What does a Rotaract club do?

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.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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 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.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

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

 

SERVICE PROJECTS

Service Above Self is Rotary’s foremost guiding principle. A Rotaract club’s service projects are designed to improve the quality of life at home and abroad. These projects often address today’s most critical issues, such as violence, drug abuse, AIDS, hunger, the environment, and illiteracy. Each Rotaract club is required to complete at least two major service projects annually, one to serve the community and the other to promote international understanding. Each should involve all or most of the members of the club.

Article VII of the Standard Rotaract Club Constitution outlines Rotaract club activity and project guidelines.

What are some other opportunities available to Rotaractors? 
Rotaractors may also:

• Work together with Interact  clubs or mentor Interactors

• Participate in Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

• Become Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholars  or Group Study Exchange  team members

• Seek membership in their local Rotary club after their Rotaract membership ends.

Source:
Rotaract Handbook (562EN)
http://www.rotaract.org/?3e3ea140