Rotaract Club of Toowoomba
The Rotaract Club of Toowoomba is a club formed under the Rotaract Program of Rotary International. It is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Toowoomba Garden City. Although the Rotary Club of Toowoomba Garden City was charted on the 9th of August 1986, the Rotaract Club of Toowoomba was chartered only on 21st of May 2008. The Rotaract Club of Toowoomba is under Rotary International District 9630 and is one of 53 Rotaract Clubs in Australia. The club is open to students and young professionals aged 18–30 years old.
The Rotaract Program
Rotaract is an international organisation of service clubs for men and women aged 18–30 that fosters leadership and responsible citizenship, encourages high ethical standards in business and promotes international understanding and peace. It is one of Rotary’s most significant and fastest-growing service programs, with more than 7,000 clubs in about 163 countries and geographical areas. Rotaract members, or Rotaractors, stand by the motto of "Fellowship Through Service" and practice Rotary's Four Way Test:
- Is it the truth?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendship?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Rotaract Clubs work under the guidance of their local Rotary Club, and take their name 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, clubs draw members from the community or are organised as an extracurricular activity for university students.
Rotaract Clubs conduct formal meetings, usually every two weeks, which feature speakers, tours of local businesses, cultural activities, discussions, and visits to other clubs. Rotaractors utilise weekends for service project work, social events, and professional and leadership development workshops.
Every Rotaract Club is part of a district Rotaract organisation, run by elected representatives with support from sponsoring Rotarians. The district organisation plans regional conferences, develops regional projects, holds club leadership training programs, and sponsors special events to strengthen the bond among clubs.
The goals of Rotaract are:
- To develop professional and leadership skills
- To emphasise respect for the rights of others based on the recognition of the worth of each individual.
- To recognise the dignity and value of all useful occupations as opportunities to serve.
- To recognise, practice and promote ethical standards as leadership qualities and vocational responsibilities.
- To develop knowledge and understanding of the needs, problems and opportunities in the community and worldwide.
- To promote opportunities for personal and activities to serve the community and promote international understanding and goodwill towards all people.
See also
Rotary International
Rotaract