Rotaractors during the recent meeting sharing a picture together.
SIMPSON BAY--Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle invited Regional Assistant Director Rotaractor Micaela Hart, Rotoract Sunrise President Georgette Rampersad, Secretary Chanelle Hart and Rotaractors Lerissa Rey, Hendrick Snijders and Franklyn Solomon to their fellowship dinner meeting this week.
They quizzed the club members on their knowledge of the early beginning stages of Rotaract 50 years ago. Mid-Isle members who were present enjoyed learning more about the history of Rotaract. Rotary Week started on March 13 and ends on March 19.
Rotaract originally began as a Rotary International youth programme at Charlotte North Rotary Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1968 and has grown into a major Rotary-sponsored organisation of more than 9,522 clubs spread around the world with 291,006 members.
It is a service, leadership, professional and community service organisation for young men and women 18-30. Rotaract focuses on the development of young adults as leaders in their communities and workplaces.
Clubs around the world 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 plus Action), the high-school level programme created by Rotary International in 1962.
Most Rotaract activities take place at the club level. Rotaract Clubs hold formal meetings, 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.
The purpose of Rotaract is to provide an opportunity for young men and women to enhance the knowledge and skills that will assist them in personal development, to address the physical and social needs of their communities and to promote better relations between all people worldwide through a framework of friendship and service.
To be eligible for membership, prospective members must be 18-30 years of age, show that they are committed to Rotaract and show that they are of good standing in the community.Mid-Isle will be celebrating the Rotary Foundation turning 100 years old during 2017; that is a century of Rotary members changing lives and improving communities all over the world.
