There are a number of great online resources available to you if you are interested in starting a Rotaract Club . Some of the more common steps are outlined below.
- Review the Rotaract Club Handbook to have a firm understanding of the commitment involved
- Discuss your ideas with the your local Rotary club’s president or its service projects or youth committees
- Obtain Strong Rotarian Support. Generate Rotaract interest and gain member support. Create a Rotaract Committee and appoint a Rotarian to serve as the primary adviser.
- Decide on a University or Community-based Club. Decide which type of Rotaract club your Rotarians will work best with and which type of club will best suit your local community.
- If university-based club, work with student affairs to understand what is involved to create a student club on that campus
- Develop a Recruitment Strategy. Identify eligible young professionals and student leaders with the qualities you wish for your Rotaract club to represent. Look for sons and daughters of Rotarians, Interact alumni, Youth Exchange students, former Ambassadorial Scholars, Group Study Exchange alumni, and RYLA participants. For community-based clubs it may be helpful to look at community centers, churches, health clubs, and university alumni databases.
- Hold an Informational Meeting. Invite Rotarians from the sponsoring Rotary club and Rotaractors from nearby clubs. Be sure to discuss why Rotaract is different from other service clubs and the benefits of being part of the Rotary family. Remember to gather contact information for all those in attendance.
- Hold Consistent Organizational Meetings. Work with new club members to develop member ongoing recruitment strategies, to organize service activities, to determine what types of projects the club is interested in. Identify strengths and talents, and create officer roles respectively.
- Charter your Rotaract Club. Once your organization has 15 strong and committed members, register with Rotary International. When approved and when you receive the official club charter, hold a Charter Ceremony to create a sense of belonging and Rotaract pride within club members. Try to have key District Rotary figures at the ceremony. There is a standard ceremony procedure that most celebrations should follow.
- Be present. As a Rotarians, we are there to work with our students and offer guidance to them. Go to their meeting, attend their events. Be a part of Rotaract.
We are here to assist you if you are interested in starting a Rotaract Club in your community. You can reach the District Youth Program Council at youth7950@gmail.com and our Rotaract Chair, Nancy Vanasse at rotaract7950@gmail.com or774.451.1894 (mobile).
