Your club members have generously volunteered to host Rotarians from a district in another country as part of their Rotary Friendship Exchange program. Your club’s Rotary Friendship Exchange committee wishes to require all host families and visiting families to complete a background check as a precautionary measure of security. Other club members protest that only individuals of good standing become club members, so a background check is costly and unnecessary. What would you do?
Service in Action 
Are the members asking for the background check the same people offering to host the travelers? If they are not, then I would say it is not necessary. I would also consult with RI and ask for guidance. If RI does not recommend a background check for guests visiting from other nations, then the club shouldn’t either. It might also be wise to amend the club’s by-laws to address this so there is a policy in place for the future.
The bedrock of Rotary is integrity. I would be very offended if I were asked to have a background check. If Rotarians do not trust other Rotarians, the organization is in real difficulty.
All or one person leader of the exchange host families and visiting families must complete a background check as a precautionary measure of security.
All or one person leader of the exchange host families and visiting families must complete a background check up as a precautionary measure of security.