New Rotaract Club opens in Oshawa
Thu Mar 27, 2008

By: By David F. Andrews

DURHAM -- The newest Rotaract Club -- for men and women aged 18-30 to foster leadership and responsible citizenship among other goals -- has opened on the campus of Durham College, Trent University Oshawa and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

The club, which is a program of Rotary International, received its charter from the Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood at the March 12, 2008 meeting at The Rotary Club's Oshawa Golf Club meeting place.

This is the sixth Rotaract Club in District 7070, which stretches along Lake Ontario from Toronto to Belleville, and north through Alliston in which there are 55 Rotary Clubs and more than 2,500 Rotarians.

The Rotaract Club of The University of Ontario Institute of Technology-Trent University Oshawa Campus-Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology, now with more than 40 members, meets every two weeks throughout the school year. It is one of the only Rotaract Clubs in the world that is affiliated with a combination of three post-secondary schools.

The word Rotaract comes from a combination of the words "Rotary" and "action." The first officially chartered Rotaract club was in North Charlotte, North Carolina in 1968, but clubs of young people associated in service with local Rotary clubs had existed for several years in India and Europe. Today, there are an estimated 149,000 members in 6,447 Rotaract clubs in 154 countries and geographical regions. Clubs draw members from the community or are organized as an extracurricular activity for college students. Rotaractors should be of good standing and reputation in their communities.

Under the guidance of a Rotarian advisor, Rotaract clubs conduct formal meetings, usually every two weeks, which feature speakers, tours of local businesses, cultural activities, discussions and visits to other clubs. Each year, Rotaract clubs conduct at least one service project in each of three areas of service: vocational, community and international. In addition to their service agenda, Rotaract clubs also focus on professional development, organizing career-related programs to assist members and peers outside the club in making informed career choices.