Student Extra Activities

Rotaract clubs are part of a global effort to bring peace and international understanding to the world. This effort starts at university student or community level but knows no limits in its outreach. Rotaractors have access to many resources of the rotary international (R.I.) and the Rotary Foundation. Rotary international provides the administrative support that helps Rotaract clubs thrive.

Rotaract has evolved quickly in its short but dynamic history. In the early 1960s, Rotary clubs around the world began to sponsor university youth groups as community service projects. The 1967-68 RI President, Luther H.Hodges and the board of Directors considered this club activity to have international relevance, and Rotaract was approved in 1968 as an official program for Rotary clubs. The first club chartered was Rotaract club of North Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, on 13 March 1968. Several decades later, the Rotaract program has grown into a strong, international network of 7300 clubs in more than 150 countries and geographical areas. Rotaract's 145,000 members are young men and women (ages 18 to 30) who serve the needs of their communities, widen their personal and professional contacts, and increase their understanding of the world.

• 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 worldwide
• To provide opportunities for personal and group activities to serve the community and promote international understanding and good will toward all people

Rotaract clubs organize a variety of projects and activities, depending primarily on the interests of the club members. However, within the Rotaract program, all clubs undertake three types of activities in varying degrees: professional development, leadership development, and service projects. Together, these three areas ensure a balanced club program and provide important experience and opportunities for the personal development of each Rotaractor.

A club's professional development activities should expand the members understanding of the work environment and business opportunities within their community. These activities should highlight the Rotaractor's role in the community's economic development and illustrate how skills developed through service activities can help in resolving problems in the workplace. Each Rotaract club should provide professional development opportunities to its members through activities such as:

• Professional and vocational forums
• Business and technology updates
• Management and marketing seminars
• Conferences on business and professional ethics
• Presentations on finance and credit options for business start-up

Sponsoring Rotarians can enhance the professional development of Rotaractors by providing practical advice on entering the business world and tackling business, vocational and professional challenges. Making the club's professional development projects into joint Rotaract-Rotary projects can also help Rotaractors get better acquainted with sponsoring Rotarians.

A club's leadership development activities aim not only to make members more effective leaders in their personal lives, but also to teach them how to develop and sustain strong clubs with relevant projects. Important topics to address in training club leaders include:

• Improving public speaking skills
• Developing techniques for marketing the Rotaract program to potential members
• Building consensus among members
• Delegating project responsibilities and ensuring necessary follow-up
• Identifying channels for project publicity and promotion
• Finding financial resources for strengthening club development
• Assessing project success

Today's young people will become tomorrow's parents, professionals, business leaders and community leaders. With the help of programs like Rotaract, they can gain the tools and skills necessary to develop into responsible, productive members of society.