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So, what do all of these event names at District Conference (i.e. President’s Rep Breakfast, GSE Fellowship Breakfast, Foundation Breakfast and President-Elect’s Luncheon) mean and which should I attend?
Let’s begin by saying Rotarians love to name events after people and their titles, use abbreviations and refer to various programs with acronyms, so here’s an attempt to clear the air just a little.
District conference; to go or not to go that is the question (paraphrasing someone famous).
Let’s start with how events are titled in the agenda for the District 6150 District Conference to be held April 18-19 in Memphis.
Although some of the meals are titled as though they are only for a certain group of folks, in reality they are titled this way simply to honor a group of folks. We Rotarians love to honor those who go the extra mile. An example of this is the “President’s Luncheon” on Saturday. This is titled this way simply to honor the presidents and all Rotarians and guests are invited to attend.
Another example is the Saturday Foundation Breakfast. I used to think this was only for Foundation Members. Not so. Everybody is invited to the thing to eat and the food is scrumptious or at least as scrumptious as you can make eggs and fixings. This meal is for everyone who has paid for their meal with their registration. You’ll hear a wonderful speaker and get your day off to a great start.
The long and short of this is that the only two meals which are for certain invited guests are the Thursday evening PDG Reception and Dinner and the Friday Morning President’s Rep Breakfast. Since most attendees won’t arrive until later in the day on Friday, we didn’t include these events in the complete meal package.
The rest of the events are designed to provide Rotary fellowship for all attendees.
And a note from your Chief Sergeant-at-Arms, Rusty Guinn: And this includes the Sergeant at Arms Bloody Mary party which starts Friday morning at 8:00 AM and lasts until Sunday morning at 10:00 AM. I hope to see you there. (Just kidding about the Bloody Mary thing…)
Rusty Guinn
District Sergeant-at-Arms |
President’s Rep – Rotary International President’s Representative – a person selected by Rotary President Wilf Wilkinson to be his personal envoy to our conference.
GSE – Rotary Group Study Exchange – A team of 4 to 5 non-Rotarians (selected from within one Rotary District) accompanied by a Rotarian team leader who spend approximately one month in another country learning about culture and visiting individuals engaged in their profession in another land.
YE – Rotary Youth Exchange – High School students who spend either 3 months or 12 months studying, learning the native language and making life-long friendships in another country.
Foundation or TRF – The Rotary Foundation – Through the support of The Rotary Foundation Rotarians advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. The Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. A one-time gift to the Annual Fund of TRF of $1,000 entitles the donor to designate someone as a Paul Harris Fellow. An annual gift of $100 makes the donor a Sustaining Member and an annual $1,000 gift entitles the donor to become a member of the Paul Harris Society.
PDG – Past District Governor – The District Governor is the ONLY officer of Rotary International in a Rotary District. Once having served in this capacity, all Past district Governors become an invaluable resource of knowledge and enthusiasm for current and future club and district leaders. These individuals give a great deal of their time preparing to serve and serving so we honor them in special ways after they’ve served as a District Governor.
RI – Rotary International – Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders. Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. There are over 32,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. As signified by the motto Service Above Self, Rotary’s main objective is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world.
District – A geographically defined area that includes a number of Rotary Clubs (39 in our district number 6150). These clubs join together for training, fellowship, projects and activities that further the Object of Rotary. The clubs in a district also elect those who will serve as District Governor.
For more information about Rotary visit the online version of the ABC’s of Rotary, written by this year’s keynote speaker, Past Rotary International President, Cliff Dochterman. Click here. |
