Springfield Rotaract Member Doug Fredrick poses in front of a Rotary project in Africa.
Rotaract is an international organization of service clubs for men and
women aged 18-30 that fosters leadership and responsible citizenship, encourages high
ethical standards in business and promotes international understanding and peace.
Rotaract is a program of Rotary International. Rotaract Clubs work under
the guidance of their local Rotary Club, and take their name from a combination of the
words Rotary and action. The first officially chartered Rotaract Club was in North
Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1968, but clubs of young people associated in service with
local Rotary Clubs had existed for several years in India and Europe.
Today, there are some 165,000 members in more than 7,000 Rotaract Clubs
in 151 countries. Clubs draw members from the community or are organized as an
extracurricular activity for college students.
Rotaract Clubs conduct formal meetings, usually every two weeks, which
feature speakers, tours of local businesses, cultural activities, discussions, and visits
to other clubs. Rotaractors utilize weekends for service project work, social events, and
professional and leadership development workshops.
Every Rotaract Club is part of a district Rotaract organization, run by
elected representatives with support from sponsoring Rotarians. The district organization
plans regional conferences, develops regional projects, holds club leadership training
programs, and sponsors special events to strengthen the bond among clubs.
Rotaract functions internationally through a committee of Rotaractors
and Rotarians. This committee works with Rotary International to plan an annual two
days-long forum held prior to the Rotary international convention. This event offers
Rotaractors from all over the world the chance to meet, discuss issues of mutual interest,
and develop friendships based on international goodwill and understanding. Every three
years Rotaractors conduct another international meeting called Interota, named from the
words international and Rotaract.
The goals of Rotaract:
- To develop professional and leadership skills.
- To emphasize respect for the rights of others, based on recognition of
the worth of each individual.
- To recognize the dignity and value of all useful occupations as
opportunities to serve.
- To recognize, practice and promote ethical standards as leadership
qualities and vocational responsibilities.
- To develop knowledge and understanding of the needs, problems and
opportunities in the community and worldwide.
- To provide opportunities for personal and group activities to serve the
community and promote international understanding and goodwill to all people.
Springfield Rotaract
info@springfieldrotaract.org
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