Those Rotary Acronyms - Your Reference

Questions are often asked about the meanings of abbreviations and definitions used in Rotary, often referring to its officers, fellowships and programs.  Detailed here are those acronyms in common usage. (From an RDU early 90's article).

ARHRF

Australian Rotary Health Research Fund.

DGE

District Governor-Elect; the Rotarian elected by the R.I. Convention to take office as district governor on July I next.

DGN

District Governor Nominee; the Rotarian nominated as the immediate successor of the current district governor - or district governor-elect- (To distinguish the DGN --i.e. the not-yet-elected but duly nominated next district governor from the governor nominee for the following year, the latter should be referred to, for example, as DGN (1991-92); not as DGNN)

GSE

Group Study Exchange; a Rotary Foundation program of paired districts in different countries exchanging teams of five business and professional women or men aged 25 to 35 years for six weeks to promote international understanding.

WCS

World Community Service.

IMPACT

Previously known as 28 Clubs, these clubs provide an opportunity for continuity of social contact and service work to persons beyond Rotoract age.

MUNA

Model United Nations Assembly.

MOP

The Manual of Procedure (of RI)

NSSS

The National Science Summer School is a vacation school for those year 11 students who have shown above average ability in science related subjects.

OD

The Official Directory of Rotary International

PACE

Pacific Area Cultural Exchange is a cultural exchange with the South Western Pacific Region of young people 15-17 for one month in January.

PDG

Past District Governor.

POLIOPLUS

The program of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International to immunise the children of the world against poliomyelitis, plus whooping cough, red measles, diphtheria, tetanus and tuberculosis

PP

Past President (of a Rotary club).

PRIME

Program of Rotary International Music exchange

Probus

Clubs for retired professional, and business people, sponsored by Rotary clubs tor the extension of fellowship and interests. The name is from professional and business and also a Latin word meaning virtue.

RI

Rotary International.

RIBI

Rotary International in Great, Britain and Ireland - a territorial unit of RI under separate administration.

ROTEX

An association of Returned Rotary Youth Exchange Students.

ROVE

Rotary Overseas Vocational Exchange; a program to enable young people aged 18 to 25 years to spend a year working at their trade or calling in an overseas country.

RVIA

Rotary Volunteers in Action

RYLA

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards; a youth leadership training program conducted district level in which each club sponsors two young leaders (a woman and a  man) aged 18-25 years to attend a week-long residential leadership training seminar.

RYPEN

Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment; similar to RYLA but usually limited to a weekend and catering for the 14-17 years age group

RYSAP

Rotary Youth Self Achievement Program; similar to RYPEN but with the focus on individual self development.

3-H

Health, Hunger and Humanity; a program of The Rotary Foundation of RI to promote health, eliminate hunger and advance human welfare.                            

RDU

Rotary Down Under - Official magazine for the ANZO Region.

TR

The Rotarian - official magazine of RI

TRF

The Rotary Foundation

YEP

The Youth Exchange Program provides for the selection and sponsorship of students in the 16-18 age group, to travel to another country to spend a year attending secondary school and living with host families in that country.

RAWCS

Rotary Australia World Community Service - The organisation created to co-ordinate world Community Service activities in Australia.

FAIM

Fourth Avenue In Motion - Activity of RAWCS  under which Rotarians and volunteers serve in developing countries training teams on construction projects or as instructors under the In-Service Training Scheme (IST).

IPAC

International Projects Advisor Committee - An activity of RAWC. Each year the Committee compiles a list of WCS projects for Rotary, Rotaract, Interact and Inner Wheel clubs to support after verifying the credentials of the organisation or institution seeking assistance.

SWSL

Save Water Save Lives - An activity of RAWCS which provides people in developing areas with equipment and training to build concrete tanks for secure storage of clean water for drinking and sanitation.

DIN

Donations-in-Kind Information Network - a service by the RI Secretariat which consists of a centralised computerised listing  of offer of donated goods, supplies and services.  List is circulated to clubs quarterly.

The Zones of Rotary International from which members of the board of directors are elected:-

USCB

United States of America. Canada, Bermuda and Puerto Rico.

GBI

Great Britain and Ireland

CEEMA

Continental European, Eastern Mediterranean and African Zone.

ASIA

Asia

IBERO AMERICA

South America, Central America, Mexico and The Antilles.

ANZO

Australia, New Zealand and Places Not Included in Any Other Region.