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| Formation | March 13, 1968 |
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| Focus | Service |
| Headquarters | Evanston, Illinois |
| Location |
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| Origins | Rotary International |
Area served | Worldwide |
Membership | ~170,000 |
| Website | rotary.org/rotaract |
Rotaract originally began as a Rotary International youth program in 1968[1]atCharlotte North Rotary Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, and has grown into a major organization of 11,172 clubs and nearly 170,000 members in 189 countries and geographic areas.[2] It is a service, leadership, professional, and community service organization (often miscommunicated as a Social Service Club) for young adults aged 18 and over.[3]
Rotaract focuses on young adults' development as leaders in their communities and workplaces. Clubs also take part in international service projects, in a global effort to bring peace and international understanding to the world.
"Rotaract" stands for "Rotary in Action", although the name originally comes from a combination of "Rotary" and "Interact" (International + Action), the high-school level program Rotary International created in 1962.
Most Rotaract activities take place at the club level. Rotaract clubs hold formal meetings in person or virtually, usually every two weeks, that feature speakers, special outings, social activities, discussions or visits to other clubs. Club members get together on designated days for service project work, social events, or professional/leadership development workshops.
To be eligible for membership, you must be 18 years of age and show that you are committed to Rotaract and of good standing in your community. After being approved by the club, members are inducted into Rotaract.
Avenues of service include Club Service, Community Service, International Service and Professional Development.
In 2019, Rotaract went from being a program of Rotary International to being a membership type of Rotary International, elevating its status to resemble that of Rotary clubs. As of 1 July 2020, Rotaract clubs can exist on their own or be sponsored by Rotary and/or Rotaract clubs. This makes them true "partners in service" and key members of the Rotary family.[4] A Rotaract club may, but is not required to, establish upper age limits if its members so desire and record it in the club's bylaws.
Rotaract multidistrict information organizations (MDIOs) function as regional resource centers for Rotaries. They comprise Rotaract clubs in two or more districts, within a country or across several countries. MDIOs are formed to disseminate information and facilitate communication among Rotaract clubs in the participating districts.
Rotaract MDIOs are excellent ways for communicating program updates, local and international news, and event bulletins. They also facilitate uniting Rotaries from different clubs and districts within a particular region.
MDIOs offer information in the form of publications, online services, and direct links with Rotary International (RI) staff. The Worldwide Rotaract Directory has information on specific names, districts, and contacts.
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