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Frequently Asked Questions
• How can I join a Rotaract club?
• How do I start a new Rotaract club?
• Why should our Rotary club sponsor a
Rotaract club?
• What exactly does a Rotaract club do?
• Is there a difference between community-based
and university-based Rotaract clubs?
• Can we sponsor a group of 14-18 year olds
to become Rotaractors?
• Can two Rotary clubs sponsor one Rotaract
club?
• Where do we find young people to join
Rotaract?
• What policies does our Rotaract club
need to follow?
• How do we make our Rotaract club "official?"
• What support do Rotaract clubs receive
from Rotary International?
• How can our Rotaract club make contacts
within our Rotary district and beyond?
• What is an MDIO?
• How can I become a member of the
RI Rotaract Committee?
• Can past Rotaractors become Rotarians?
How can I join a Rotaract club?
Begin by contacting a nearby Rotaract or Rotary club to find meeting location,
dates, and times. If you can't find information for local clubs, contact RI
staff, or look in local or college campus directories. Several Rotaract clubs
also maintain their own Web sites — search
for Rotaract sites that have registered with Rotary International.
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How do I start a new Rotaract club?
Contact your local Rotary club and discuss your ideas
with the club president or club community service or youth
committees. Because Rotaract clubs rely on the continued sponsorship
and support of Rotary clubs, it is important for everyone
to have a firm understanding of the commitment involved. Review
the RI Rotaract publications
with the sponsoring Rotary club.
You also may consider contacting other Rotaract clubs and
their sponsoring Rotary clubs to learn what makes them successful.
Rotarians also should invite Rotaractors to attend a Rotary
club meeting and/or have them make a presentation during a
weekly meeting.
Once the Rotary club's board has agreed to sponsor a Rotaract
club, you can forge ahead with membership recruitment, meetings,
and projects. Remember, the structure of a Rotaract club mirrors
that of a Rotary club, so use your sponsoring Rotary club
as a resource for answering your "how do we do this?"
questions. They have expertise to share.
When your Rotaract club is ready, complete the Rotaract
Club Organization List form so Rotary International can officially charter
your club.
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Why should our Rotary club sponsor a Rotaract
club?
Organizing a Rotaract club is one of the most rewarding
community activities a Rotary club can undertake. The Rotaract
program gives Rotarians the opportunity to mentor dynamic
young men and women who want to provide service in their local
and global communities. Rotarians also will serve as resources
for Rotaractors who will become tomorrow's parents, business
professionals, and community leaders. In turn, a Rotaract
club can bring new energy to a Rotary club, inspire fresh
ideas for service, increase support to projects, and spread
knowledge of Rotary to other sectors of the community. Rotaractors,
with the experience they gain through this Rotary program,
make exceptional future Rotarians.
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What exactly does a Rotaract club do?
Rotaract clubs organize a variety of projects and activities,
depending on the interests of the club members. However, three
main areas of focus include professional
development, leadership
development, and service
projects (both locally and internationally). Together,
these areas ensure clubs have a balanced service program while
providing opportunities for the personal development. It is
important to remember that Rotaract, like Rotary, is diverse,
and each club acquires unique qualities, depending where in
the world it is established.
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there a difference between community-based and university-based
Rotaract clubs?
Although both approaches to Rotaract club organization
have proven successful in various parts of the world, there
are some key differences. You may wish to speak with Rotarians
involved with each type of program to learn which type has been
successful for them and why. Also, consider the interests of
members and your community's potential.
Typically, community-based clubs are open to all members of
the community who are between the ages of 18-30. They can be
"young professionals" or a combination of students
and professionals. It is important for a Rotarian or a committee
of Rotarians to serve as the liaison between the clubs.
University-based clubs are sponsored in conjunction with
a local college or university. The Rotary club should work
within the school's regulations regarding student organizations
and extra-curricular activities. The club may need a faculty
adviser, but a Rotarian liaison also is important. If there
is a Rotarian on the faculty, staff, or board of a local college,
that person often makes a good adviser.
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Can we sponsor a group of 14-18 year olds
to become Rotaractors?
No, but you should consider sponsoring an Interact
club, Rotary's program for secondary-school students.
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Can two Rotary clubs sponsor one Rotaract
club?
Yes, a Rotaract club can be organized and sponsored
jointly by more than one Rotary club under the following conditions:
- The district governor approves the joint sponsorship in
writing;
- The circumstances must be such that the organization of
separate Rotaract clubs, each sponsored by a single Rotary
club, would create an artificial division of what is essentially
a single body of young adults in the community or university;
- A joint Rotaract committee is formed with members of each
sponsoring Rotary club; and
- Each member of the Rotaract club agrees to adhere to
the constitution and bylaws of the club.
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Where do we find young people to join Rotaract?
Young adults aged 18-30 are everywhere. First consider
finding potential Rotaractors at local community colleges,
universities and technical training schools. Sons, daughters,
or other family members of Rotarians, employees and interns
of Rotarians, former Interactors, Youth Exchange participants,
Ambassadorial Scholars, Group Study Exchange alumni, and RYLA
participants also are perfect candidates. Lastly, consider
the young people you know from local places of worship, community
centers, and fitness clubs.
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What policies does our Rotaract club need
to follow?
The Rotaract Statement
of Policy and Standard
Rotaract Constitution and By-laws, created by the RI Board of Directors, include
details on membership, club leadership and organization, fees and dues, and Rotaract
activities at the district, multidistrict, and international levels. These guidelines
have been adopted to give all Rotaract clubs a uniform structure. It is the responsibility
of the Rotaract and sponsoring Rotary club to ensure that the policies are met.
Beyond the RI policies, each Rotaract club is self-governing and self-supporting,
working with the sponsoring Rotary club as needed.
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do we make our Rotaract club "official?"
Once a Rotaract club has achieved a strong membership base, it must apply
for a charter from Rotary International. Fill out the Rotaract
Club Organization List (with contact information and the signatures of the
sponsoring Rotary club president and the district governor) and send, along with
the equivalent of a US$50 chartering fee, to RI World Headquarters or the RI Service
Center in your area.
After the information has been received at Rotary International,
an official charter certificate will be mailed to the president
of the sponsoring Rotary club. Consider planning a special
ceremony or celebration to present the charter certificate
to the Rotaract club.
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support do Rotaract clubs receive from Rotary International?
Once the Rotaract club is chartered, it is entered into
Rotary International's member database. Then, the Rotaract club
and its sponsoring Rotary club will begin receiving Rotaract
updates, the Worldwide Rotaract Directory and Rotaract
News. Rotary International also provides a number of useful
online resources.
The highlight of the Rotaract year is the annual Rotaract
Preconvention Meeting, which is held prior to the RI
Convention. RI staff, in conjunction with the RI
Rotaract Committee, plans an exciting program, giving Rotaractors and Rotarians
from around the world the opportunity to join together, share ideas and discuss
issues.
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can our Rotaract club make contacts within our Rotary district
and beyond?
Within each Rotary district, district governors may appoint
a district Rotaract chair (a Rotarian). Rotaract clubs may elect
a district Rotaract representative. Chairs and representatives
are responsible for promoting the program, facilitating communication,
and disseminating information among all Rotaract and sponsoring
Rotary clubs. Begin by contacting your chair and representative
for more information about Rotaract activities planned for your
district.
Making contacts with Rotaract clubs outside of your district
can begin in a variety of ways, but one place to start is
by using the Worldwide Rotaract Directory, distributed each
August by Rotary International. Each active, chartered Rotaract
club receives a copy by mail.
To find contact information for your district Rotaract chairperson
or district Rotaract representative, request a directory,
or find out about Rotaract in a specific place, contact RI
staff.
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What is an MDIO?
An MDIO, or Multidistrict
Information Organization, is a group of Rotaract districts
that function as a regional administrative center. Coordinated
by Rotaractors and approved by the RI Board, MDIOs disseminate
information or facilitate communication between Rotaract clubs
in the participating districts. Over the last 10 years, Rotaract
MDIOs have been a driving force in enhancing communication
and promoting Rotaract awareness and growth in many regions
of the world.
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How can I become a member of the RI Rotaract
Committee?
Rotaractors interested in serving on the RI
Rotaract Committee should have a Rotarian write to the
RI president-elect recommending him or her as a worthy candidate.
All committee appointments are made at the discretion of the
president-elect.
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Can past Rotaractors become Rotarians?
Absolutely. Rotary clubs are encouraged to view former
Rotaractors as potential Rotarians and to periodically review
Rotaract club membership to look for possible candidates.
Also, Rotaract clubs are encouraged to develop a list of club
members who may potentially fulfill a Rotary classification.
Clubs also should maintain a list of past and present members,
noting their particular interest in Rotary service projects.
These lists should be shared with the sponsoring Rotary club.
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Have a question about Rotaract? Contact RI
staff.
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