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| What is Rotaract? |
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| Posted on May 12 2009 |
 | An Introduction to Rotaract District 5170
Rotaract is a Rotary International program for young adults, ages
18-30. More than 7,800 Rotary clubs sponsor Rotaract clubs. There are
approximately 180,000 Rotaractors in 158 countries.
In district
5170, there are currently four Rotaract clubs. A new club is under
development in the Santa Cruz Area. More than 425 young men and women
are registered Rotaractors in this District. The majority of Rotaract
clubs are college/university based. However, in District 5170, the
effort has been to develop community based clubs, or clubs that are
both community-based and college/university-based. The blending of
both professional and student members has proven to be successful in
our District, although we lean toward building successful
community-based clubs as direct stepping stones to Rotary club
membership.
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Rotaract is a Rotary International program for young adults, ages 18-30. More than 7,800 Rotary clubs sponsor Rotaract clubs. There are approximately 180,000 Rotaractors in 158 countries.
In district 5170, there are currently four Rotaract clubs. A new club is under development in the Santa Cruz Area. More than 425 young men and women are registered Rotaractors in this District. The majority of Rotaract clubs are college/university based. However, in District 5170, the effort has been to develop community based clubs, or clubs that are both community-based and college/university-based. The blending of both professional and student members has proven to be successful in our District, although we lean toward building successful community-based clubs as direct stepping stones to Rotary club membership.
The Silicon Valley Rotaract is a successful community-based club of more than 40 members. The Stanford/Palo Alto Rotaract is a combination, while both The College of Alameda and Santa Clara University Rotaract are college/university based clubs. The newest club, the Santa Cruz Area Rotaract is developing a combination club that is expected to have members both from the community and from the colleges and university in the greater Santa Cruz area.
It is recognized that this age group faces many dynamics that minimize stability and maximize opportunities. Providing multiple opportunities to develop friendships, explore business and personal relationships, while at the same time affording members community service experiences, both local and international that are short in development and duration, sets the tone for significant personal contributions without long-term commitments.
Rotaract clubs enable young adults to grow personally and professionally within the Rotary culture by providing opportunities to work together in local and world fellowship, dedicated to service and international understanding.
Club meetings are designed to provide fun, fellowship, food and in-formation. This is done through a variety of activities, events; some social and others service. Meetings feature speakers, discussions, planning sessions and, above all, fellowship opportunities.
District 5170 has established a District Council. This Council is made up of representatives of each Rotaract club and sponsoring Rotary club. The Rotaract President and a designated club member and a representative of each sponsoring Rotary club are standing members. The Council is led by an annually elected District Governor and an Executive Council that is composed of the District Governor, District Governor-Elect, Immediate Past District Governor, Secretary and Treasurer. The Council serves as a clearing house of District events and activities. The Council also has the responsibility of developing and conducting training seminars on Leadership, Personal and Professional Development, Public Relations and Marketing, Membership Development and Retention. The Council is responsible for developing new Rotaract clubs in the District with the direct support of Rotary clubs.
Perhaps the most unique feature of the Rotaract organization in District 5170 is the sponsorship of Rotaract by Rotary clubs. In 2008, The District Rotaract Committee, composed of sponsoring Rotary club representatives, moved to encourage the sponsorship of each Rotaract club with multiple Rotary clubs. As a direct result of this action, and supported by the Rotary District Governor, District Governor-Elect, District Governor-Nominee, and the Youth and Young Adult Service Chair, the Stanford/Palo Alto Rotaract is sponsored both by the Palo Alto Rotary, and the Palo Alto University Rotary. The Silicon Valley Rotaract is sponsored by the Los Gatos and the San Jose Rotary clubs, the Santa Clara University Rotaract by the Sunnyvale, the Sunnyvale Sunrise and the San Jose Sunrise Rotary clubs, and the newly developing Santa Cruz County Rotaract club is sponsored by the Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz Sunrise, the Capitola-Aptos, the Scotts Valley, and the San Lorenzo Valley Rotary clubs.
To maintain a balance in this sponsorship each Rotaract club has an Advisory Committee composed of a representative of each sponsoring Rotary club. These Committees meet regularly with the officers of the Rotaract club to discuss matters pertinent to the growth and well-being of the Rotaract club and its members. The reciprocal is the active involvement of the Rotaractors in the events and activities of their sponsoring Rotary clubs.
Are you a young adult between the ages of 18 and 30; currently enrolled in a college or university program, a self-employed person/or employed individual who would like to make your community a better place than it currently is?
Would you welcome the opportunity to expand your circle of friends at home and abroad?
Are you interested in honing your leadership skills and exploring career opportunities?
Then Rotaract is for you!
For more information about Rotaract clubs in District 5170 and surrounding districts in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area contact Donn Wadley, District 5170 Rotaract Chair at: dwadley@netloans.com, and Rotaract District 5170, at www.rotaract5170.org.
For specific club information, meeting days, location and time of meetings please contact the following:
The College of Alameda, kcompton@peralta.edu
Santa Clara University, jesstuan@gmail.com
Santa Cruz Area, elspence@ucsc.edu
Silicon Valley, www.siliconvalleyrotaractclub.org
Stanford/Palo Alto, www.stanford.edu/group/rotaract |
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