First Rotaract Council to take place 20 May

By Arnold R. Grahl
Rotary International News -- 25 October 2010

Rotaractors take part in a service project during the 2010 RI Convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada. Rotary Images/Monika Lozinska-Lee

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A Rotaract Council will be held for the first time on 20 May during the Rotaract Preconvention Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

At the three-hour council, which will be modeled after the RI Council on Legislation, Rotaractors who are registered for and present at the preconvention meeting will be able to consider and vote on nonbinding resolutions to change the Rotaract program. The Rotaract Council's recommendations will be reviewed by the 2011-12 Rotaract and Interact Committee, then considered by the RI Board of Directors in September 2011.

A Rotaractor proposed the idea for the Rotaract Council during a question-and-answer session with 2010-11 RI President Ray Klinginsmith at the Rotaract Preconvention Meeting in Montréal, Québec, Canada, in June. Klinginsmith liked the suggestion and moved the proposal forward.

"I'm excited about this, and I think Rotaractors are as well," he said. "This is a recognition of the important role they'll play in the future of Rotaract.

"The Rotaract Council will give Rotaractors the opportunity to make some decisions about which direction the program will go," Klinginsmith added.

An e-mail has been sent to presidents of Rotaract clubs and their sponsor Rotary clubs with information about the council, including the Proposed Rotaract Resolution Form necessary to propose a resolution. Rotaract clubs should update their club's contact information to make sure they receive future information about the council.

Rotaract clubs will be able to propose up to two resolutions to be considered by the council. Each resolution must include a statement of purpose and effect and may be no longer than two pages. Rotaractors will then have an opportunity to vote online to determine the order of consideration for the resolutions. More details about that vote will be provided later.

Resolutions will only be accepted on six topic areas: Standard Rotaract Club Constitution and Bylaws; Rotaract Statement of Policy; the 18-30 age range for membership; Rotaract alumni activities; Rotaract program name, emblem, and motto; and RI fees and dues for Rotaract clubs and their members.

Although the Rotaract Council will be modeled after the RI Council on Legislation, there will be notable differences. Because all attendees of the preconvention meeting will be eligible to take part, participation will not be geographically representative. Decisions by the Rotaract Council will also be advisory and nonbinding.

Last year, about 300 Rotaractors attended the preconvention meeting in Montréal. Attendance is expected to exceed that for the 2011 preconvention event.

"The creation of the Rotaract Council demonstrates President Klinginsmith's and Rotary International's responsiveness and commitment to Rotaract," said Dong-Joon Lee, chair of the Rotaract and Interact Committee. "Hopefully many Rotaract clubs around the world will actively participate, and in the process shape an even brighter future for Rotaract."

Download a .zip file to learn more about the Rotaract Council.

For more information:

13 Comments:

At 9:19AM on 1 April 2011, Rtc. Rodney Twagarukaho Bagamba wrote: Hello.., this is a very brilliant idea and i believe it would take rotaract to another level.. but i would rather like to agree with Simon Carot Collins abt the representation.. Uganda under D9200 has 65 active rotaract clubs n abt close to 2000 rotaractors who may not be able to afford attendance.. thus will agree with the suggestion of Rotrl abt sponsorship from R.I and Presidents of roary clubs for equal representation. District Rotaract M&E officer D9200.

At 9:52AM on 11 January 2011, Alfred BUTER wrote: This is a wonderful idea. Lets together make history and make rotary rotaract greater as we serve our community worldwide.

At 10:50AM on 13 December 2010, Rtr. Anirudha A. S. Borkar wrote: The most active countries as far as Rotaract is concerned are India, Phillipines Brazil and USA in that order. If the Rotary Districts at least in these countries sponsor one or 2 Rotaractors per District to represent at the RI convention, Rotaract worldwide will have a good representation. If the Rotary International is really serious about projecting Rotaract as a new generation avenue, they ought to think on these lines and ask the Districts to send in their Rotaractors.

At 9:37AM on 23 November 2010, RotrI wrote: if R.I can send this information to district governors,Rotary club president worldwide to sponsor atlease two rotaractor for 2011 rotacract preconvention is a plus to rotary family

At 1:53PM on 11 November 2010, ADEKUNLE ADENIRAN RC EGBE, DIST 911O wrote: GOD BLESS U RAY!!! DZ SHOWS DAT OUR PRESIDENT IS READY 4 THE 5TH AVENUE OF SERVICES, NEW GENERATIONS. ROTARACTORS ALL OVER THE WOLD WULD BE EXTREAMLY HAPY IF DZ CULD BE DONE WIT 2 3RD MAJORITY FROM ACRUS EACH ZONES. INFACT, I WILL SUGEST DAT ALL THE LOCAL ROTARY CLUBS DAT HAS ROTARACT CLUBS SHULD TRY AND SPONSOR ATLEAST A ROTARACTOR 2 DZ HISTORIC COUNCIL IN MORE THAN 40YRS OF RATARACT EXISTENCE.

At 10:26AM on 9 November 2010, prasad satpute wrote: I like it for R.I>Convemtion..............OM SAI RAM....!@

At 8:54AM on 5 November 2010, Rotr. Aborisade Olaoluwa Rc. Jos Shers Hills CB wrote: This is a nice step taking and which i believe we show us way forward. Thanks for the innitiative.

At 2:57PM on 29 October 2010, Fred Collignon wrote: As a Rotary club with a family of both a closely associated campus Rotaract club and also an emerging community-based Rotract for post-undergrads working in our region, we have not encountered any conflicts between the two. They work easily with each other and with our club and our emerging community-based Interact group. Figuring out how a small Rotary club of 115 can mentor 350-400 Rotaracters and Interactors is a challenge, however. The council is a great idea, but earlier notice would have helped Rotary clubs in budget planning to assist their Rotaract leaders in going. Hopefully, Districts can help with the campus club leaders.

At 2:26PM on 28 October 2010, Justin Schonegevel wrote: I will have to agree. The council will need better representation and lobby processes to come to a global decision to grow Rotaract. Rotaract age should not be changed. It is the duty of Rotaract to train young Adults not old adults who should be in Rotary. I would like to see the adoption of Chairs per district being provided the rights to challenge decisions and vote as they represent districts. I agree with Simone that not all can pay $50 or more to be in a club as we do it voluntary and cost should not be a barrier. Otherwise I trust the timing is great and the importance is there! Good luck team!

At 2:30PM on 28 October 2010, Rtn.Manik Sharma, RC Bhubaneswar,RID.3260. India wrote: I want to thank Rtr. Jeremy Charles from sydney, who raised such an important issue and proposed the idea for the Rotaract Council during a question-and-answer session with RIP Ray Klinginsmith at the Rotaract Preconvention Meeting in Montréal, Congrats Jeremy ! I also want to thank RIP Ray Klinginsmith for not only liking this suggestion but taken keen interest and making it now a reality. Congrats RIP Ray ! "Lets hope for a better future and a new era of Rotaract movement".

At 9:00AM on 28 October 2010, S.S.Sangha-DRR-Rid-3070 wrote: My all Good Wishes are with U all..... Now it is the Duty of Every Rotaractor to make this First Council A Landmark in the History of Rotaract... This Council Should be the Great Opportunity for the Rotarcators and will serve the Roaract movement in many respects. This will Provide stronger and Healthy Platform for the new Generations...

At 11:45AM on 27 October 2010, mona arslan wrote: I believe this is a great opputunity.. And we really need this in Rotaract! Expressing is what we do in Rotaract and surely sharing would make it BEST! PP.Mona Arslan Chairperson Interota Cairo 2011 !

At 11:48AM on 27 October 2010, Simone Carot Collins wrote: While the idea is great, by holding it at the Pre-Convention, the feedback will largely come from USA Rotaractors, which won't actually reflect the feelings of the rest of the world. Rotaract is predominantly college-based in the USA but is primarily community-based or a mix of both elsewhere. It also wouldn't take into account difficulties for Rotaractors in developing countries to pay dues etc. For such a council to be effective, it needs a good representation from all zones, or at least a way for districts who aren't able to get to the Pre-Convention to submit their thoughts in advance for equal consideration.

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