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More About Rotaract |
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What is Rotaract?
What does Rotaract do?
What is Rotary International?
How is Rotaract connected to Rotary?
Why join Rotaract?
Goals of Rotaract
Who can join?
How do I join?
What are the membership requirements?
How much will it cost me?
What events can I attend?
What are meetings like?
What makes Rotaract unique?
What is Rotaract? (back to top)
Rotaract is an international organization of young professionals and
students ages 18 to 30 that are committed to service and leadership in
their communities and abroad. Established in 1968 by Rotary
International, Rotaract is a global network of young
people who are changing the world with clubs in over 160 countries.
What does Rotaract do?(back to top)
Through our activities, we focus on service
(both locally and globally), professional development, leadership
development, and fellowship. We do this through bi-monthly meetings, regular service projects, and social events. A few service activities of the Rotaract Club of Greater Louisville have included: assisting with the Harbor House's Ken-Ducky Derby, volunteering at Wayside Mission soup kitchen on MLK Day, collecting socks for St. John Men's Center, remodeling work at Bellewood Children's Home with East Louisville Sunrise Rotary, volunteering with the Kentucky Humane Society's Picture Your Pet with Santa, and bell ringing for the Salvation Army with Prospect/Goshen Rotary.
Rotaractors in costume at a club Halloween party
 Some of our social events have included Halloween parties, a Mardi Gras gathering, nature walks, and just going to dinner together.
We also stay very connected to our sponsoring Rotary clubs, the Rotary Club of Prospect/Goshen and the Rotary Club of East Louisville Sunrise. We regularly visit Rotary meetings and join Rotary clubs in their own projects. Rotarians also frequently visit our Rotaract club meetings. Not only are Rotarians great people to get to know, but they are also seasoned business and community leaders who are willing to share their experiences and advice.
Rotaract members also have the opportunity to attend regional and international conferences. Conferences offer opportunies to make lasting friendships with Rotaractors from around the world while learning from fantastic speakers and educational workshops.
What is Rotary International? (back to top)
Rotary
is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that
provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all
vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world.
Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 clubs in
more than 200 countries and geographical areas.
Rotary
club membership represents a cross-section of the community's business
and professional men and women. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly
and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races,
and creeds.
The
main objective of Rotary is service — in the community, in the
workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community
service projects that address many of today's most critical issues,
such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment,
illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth,
educational opportunities and international exchanges for students,
teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career
development. The Rotary motto is Service Above Self.
How is Rotaract connected to Rotary? (back to top)
Rotaractors with US Rep. John Yarmuth at a meeting of the Rotary Club of Prospect/Goshen
Rotaract can be described as the "younger" version of Rotary. Rotaract clubs are sponsored by Rotary clubs and are true partners in service. The Rotaract Club of Greater Louisville is sponsored by two local Rotary clubs: the Rotary Club of East Louisville Sunrise and the Rotary Club of Prospect/Goshen. We have an open invitation to attend the weekly meetings of our sponsoring Rotary clubs, and their members drop by our meetings as well. We also participate in projects of our sponsoring Rotary clubs as well as the projects of other Rotary clubs in the metro Louisville area. Rotarians are the business and civic leaders of our community, and interacting with them through service provides Rotaract members with unique opportunities to learn and be mentored.
Why join Rotaract? (back to top)
Everyone has their own reasons for joining. Maybe you are new to Louisville and looking to meet people. Maybe you want to get involved in something that is making a difference. Or maybe you are just curious! Whatever your reasons, you owe it to yourself to check out Rotaract!
- Meet new people
- Enhance your leadership skills
- Interact with Rotarians- the business, civic, and community leaders of Louisville
- Get involved in the local community
- Get involved in the global community
- Attend international conventions
- Develop friendships with Rotaractors around the world
- Learn about yourself
- Make a difference
Goals of Rotaract (back to top)
The goals of Rotaract are:
● to develop professional and leadership skills;
● to emphasize respect for the rights of others, and to promote ethical standards and the dignity of all useful occupations;
● to provide opportunities for young people to address the needs and concerns of the community and our world;
● to provide opportunities for working in cooperation with sponsoring Rotary clubs; and
● to motivate young people for eventual membership in Rotary.
Rotaractors at the club chartering ceremony
 Who can join? (back to top)
Anyone between the
ages of 18 and 30 who is looking for something new is invited to join
Rotaract! Members might be young professionals, recent college
graduates, current college students, or anyone! Most of our members are young professionals in their mid twenties and span from non-profit careers to the corporate world, from education to government. We have members who are single and members who are married. So no matter who you are, you will fit right in! Everyone is welcome.
How do I join? (back to top)
To join the Rotaract Club of Greater Louisville, we recommend you first visit a few of our functions including a business meeting, a social event, a service project, and a Rotary meeting. Your first step is to attend a meeting where you can then pick up a membership application.
What are the membership requirements once I join? (back to top)
Rotaract members are expected to be actively involved in the club's activities. After all, why join if you're not going to participate? Rotaract is much more than just a line on your resume. Members are required to attend 60% of club meetings, however, attending other club functions and Rotary meetings can count as make-up opportunities. We have a variety of events going on each month, so you shouldn't have any trouble meeting the attendance requirement!
Also, all members are expected to participate in at least one club committee. Current committees include community service, international service, and club service (social). Committee members, under the direction of the chair, help to plan club events and projects in each of these areas. It is your way of taking an active role in the planning of club events!
How much will it cost me? (back to top)
Dues are $40 annually, and are pro-rated based on when you join. The Rotaract year runs from July 1 - June 30. We know that young professionals don't necessarilly have lots of money to spend on "extra" stuff, so we try to keep costs down. Instead of focusing on service projects that requrie you to spend your own money, we try to find projects that allow us to use our time and talent... and go easy on the wallet!
What events can I attend? (back to top)
Check out a business or social meeting, or drop by one of our service projects. Check out our calendar of events to see what's coming up next! Guests are welcome at all our events.
What are meetings like? (back to top)
 Rotaract meets twice a month; one business meeting and one "social" meeting.
Business meeting start with members reciting the "4 Way Test" and the pledge of allegiance followed by the quote of the day, introductions, member of the month, and "happy quarters." Happy Quarters give members the opportunity to announce what is going on in their lives to make them happy! This is followed by a recap of recent events and announcements of upcoming events. The second half of the meeting consists of a guest speaker. Our speakers come from a wide variety of backgrounds from the National Weather Service to successful business people to refugees from Darfur.
Social meetings take our regular meetings to various locations for fun and fellowship. Social meetings might include going to dinner or a random group outing.
A refugee from Darfur speaks at a club meeting
What makes Rotaract unique? (back to top)
If you have read the information above, you've probably already started to figure out what makes Rotaract unique. Sure there are plenty of organizations out there for young professionals, but Rotaract is about much more than just networking. Rotaract is about improving the world, and yourself, while having a blast. Rotaract is an international organization with chapters around the world that has been growing for over 40 years. The intrinsic value gained from helping others is immeasurable, and the opportunity to learn from Rotarians is priceless. Check us out and see for yourself!
Go Back
Rotaract Club of Greater Louisville
www.louisillerotaract.org
(c) 2008
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