Rotary Protocol and Decorum
Every Rotary Club has to organise many functions and meetings. There is certain protocol to be observed to recognise dignitaries, to show them love and respect of the organisation. A proper observance of protocol enhances the prestige of the concerned and also brings decorum to the function. Below are certain hints as to how one can observe this protocol :
- All Rotary meetings hosted by a club (including Intercity Forum, RYLA, etc.) and/or a regular meeting of the Club should be presided over by the President of the Club. The meeting will be called to order by him and not by the Master of Ceremonies or such other functionary.
- A Rotary meeting hosted by District or District Committee will be presided over by the serving District Governor. He will call the meeting to order. Whilst calling the meeting to order, the gavel is first gently banged on the table and then the Presiding Officer says, This meeting is called to order. Similarly whilst adjourning the meeting the Presiding Officer announces, This meeting is adjourned and thereafter gently bangs the gavel on the table.
- The protocol to be observed in order of precedence for greetings is as under :
As a general rule, present functionary will precede past, and past will precede future. Serving District Governor, Past District Governors starting from senior most, DGN, serving President, District Officers, Past Presidents, President-Elect and so on. If the Mayor or the first citizen of the town is present in a Rotary meeting, he should be invited to the dais and should be recognised first.
- Once protocol is observed in a meeting initially, the subsequent speakers need not repeat the protocol but get down to business by addressing "Fellow Rotarians and Guests". This will help save time and not to say the least, avoid possible foul up of protocol. Whichever may be The Rotary meeting, hosted either by the Club or by the District, the serving Governor, if present and as the Chief Guest, will speak last. After the speech of the Governor, there should be no further speeches or for that matter summing of the speech. The only item on the agenda will be acknowledgements and a vote of thanks. During the official visit of the Governor to the clubs, there should be no additional Chief Guest, Governor being the only one. Clubs are discouraged to have more than one chief guest at the installation function or such other Rotary function or during Governors Official Visit.
