Rotary District 5040 is home to six amazing Rotaract clubs: Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Squamish, UBC (Vancouver) and Yaletown.

Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young adults between the ages of 18 and 30. Rotaract clubs are either community or university based and sponsored by a local Rotary Club. There are over 9,000 clubs spread around the world with over 200,000 members. Rotary District 5040 is hoping to add to this number with interest in starting new Rotaract Clubs coming from Prince George and North/West Vancouver. If you know of any young adults in those areas that may be interested, please let us know.
 

The name ROTARACT is taken from a combination of the words "Rotary" and "action". Action is clearly evident during the work that the local Rotaractors are involved with: fundraising for Shelter Box, collecting care supplies and participating in soup kitchens to feed the homeless or those needing a helping hand., sponsoring and loading a Rotary World Help Network medical containers, raising funds for the eradication of Polio or build a school for the hearing-impaired in Bali, Indonesia, mentoring Interact Clubs, working with charities such as the Canadian Cancer Society to sell daffodils, the 24 hour relay to support Easter Seal camps or participating in the MS Society Walk for Life; participating in park cleanups, fish releases, and various international trips while having fun!! In August, five international Rotaractors were hosted in our District as part of the Pacific Canada Experience (PACE). It was inspirational to all that took part and a big thank you goes out to the Rotary clubs that helped to sponsor this event.

Rotaractors and Rotarians often work side-by-side on service projects, extending the impact made on the local community. Through Rotaract, Rotarians have the opportunity to help mentor the next generation of community and business leaders. In turn, Rotaractors often bring enthusiasm and energy to their sponsoring Rotary club.

For those Rotary Clubs sponsoring a Rotaract Club, collaborate more closely with your Rotaract Club through joint meetings, service projects or fundraising events. Encourage and sponsor Rotaractors to attend RYLA, PETS, the New Generation Conference and District Conference. Reverse mentoring is a concept that can aid Rotary clubs to keep current with technology, social media, cultural diversity and increased membership through engagement.

Through interaction with Rotarians, Rotaractors will continue their involvement by becoming Rotarians.

Special thank you to 2012-2013 District Rotaract Representatives, Michelle Leong and Joyce Fan, for their leadership of Rotary District 5040 Rotaractors during the past year. A warm welcome to the 2013-2014 District Rotaract Co-Representatives, Gurinder Walia [waliag87@gmail.com] and Jacquie Peabody (jacquie_peabody@hotmail.com). Please do not hesitate to contact either Janice, Gurinder or Jacquie if you have any questions or need help in starting a Rotaract Club.

The first annual Rotaract Installation dinner is taking place on September 21st. Contact Anushka to see if there any tickets available.

Check out the Rotary District 5040 Rotaract website: www.rotaract5040.org