diff --git a/redesign/group/models.py b/redesign/group/models.py
index 93cf749f7..a2408662d 100644
--- a/redesign/group/models.py
+++ b/redesign/group/models.py
@@ -9,12 +9,11 @@ import datetime
 class GroupInfo(models.Model):
     time = models.DateTimeField(default=datetime.datetime.now)
     name = models.CharField(max_length=80)
-    acronym = models.CharField(max_length=16, blank=True, db_index=True)
     state = models.ForeignKey(GroupStateName, null=True)
     type = models.ForeignKey(GroupTypeName, null=True)
     parent = models.ForeignKey('Group', blank=True, null=True)
     iesg_state = models.ForeignKey(IesgGroupStateName, verbose_name="IESG state", blank=True, null=True)
-    ad = models.ForeignKey(Person, blank=True, null=True)
+    ad = models.ForeignKey(Person, verbose_name="AD", blank=True, null=True)
     list_email = models.CharField(max_length=64, blank=True)
     list_subscribe = models.CharField(max_length=255, blank=True)
     list_archive = models.CharField(max_length=255, blank=True)
@@ -36,7 +35,7 @@ class GroupManager(models.Manager):
 class Group(GroupInfo):
     objects = GroupManager()
 
-    # we keep charter separate
+    acronym = models.CharField(max_length=40, unique=True, db_index=True)
     charter = models.OneToOneField('doc.Document', related_name='chartered_group', blank=True, null=True)
     
     def latest_event(self, *args, **filter_args):
@@ -50,6 +49,7 @@ class Group(GroupInfo):
 # to select group history from this table.
 class GroupHistory(GroupInfo):
     group = models.ForeignKey(Group, related_name='history_set')
+    acronym = models.CharField(max_length=40)
     charter = models.ForeignKey('doc.Document', related_name='chartered_group_history_set', blank=True, null=True)
     
     class Meta:
diff --git a/redesign/importing/import-groups.py b/redesign/importing/import-groups.py
index 862eb6a4f..552f5f684 100755
--- a/redesign/importing/import-groups.py
+++ b/redesign/importing/import-groups.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ settings.USE_DB_REDESIGN_PROXY_CLASSES = False
 from django.core import management
 management.setup_environ(settings)
 
+from django.template.defaultfilters import slugify
 
 from redesign.group.models import *
 from redesign.name.models import *
@@ -168,6 +169,7 @@ for o in SDOs.objects.all().order_by("pk"):
         group = Group(name=o.sdo_name, type=type_names["sdo"])
 
     group.state_id = "active"
+    group.acronym = slugify(group.name)
     group.save()
 
 def import_date_event(group, name, type_name):