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Rotaract Club of Oglethorpe University |
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youth
making a difference through
service.........
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. 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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Is 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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How 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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What 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 and the Worldwide Rotaract Directory. 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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How 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.