General rules

General rules for the order of welcome remarks:

  • Current officers take precedence over past ("Past") officers;
  • Past officers take precedence over incoming (elected) officers;
  • Incoming (elected) officers take precedence over appointed officers;
  • Rotaract officers precede their Rotarian counterparts, except in interclub settings, and except for District Governors;
  • Guests of honour (e.g. speakers, and civil, religious or military authorities) precede both Rotaract and Rotary officers;
  • Spouses and partners hold the same rank as the officer they accompany, and are welcomed with the formula: "...let's welcome [name], accompanied by...";
  • These rules should be read together with Italy's DPCM of 14 April 2006, as updated by the DPCM of 16 April 2008 (the official Italian precedence rules for public ceremonies).

Note! If the welcome remarks are given by the Club Prefect, the Prefect does not welcome their own Club's President, since they are speaking on the President's behalf.

Welcome order with District Council members present

  • District Representative (if absent, the Vice DR is welcomed first)
  • Past DR
  • DR-elect
  • DR nominee
  • Vice DR
  • District Secretary
  • District Treasurer
  • District Prefect
  • District Councillor
  • Zone Delegates
  • Rotaract Presidents (if absent, their Vice President)
  • District Committee members

Welcome order at an interclub event with a Rotary Club

  • Rotary Club President + spouse/partner (if present)
  • Presidents of the other clubs
  • Past Presidents (in order of seniority in office)
  • President-elect
  • Vice President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Prefect
  • Councillor

There's no need to name every single member individually: a formula such as "...and the club members present..." can be used instead.

Welcome order with district, international and interdistrict officers present

  • DR (if absent, the Vice DR is welcomed first)
  • Past DR
  • DR-elect
  • DR nominee
  • MDIO Chair
  • Country Representative
  • Vice DR
  • District Secretary
  • District Treasurer
  • District Prefect
  • District Councillors
  • Zone Delegates
  • District Committee Chairs
  • Rotaract Presidents (if absent, their respective Vice President)
  • District Committee members

Note: this list applies when Rotaract officers are present. If the corresponding Rotary and Interact officers are also present, the order of precedence is: Rotaract, Rotary, Interact.

See also