Words you will hear at a Rotary club meeting
A Apologies: If you cannot attend a meeting you need to send an apology email via the club website
Associate Member: Route by which someone can become acquainted with the club prior to joining. Also, former members who wish to maintain links with the club or return as a full member
Attendance: Attendance at each meeting is noted for meal or event charges
B Banners: Clubs have small banners to exchange when a member visits another club
C Classics: Short for Classics on the Common, the annual classic car show
Club Directory: List of members, contact details and their role in the club
Community Showcase: A public gathering of local charities and other community organisations to explain how they can help people and answer their questions
Council: Club President, Vice-President, Immediate Past President, Secretary, Treasurer and committee chairs meeting to run the club
D District: UK is split into areas called Districts to aid communication and enhance resources for clubs. We are in District 1260
District Reps: Club members selected to attend District meetings
E End Polio Now: World-wide Rotary initiative to help fund elimination of Polio
Event Manager: Club member designated to organise an event
F Final toast: The president closes the meeting by proposing a toast to ‘Rotary and peace the world over.’ This Rotary tradition reflects the movement’s global reach and its concern for peace throughout the world.
Foundation: Rotary International charity that provides money donated by clubs to fund programmes such as End Polio Now. See also Matching Grants
H HATS: Stands for Holiday Airport Transport Service. A members group to help each other, e.g. providing transport to and from airports
I Inner Wheel: A club for women, affiliated to Rotary
Insurance: Members are insured for event participation.
M Matching Grants: Grants available to a club, matching money raised to aid a problem at home or abroad.
Mock Interviews: A means by which members help prepare young people for university or job interviews
N Newsletter: A weekly summary of the club meeting. The editor is chosen weekly
P Paul Harris Fellowship (PHF): Named after Rotary’s founder, the fellowship is awarded to Rotarians and others who have made a substantial contribution to the work of Rotary
Q Quiz of Quizzes: An annual community event which raises funds for charity
R RGBI: Short for Rotary International in Britain and Ireland. A regional organisation whose role is to lead, motivate and inspire Rotary Districts in Britain and Ireland
RI: Short for Rotary International. A worldwide service organisation, bringing together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service and advance goodwill and peace globally
RiH: Short for Rotary in Harpenden
Rotary in Harpenden: The charity that organizes and runs community events in and around Harpenden with the help of Rotary members and others
Rotary in Harpenden CIO: the registered name of the charity. CIO stands for charitable incorporated organisation, giving its members the same legal protections as a company limited by guarantee.
S Safari Supper: A social event for club members and partners where you move from host to host for a three-course meal
Schools Carols: An annual charity fundraising concert given by a combined choir, drawn from local primary schools
Service Recognition Award: A Rotary award, given by a club to members or others, recognizing a significant contribution to the local community
ShelterBox: A charity that delivers aid to families devastated by conflict or disaster, giving them durable shelter and the tools to rebuild communities
Shoeboxes: A national Rotary scheme by which primary schools and other groups fill shoeboxes with toys and household goods for disadvantaged children and elderly people in Central Europe
Speaker Steward: The nominated club member who greets and sits with the speaker, introduces them and their talk and proposes the vote of thanks
T Technology Tournament: An annual competition among Harpenden and St Albans secondary school pupils aimed at encouraging creative technology talent
Thought for the day: A brief comment or grace given by the House Steward at the start of a club meeting
Twinning: A formal link between two Rotary Clubs in different countries or regions
Y Young Citizen Awards: Given to teenagers, chosen by their school or other youth organisation, to honour outstanding efforts that reflect the Rotary motto, Service above Self
Young Photographer Competition: An annual countrywide competition to recognize budding young photographers’ work
Youth Debate, formerly Youth Speaks: A nationwide annual public speaking and debating competition for school children