frequent resident turnover."
In Section 10.4.10 of LifeRing Secular Recovery's Bylaws, "on-line" shall be changed to "online."
In Article 12 of LifeRing Secular Recovery's Bylaws, "location or internet address" shall be changed to "name of meeting, and either location or internet address."
In Article 12 of LifeRing Secular Recovery's Bylaws, a semicolon shall be added after "for the Meeting" and after "or description."
OLD COPY SERVING AS PLACEHOLDER | Shall we include for each?
CURRENT LANGUAGE:
Bylaws Article 10, Board of Directors, Section 10.4.10.1
The Board shall conform, if practicable, the boundaries of the regions covered by particular Regional Representatives to the regional boundaries of any not-for-profit organizations established under Section 10.4.6.
PROPOSED LANGUAGE:
Bylaws Article 10, Board of Directors, Section 10.4.10.1
The Board shall conform, if practicable, the boundaries of the regions covered by particular Regional Representatives to the regional boundaries of any not-for-profit organizations established under Section 10.4.6. 10.4.9.
Impact on Other Bylaws Amendments and Supporting Documentation:
The proposed amendment to Current Bylaws Articles will replace stigmatizing language throughout LifeRing Secular Recovery's Bylaws and clarify language in the LifeRing Meeting Charter. If the membership votes to approve these changes, the Board shall similarly revise LifeRing's Articles of Incorporation.
Operational Impact:
None.
Financial Impact:
Revisions to the Articles of Incorporation will incur a $370 filing fee.
Impact on Nonprofit Status
None. No notification of changes to the Bylaws or Articles of Incorporation is required by the IRS.
Support for Bylaws Amendment Request:
Initiators for this change are Board members Lisa Swing-Corney, Robert Stump, and Sue Betts.