Rotaract
Rotaract: Fellowship Through Service
Rotaract is one of Rotary International’s structured
programs designed to help clubs and districts achieve
their service goals in their own communities and in
communities abroad, fostering fellowship and
goodwill in the process.
What is Rotaract?
Rotaract is a service club
for young professionals
and students ages 18-30.
Sponsored by local Rotary
clubs, Rotaract clubs
provide young people with
opportunities to foster
leadership and responsible
citizenship, and to promote
international peace and
understanding.
Rotaract Goals
Rotaractors can, through their membership
• Develop professional and leadership skills
• Emphasize respect for the rights of others
• Promote ethical standards and the dignity of all
useful occupations
• Provide opportunities for young people to address
the needs and concerns of the community and our
world
• Provide opportunities for working in cooperation
with sponsoring Rotary clubs
• Motivate young people for eventual membership in
Rotary
A Part of the Rotary Family
Rotaractors and Rotarians are
partners in service. Rotarians
advise promising students
and young professionals, the
members of Rotaract clubs.
Rotaractors bring new energy
to a Rotary club, inspire fresh
ideas for service, increase
support of projects, and help
develop future Rotarians.
Rotaract Facts
• Rotaract stands for Rotary
in action.
• The first club was chartered
in 1968 at the University of
North Carolina at Charlotte,
in the USA.
• Today there are over 9,539
clubs in 178 countries and
geographic areas with an
estimated membership of
219,397 young men and
women worldwide.
About Rotaract
Although sponsored by Rotary clubs, Rotaract
clubs are self-governing and self-supporting.
These clubs draw members from the
community, and are sometimes organized as
an extracurricular activity for university
students. Sponsoring Rotary clubs can
provide guidance to Rotaract clubs.
Rotaract Guidelines
Rotaract clubs are encouraged to
• Have a Rotarian adviser and a faculty adviser
for university-based clubs
• Meet at least twice a month
• Require 60% attendance of its members
• Raise their own funds to carry out projects and
activities
Service Projects
Rotaract clubs are required to complete two major
service projects annually to improve the quality of life
at home and abroad, while expanding international
understanding and goodwill.
Projects and Activities
Projects and activities
may include:
• Blood drives
• Benefit concerts
• Literacy campaigns
• AIDS education
• Environmental
clean-up efforts
• Professional and
vocational forums
How to Organize a Club
1. Form a Rotaract
subcommittee.
2. Identify the membership
base.
3. Hold informational and
organizational meetings.
4. Complete the Rotaract
Club Organization List.
5. Submit list to Rotary
International with US
$50 charter fee.
Rotary Club Support
Successful ways to provide guidance:
• Invite Rotaractors to Rotary club meetings.
• Create an annual Rotary-Rotaract service project.
• Develop and improve membership recruiting
strategies.
• Establish a recognition program.
• Publicize activities to the community and the
Rotary world.
Rotaract Club Structure
The Rotaract board of directors is the club’s
governing body. It consists of the following
elected officers:
• President
• Vice president
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Any other officers deemed necessary
Rotaract Club Committees
The Rotaract club president appoints the following
four committees to help implement successful
activities:
• Club Service committee
• Community Service committee
• International Service committee
• Professional development committee
District Structure
District Rotaract chairs are appointed to assist Rotary
clubs as they administer, promote, publicize and
oversee the activities of Rotaract clubs. Rotaract
activities at the district level provide opportunities for
• Developing joint projects
• Training new club officers
• Sharing ideas for strengthening club service
• Promoting Rotaract extension into new areas
World Rotaract Week
Every year, Rotaractors and Rotarians celebrate the
charter of the first Rotaract club during the week of
13 March. Together they participate in a variety of
activities to increase Rotaract awareness in their
communities.
Participate
Rotaract clubs give young
adults the opportunity to
serve community needs
within an international
framework of fun and
service. Rotaract is one of
the most significant and
fastest growing programs
of Rotary service.
Rotaract Calendar
•
•
•
•
•
September – New Generations Month
February 1 – Outstanding Project Award nominations
March 1 – Annual club elections completed
March 13 – Program anniversary
March 31 – Presidential Citation
Resources
The following resources are available on the RI Web
site (www.rotary.org):
• Rotaract pages (includes publications)
http://www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/YouthPrograms/Rotaract/Pages/ridefault.aspx
• Rotaract staff (e-mail to rotaract@rotary.org)
Rotaract in District 7570
Clubs
Averett University
Dan River Region
East Tennessee State University
Ferrum College
James Madison University
King College
Liberty University
Lord Fairfax Community Coll
Milligan College
Radford University
Riverview Youth Build
Roanoke College
Shenandoah University
VA Highlands Comm College
Virginia Tech
VMI / W&L U
Contacts
District Rotaract Chair
Lora Gordon
540-731-4556
llgordon@radford.edu
District Rotaract Vice Chair
(open)
District Rotaract Representative
Amber Smith
Rotaract Club of James Madison U