ROTARY A-Z

3H Grants Program

Through The Rotary Foundation’s Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grants program, the Foundation provides major grants from US $100,000 to $300,000 for club and district sponsored international projects that improve health, alleviate hunger, and enhance human and social development as a means of advancing international understanding, goodwill and peace.

85 Rule

Rotarians whose years in Rotary and age add up to 85 or above, are exempted from attendance.

Acting Governor

One who is appointed by the president to fill a vacancy in the office of governor until such time as a new governor has been elected by the convention or the RI Board. An acting governor also may be appointed to fill a temporary vacancy during a time when the governor is unable to fulfill the responsibilities of the office.

Active Member

A member of a club who has been elected to membership in the club under a classification of business or profession and who has all the obligations, responsibilities, and privileges of membership as provided in the RI constitution and bylaws.

Admission Fee

Fee paid to a club by an applicant for membership in the club. The fee varies according to the amount specified by each club in its bylaws.

Alternate (delegate)

Any club may, at the time of selecting its delegates to the convention, choose for each delegate one alternate, such alternate being entitled to vote at the convention in case of the absence of the delegate for whom the alternate was chosen.

Ambassadorial Scholarships of the Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships programme is the world's largest privately funded international scholarships programme and are awarded for study or training in another country where Rotary clubs are located. 

Annual Children's Treat of R. C. Calcutta

It all started in December 1925. The Rotary Club of Calcutta met for their Regular Tuesday Luncheon Meeting, then as now at the Grand Hotel. Rows of members' cars parked in front of the hotel awaited their owners' return. Throngs of street urchins hovered around them ready to beg for an anna or two
    Christmas was approaching and the sight of these children moved one of the members deeply. Next week our club bulletin, "The Chaka" of November 17, 1925, carried a letter signed by " a non-vocal Rotarian." It read that some 20 or more cars could usually be seen outside the Grand Hotel at Rotary tiffin time on Tuesdays and went on to suggest that in the winter season how nice it would be if these same cars could line up outside a children's orphanage or Old Peoples' Home for the purpose of taking as many of the inmates as the cars could accommodate for a drive to Barrackpore, or the Botanical Gardens. It added that if the car owners or other Rotarians could spare a few Rupees, perhaps the wives of the Rotarians could arrange tea for the unfortunate children.
    This proposal appealed to the members so much that a committee was formed forthwith and on December 28, 1925 some 200 poor children from five institutions in Calcutta were collected by Rotarians and their wives, driven to the Chandpal Ghat Jetty and taken across the river to the Botanical Gardens. After a day's feasting and sports, the children were driven back to their orphanages. Thus was born the famed Annual Children's Treat of the Rotary Club of Calcutta – the longest running community service programme of our club.

Arch Klumph Fellow

Programme to raise funds for the eradication of Poliomyelitis. A contribution of
US$ 26.50 would make a person an Arch Klumph Fellow.

Assembly, Club

Meeting of all club officers, directors, and committee chairs, held for the purpose of conferring on the program and activities of the club.

Assembly, District

A training meeting conducted annually, preferably in April or May, of club presidents-elect and members of clubs assigned by the club president-elect to serve in key leadership roles in the upcoming year. It provides a program of instruction to develop club leaders who have the necessary skills, knowledge, and motivation to improve club effectiveness as defined by the RI Board as well as an opportunity to share local and district plans and objectives.

Assembly, International

Annual meeting attended by general officers, governors-elect, RI committee chairs, and others designated by the RI Board. Its purpose is to provide Rotary education, instruction in administrative duties, motivation, and inspiration to governors-elect and to afford them and others in attendance an opportunity to discuss and plan how to implement Rotary's programs and activities during the ensuing year.

Assistant Governor

A Rotarian appointed by the governor, in accordance with RI Board policy, to assist the governor with the administrative work associated with club operations for designated clubs within an assigned geographic area.

Associate Foundation

A foundation which has been established based on criteria and guidelines from the Foundation trustees and approved for operation as an associate foundation by the trustees. The primary purpose of associate foundations is to provide tax benefits to Rotarians in countries where such foundations have been established.

Attendance Make-up

A member can makeup his attendance by attending a meeting of another Rotary club either two weeks before or two weeks after the meeting of his own club that he misses.

Attendance Report

Report of the attendance at its meetings which each club is required by the RI bylaws to make each month to its governor, if the club is within a district, or otherwise to the general secretary.

Board of Directors (Club)

Governing body of a Rotary Club, to be constituted as the byelaws of the club may provide.

Certificate of Nomination of Governor

Certificate signed by the governor certifying the nomination of the Rotarian duly nominated by the clubs in the district for the office of governor in a specified future year.

Charter Member

A founding member of a Rotary club. This member is elected to membership prior to the admission of the club to membership in RI.

Classification

Word or phrase which describes a separate and distinct business or professional service rendered to the community. As a term, it is the word or phrase which most accurately describes the principal and recognized business or professional activity of the firm, company, or institution with which an active member is connected or that which covers the active member's principal and recognized business or professional activity.

Classification Roster

Complete list of business and professional activities of the community, showing which have been filled, and which remain unfilled, in the club.

CLE

Concentrated Language Encounter. Highly successful Rotary sponsored approach to literacy. At risk children worldwide are taught to read and write in their native languages.

Closed Meeting

Club Regular Weekly Meting where internal affairs of the club are discussed amongst its members e.g. approval of annual accounts. The President announces, " Visiting Rotarians may now leave if they so wish." (NOT 'Closed door' meeting).

Club Assembly

Meeting of all club officers, directors, and committee chairs, held for the purpose of conferring on the program and activities of the club.

Club Forum

Formal meeting of the entire club membership to inform members about service activities.

Club Locality

An area which contains the minimum number of classifications required for the formation of a new club. A club may be organized in the same locality as one or more existing clubs.

Club Officers

The officers of the club are the president, president-elect, vice-presidents, a secretary, treasurer and sergeant-at-arms.

Club Officials

The officials of our club are the editor, club correspondent, CICO (club Internet Communications Officer) and the Webmaster.

Club Service

Rotary's first Avenue of Service involves actions a Rotarian must take within the club to help it function successfully.

Code of Policies, Rotary

A comprehensive document containing all of the general and permanent policies of Rotary International.

COL

See Council on Legislation

Committees-Club

All members should volunteer to serve on at least two club committees. The advantages being to learn about your club and its members. The other members can also meet and learn about you.

Committee, RI, Ad Hoc

A non-mandatory committee established by the RI Board that continues in existence until its tasks are completed.

Committee, RI, Special

A non-mandatory committee that continues in existence until the end of each Rotary year in which it is appointed.

Committee, RI, Standing

A committee mandated in section 16.010. of the RI bylaws.

Community Service

Rotary's third Avenue of Service comprises varied efforts that Rotarians make, sometimes in conjunction with others (e.g., a Rotaract or Interact club or a Rotary Community Corps), to improve the quality of life for those who live within their club's locality or municipality.

Convention

Annual international meeting of Rotary International. Each May or June, Rotary International holds a worldwide convention "to stimulate, inspire and inform all Rotarians in an International level." It is the annual meeting to conduct the business of the association.  Its primary purpose is to inspire and inform Rotarians at an international level. Club delegates from around the world elect RI officers for the coming Rotary year, including the president and RI Board. more>>

Council on Legislation

Rotary International's legislative body as provided for in article X of the RI constitution and article VIII of the RI bylaws. It is attended by a representative of the clubs of each district and meets every third year to deliberate and act upon proposed enactments and resolutions submitted by clubs, district conferences, the general council or conference of RIBI, the council on legislation, and the RI Board. Its actions in adopting legislation are subject to review by all clubs.

The next COL is in 2004. more>>

Closed Meeting

Meeting held amongst members of the Rotary Club of Calcutta only. Visiting Rotarians and guests are politely asked to "leave if they so wished." Usually held once in three months, this gives an opportunity to the President to appraise members of any internal developments or difficulties that may have arisen. Members also get an opportunity to ask for clarifications and give suggestions on the working of the club.

Club Assembly

Meeting of all club officers, directors and committee chairmen, held for the purpose of conferring on the programmes and activities of the club. All interested members and especially newer members are expected to attend.

COTS - Club Officers' Training Seminar

Meeting usually held in June each year prior to the start of the new Rotary year. Usually conducted by an Assistant Governor, the Chairpersons of the club are appraised of norms of conducting committee meetings and about special programmes for the coming year.

Council on Legislation

Rotary's parliament with representatives from all districts; deliberates on policies of Rotary. Last one held 2001 April 22-28.

Cyber Rotary Club

Rotarians from Colorado, USA created history on 4 January 2002, when RI officially chartered its first ever Internet-based Rotary club in the world, Rotary e-Club One of District 5450.

DDF

District Designated Fund from the Rotary Foundation - Community Assistance Program awards that enable Rotary districts to service projects in their own countries.

Definition of Rotary

Rotary is an organisation of business and professional leaders
united worldwide to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help building goodwill and peace in the world.

Delegate

Representative of a Rotary club at the international convention. Each club is entitled to send one delegate for each 50 of its members, or major fraction thereof, honorary members excepted.

Delegate-at-Large

Each officer and each past president of Rotary International still holding membership, other than honorary membership, in a club, is declared by the RI constitution and bylaws to be a delegate-at-large at the convention. Such delegate is entitled to cast one vote on each question.

District

Name given to a limited geographic area within which clubs are grouped for RI administrative purposes.

DGE - District Governor elect

The District Governor Nominee (DGN) automatically becomes the District governor Elect (DGE) after the International Assembly held usually in February.

DGN - District Governor Nominee

The Governor in waiting. Takes over the reins of the District after the current Governor's term expires on June 30 midnight.

District Conference

Meeting held annually in each district to further the program of Rotary through fellowship, inspirational addresses, and the discussion of matters relating to club and district affairs. It is open to all Rotarians in the district and their families. More >>

District Conference Report

Report which the governor and the secretary of the district conference are required to make to RI covering any action taken by the conference, the number of clubs represented, and other matters.

District Leadership Plan

The RI Board-recommended organizational structure for all districts. Components include the following: use of the title "assistant governor" as defined by the RI Board; defined responsibilities and duties, as well as defined limits to terms of service and number of terms, for assistant governors and district committee members.

Dues and Fees

Every active member of a club pays an admission fee and annual dues to the club in amounts determined by the club.

EarlyAct

EarlyAct is a "Rotary sponsored school wide service club for elementary students from ages 5 to 13. The mission and operation of EarlyAct are closely linked to the ideals of Rotary and provide the foundation and natural succession into Interact." Started in 2001.

 

Exempted from Attendance

The 85 rule:
A member is exempted from attendance if the sum of his age and years in Rotary is 85 or above.

Family of Rotary

The Family of Rotary includes our personal families and their involvement in Rotary activities - plus our extended family-Youth Exchange students, RYLArians, Interactors, Rotaractors, Scholars, Group Study
Exchange team members and others. 

February 23 - World Understanding and Peace Day

The anniversary of Rotary's birth, 23 February 1905, is also observed as World Understanding and Peace Day. Each club, on that day, gives special recognition and emphasis to Rotary's commitment to international under-standing, friendship, and peace.

Founder of Rotary

Term used in Reference to Paul P. Harris, who organized the first rotary club in Chicago in 1905. Paul Harris was born 19 April 1868 and died 27 January 1947.

Four Avenues of Service

The term is frequently used in Rotary literature. The 'Avenues' refer to the four elements of the Object of Rotary which describe the primary areas of Rotary activity:
1  Club Service - activities necessary for Rotarians to make their club function.

2  Vocational Service - undertaking service projects by representing one's vocation.
3  Community Service -  improving the quality of life in one's community.
4  International Service - programs to promote international understanding.  

GML (Governor's Monthly Letter)

Personal, official communication issued every month by the governor to the president and secretary of each club in the district containing items of special interest and importance, including the Monthly Membership Attendance Report. any Dist 3290 Rotarian can subscribe at Rs 150 (or at Rs 100 if ALL members subscribe).

Green Badgers

New members of less than six months membership. In earlier years, their name badges were covered with green cellophane paper, to identify them as such. This way, the older members could help assimilate them into the club.

GSE: Group Study Exchange 
        One of the most popular and rewarding programmes of The Rotary Foundation which pairs Rotary Districts to send and receive study teams. It gives an opportunity to visiting team members, to meet, talk and live with Rotarians and their families in a warm spirit of friendship and hospitality. The first such exchange was between California and Japan in 1965
        In addition to learning about another country, as the team visits institutions, professional offices and government establishments, the GSE teams serve as ambassadors of goodwill. They interpret their home nation to host Rotarians and others in the communities in which they visit. Many of the personal contacts blossom into lasting friendships.

Health Center.

See Rotary Health Clinic.

Honorary Member

A person who, by serving with distinction in the furtherance of Rotary ideals, has been elected to honorary membership of a club. an honorary member is exempt from payment of fees and dues, has no vote, and may not hold office. However, an honorary member may attend all meetings and enjoy the privileges of the club. Honorary membership terminates each year on 30 June but may by resolution be continued from year to year.

 maps. In our club we have PDG Saral Deb as an Honorary Member.

Hundred Percent Attendance

See  Perfect Attendance.

IEC

Informative Educative Communicative Material. Kit especially for Polio Plus.

Inner Wheel Club

Independent service organisation of wives of Rotarians.

Institutes, Rotary International

Meant for present and past Rotary officers. Generally held annually, at the same place of an international assembly or convention. Affords the RI officers an opportunity to improve their knowledge of Rotary's plans and programs and thus enhances their value as resource persons to their clubs and districts. 

Interact

Rotary club-sponsored clubs for young people dedicated to service and international understanding. Membership is open to students at the secondary school  level (ages 14-18).
Interact clubs in schools sponsored by Rotary Club of Calcutta: see>>
 

1. Ashok Hall	2. Assembly of God Church	3. Future Foundation
4. GD Birla School	5. La Martiniere Boys/Girls	6. MB Girls' School
7. Sri Shikshayatan	8. South Point	9. Wellman Goldsmith
Interact Club of La Martiniere is the biggest in the world.

        more >>

Intercity Meeting

District sponsored symposia held usually on the Rotary Theme of the Month. No charges.
Attending this meeting qualifies for attendance credit (towards an absence in a club weekly meeting).

Jean Harris

Paul's wife Jean Harris was born of November 8, 1881 in Edinburgh.

 

Joint Meeting

A Regular Weekly Meeting held jointly with that of another Rotary club, to promote goodwill.

Magazines

In addition to The Rotarian there are 28 regional magazines printed in 22 languages. Although each regional publication has its own unique style and content, they all provide Rotarians with up-to-date information and good reading.

Make-up

To attend the meeting of another Rotary club or certain other functions thereby protecting membership and receiving attendance credit when a meeting of the Rotarian's own club is missed.

Months - Special Months in Rotary

Months designated by the RI Board to emphasize the involvement of every Rotarian, and not just clubs, in Rotary activities. They are: Literacy (July), Membership and Extension (August), New Generations (September), Vocational Service (October), The Rotary Foundation (November), Rotary Awareness (January), World Understanding (February), Magazine (April), Rotary Fellowship (June). See planner>> 
 

MOP Manual of Procedure

A Reference Manual for Rotary Leaders
The Manual of Procedure is a compilation of statements of policies and procedures adopted by conventions, the council on legislation, the RI Board of Directors and the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation. It also includes the current text of the RI Constitution and Bylaws, the standard Rotary club constitution, the club bylaws recommended by the RI Board, and the Bylaws and portions of the Articles of Incorporation of The Rotary Foundation. The Manual is published in several language editions every three years, and a copy is sent to each Rotary club and RI officer. The 1998 edition incorporates changes in policy and procedures since its 1995 publication. Some material that is frequently referred to has been reorganized to make it more easily accessible. Many entries have been edited for clarity. If any question arises about the meaning or interpretation of the Manual, English is the official language of RI. (Source: Manual of Procedure, 1998).
Hard copy available at Rotary Archives. Or, 

          Go to web site at http://www.roti.org and click ROTARY MOP

Mottoes
               Service Above Self is the principal motto of  Rotary established by the 1959 Council on Legislation. It has replaced the first motto of Rotary, "He Profits Most Who Serves Best."

New Generations Month

The month of September is designated as "New Generations Month" to focus on all Rotary activities that support the development of young people up to the age of 30. Rotary clubs are encouraged to use the slogan, "Every Rotarian an Example to Youth" in club bulletins and publicity material during "New Generations Month."

 

Non-District Club

Club which is not included in a district in RI but which is under the direct supervision of the RI Board. 

Object of Rotary

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and in particular, to encourage and foster:
FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business and community life;
FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Past Presidents or PP'S

Past Presidents are a exclusive group of special Rotarians. It is not easy to become a PP. It takes years of training. First you have to be nominated by the Board, accepted by the members, do a year of being a President-Elect and if you are still around or willing to continue in this quest, you do another  year of being President. There are 29,000 + Rotarians around the world in this endeavor each year. If you survive, (don't run away, throw in the towel or be impeached)  you then are admitted to this elite fellowship as a IPP. (Immediate Past President). This is only for a year and then the I is dropped. You are awarded a Special Badge to wear, This is to let all know that you are now a "PP" and what year you achieved this  honor.  Note: You are only a president for a year, but a PP forever!

Past Service Member

A former active member whose active membership was terminated because of his retirement from active business or professional life.

Paul Harris Fellow

An individual who contributes or in whose honor or memory is contributed US$1,000 to The Rotary Foundation.

Perfect Attendance

Term used by many clubs to refer to a Rotarian's 100 percent attendance record. However, no official definition of the term exists.

Polio Plus

Rotary's current flagship project - eradicate poliomyelitis from the world by year 2005. This would coincide with the centenary of the Rotary movement.

Probus Clubs

The first Probus Club, an acronym for Pro (fessional) and Bus(iness), specifically for active-retired-persons aged 56 and above was formed in 1966 by the Rotary Club of Chatterham, England. It offers an opportunity to the senior citizens to be part of a group of like minded friends and contribute to the happiness of others and - in fact - develop their own close community to take care of each other. Probusindia has details of Indian clubs.

Provisional Rotary Club

Beginning with its first organizational meeting, providing it meets regularly each week, this name is given to a new club until it is admitted to the membership of RI.

RCC 

Rotary Community Corps. Groups of non-Rotarians who work to improve the conditions of their communities with Rotary club support.

RINO 

'Affectionate' name for category of Rotarians In Name Only. Also true for Rotaractors.

RI Convention 

See convention.

Rotaract

Rotary's leadership and service program for young people ages 18 to 30. It aims to enhance their knowledge and skills that will assist them in personal development, to address the physical and social needs of their communities and to promote better relations between all people worldwide through a framework of friendship and service. The Rotaract movement started on 13 March 1968 with the first charter being granted to the Rotaract club of Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. The event is commemorated each year with the celebration of the World Rotaract Week.
Clubs sponsored by the Rotary Club of Calcutta:
1. Rotaract Club of Calcutta (meets Rotary Sadan, Sundays 5:30 pm).
2, Rotaract Club of IISWBM, College Square.

Rotary 

Rotary is used as expressive and indicative of the organized body of Rotary clubs and Rotarians, of the spirit which animates them, of the principles and practices and precedents which guide them, and of the purposes and object they seek to accomplish.

Rotary Award For World Understanding & Peace

The Rotary Award for World Understanding and Peace is an annual RI award to recognize and honor a non-Rotarian or an organization for outstanding achievement consistent with the ideals and objectives of RI.
    Focusing on advancing world understanding and peace, the award seeks to inspire, encourage and stimulate more Rotarians to be personally involved in humanitarian service, as well as to gain public recognition for Rotarians and RI as significant contributors to humanitarian service. First presented in 1981, the award has been received by 15 individuals and three organizations. 

Rotary Community Corps / RCC / RVC

Groups of non-Rotarians who work to improve the conditions of their communities with Rotary club support. RCCs under the Rotary Club of Calcutta are: go

Rotary Convention

To inspire and inform all Rotarians at an international level particularly incoming presidents, governors-elect and other incoming club and RI officers.

Rotary Foundation

is a not-for-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international, humanitarian, educational and cultural exchange programmes. It is funded solely by voluntary contributions.

Rotary Regional Magazines

 

Rotary Institute

Assembly of all past and present officers of Rotary International. See Institutes, Rotary.

RYLA

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. The idea came about from a program started in Queensland, Australia in 1959 and evolved until 1971 when the Rotary International Board of Directors declared it as an official program of Rotary International. The simple version of the program is to bring together young leaders from area schools (usually from the junior year of high school) for a week of social, cultural and educational activities. They learn about such things as public speaking, environmental issues, problems facing the elderly, economics and many things that we hope will give them knowledge necessary for becoming tomorrow’s leaders.

RYLARIANS

Youth attending RYLA programs.

"Service Above Self"

Motto which may be used in Rotary literature and elsewhere. Designated by the 1989 Council as Rotary's principal official motto.

Sister Clubs

Rotary Clubs establish sister relationships with other Rotary Clubs by agreeing to establish a special bond of friendship between the two Clubs for a specified period, subject to renewal by mutual agreement of both clubs. The clubs agree to promote friendship between the two Clubs and communicate and cooperate with each other regarding projects and activities, to initiate planning for a mutually acceptable joint project and to implement and complete at least one such project within the term of the agreement.

Special Months in Rotary

See >> Months

STAR Programme

Special Training for Action in Rotary. Developed by RC El Paso, Texas, USA in 1976 has proven to be an effective tool for creating a better informed membership and preparing members for club leadership positions.

Statistics - Rotary

Number of Rotarians, Rotary clubs, Districts and other figures.

The Rotarian

The name of the official magazine of RI and an international magazine for business and professional people.

Toasts

At the end of every regular weekly meeting, it is customary to remember with good wishes, another Rotary club - thus fostering international goodwill and peace amongst nations.

Understanding - World, Day

February 23rd, the anniversary of Rotary's birth.

Vocational Service

Rotary's second avenue of service. it's purpose includes promoting high ethical standards in business and professions and fostering the ideal of service in the pursuit of all vocations. The role of the club includes developing projects that help members contribute their talents to meeting society's needs. Te role of Rotarians includes conducting themselves and their businesses in accordance with Rotary principles and responding to projects their clubs develop. 

World Headquarters

The world Headquarters of the Secretariat located at One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, Illinois, USA.

World Understanding and Peace Day - Feb 23

The anniversary of Rotary's birth, 23 February 1905, is also observed as World Understanding and Peace Day. Each club, on that day, gives special recognition and emphasis to Rotary's commitment to international under-standing, friendship, and peace.