Proposed LifeRing Bylaw Changes
Twenty-Sixth Annual Congress | Sunday, June 7, 2026
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE LIFERING BYLAWS
Current LifeRing Bylaws
Proposal 1
Clarification of meetings eligible to elect a delegate to the Annual Congress:
1a Article 6: Annual Congress | Proposed Language Change
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.
1b And Eliminate
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.
1c And Sections 6.6 through 6.14 shall be renumbered accordingly
And
1d Article 9, Section 9.4 | Proposed language change
Each registered delegate may 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.
Proposal 2
Addition of Delegate Eligibility Language - Add section 6.4.1
Article 6: Annual Congress | Proposed Language Addition
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.
Proposal 3
Clarification of Annual Congress BOD nomination practices:
3a Article 8: Board Nominations | Proposed Language Change
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.
And
3b Eliminate 8.3
Absentee nominations shall be presented to each Annual Congress,
PROPOSALS + RATIONALS CHANGES
Proposal 1
Clarification of meetings eligible to elect a delegate to the Annual Congress:
1a Article 6: Annual Congress | Proposed Language Change
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.
1b And Eliminate
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.
1c And Sections 6.6 through 6.14 shall be renumbered accordingly
And
1d Article 9, Section 9.4 | Proposed language change
Each registered delegate may 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.
Proposal 1 — Rationale
- Replacing "public" with "active, chartered" ensures all meetings formally operating under a LifeRing charter may send delegates to Congress, including private meetings that meet the chartered standard
- This change recognizes that private chartered meetings are equally committed to LifeRing's principles of sobriety, secularity, and self-empowerment and should have equal representation in the democratic process of the organization
- Chartered status must be maintained throughout the entire voting process, preventing a meeting whose charter has been suspended, revoked, or whose meeting has permanently closed from continuing to influence governance through its delegate
- The start of a delegate's term is clarified to begin at registration rather than selection, creating a clear and verifiable record of eligibility
- Section 6.5, which defined "public" meetings, is eliminated as it is no longer needed under the revised standard
Proposal 2
Addition of Delegate Eligibility Language - Add section 6.4.1
Article 6: Annual Congress | Proposed Language Addition
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.
Proposal 2 — Rationale
- The current bylaws require sobriety of Board members and officers but impose no equivalent standard on delegates, creating an inconsistency within the organization's governance structure
- This proposal closes that gap by establishing a minimum three month continuous sobriety requirement for delegate eligibility, consistent with LifeRing's core principle of sobriety
- The three month minimum recognizes that newer members in recovery play valuable roles in their meetings and should have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process of the organization
Proposal 3
Clarification of Annual Congress BOD nomination practices:
3a Article 8: Board Nominations | Proposed Language Change
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.
And
3b Eliminate 8.3
Absentee nominations shall be presented to each Annual Congress,
Proposal 3 — Rationale
- The current "in absentia" language creates ambiguity about whether delegates present at Congress may submit nominations through the formal process
- Removing this distinction ensures all nominations follow the same advance written submission process regardless of the submitting delegate's attendance status
- Separate deadlines for email and mail submissions reflect the practical difference in delivery times between the two methods
- Floor nominations are explicitly prohibited to ensure all nominees can be evaluated in advance against the uniform guidelines required by Section 8.1
- Section 8.3 is eliminated as it is no longer necessary once the absentee distinction is removed
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.