Rotary International’s World Rotaract Week
Did you know March 11 to March 18 is Rotary International’s World Rotaract Week???
“Every year, Rotaractors and Rotarians around the world celebrate World Rotaract Week during the week of 13 March to commemorate the founding of the first club in 1968.World Rotaract Week is a time for celebrating the success and importance of the Rotaract program. This is also an excellent opportunity to inform members of your community about the amazing work that Rotaract clubs do, and give them an opportunity to get involved.”
The Rotaractors in our District are no exception to this; it is time to celebrate them – the future of Rotary. Currently, there are 6 Rotaract Clubs in our District: Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Squamish, Vancouver-UBC, and Yaletown. You have probably read about each club’s update in the monthly Rotary District Newsletter (minus the Rotaract Club of Squamish as they were chartered last month), so this will focus on the successes of the Rotaractors on a District-level:
Aug 24-Sept 2: Rotaractors hosted the 2nd annual Pacific Canada Experience (PACE) with Rotaract Roundtrip
Sept. 14-16: 4 Rotaractors from the District attended RYLA North in Prince George and ended up recruiting 2 new members!
Nov. 17: Rotaractors held their first-ever District Rotaract Training Seminar
Nov. 24: 15 Rotaractors volunteered at the District 5040 Rotary Foundation Dinner
Dec. 1: Rotaractors took the lead in organizing the first-ever District-wide Interact Assembly
Feb. 28: 4 of the 6 Rotaract Clubs participated in PolioPlus and donated just over $1,000
For those Rotary Clubs not yet sponsoring a Rotaract Club, you are missing a great opportunity to mentor and mold the leaders of tomorrow. The enthusiasm of Rotaractors can bring new energy to a Rotary Club, assist with projects and inspire fresh ideas for service. Rotaractors of today will be the Rotarians of tomorrow.
The Rotaractors are currently working on the following exciting initiatives:
1) 2nd annual New Generation in Action Conference (April 27):
All the New Generations groups within Rotary will showcase their successes and this will provide Rotarians with the perfect opportunity to engage with the youth. Details tba soon!
2) 2nd’ annual PACE trip: Details tba soon!
3) District-Wide Installation Dinner:
This is a brand new concept that the Rotaractors have come up with – to hold a District-wide Installation Dinner which will induct all the Rotaract Executives at the same time. Why not start the Rotaract/Rotary Year as a cohesive-District? Details tba.
4) District Donation Website:
The Rotaractors are looking to build a e-commerce based website which allows for visitors to donate to projects that they are working on. It will also be used as a historic log of projects and can serve as promotional material. Details tba.
To learn more about the Rotaract Clubs in our District, visit http://www.rotaract5040.org/
If your club does not currently sponsor a Rotaract Club, please consider doing so – Rotaractors are the future of Rotary. Contact Janice Froese (jfroese@telus.net), District Rotaract Chair, or Michelle Leong (michelle87belle@hotmail.com) and Joyce Fan (joycefyn@hotmail.com), the co-District Rotaract Representatives for more information.