Rotaract Club of Howard County Meeting

Rotaract is an international organization 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.

Rotaract is a program of Rotary International; the name is derived from a combination of the words Rotary and action. Rotaract Clubs work under the guidance of their local Rotary Club. 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 some 165,000 members in more than 7,000 Rotaract Clubs in 151 countries. Clubs draw members from the community or are organized as an extracurricular activity for college 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 utilize weekends for service project work, social events, and professional and leadership development workshops.

Every Rotaract Club is part of a district Rotaract organization, run by elected representatives with support from sponsoring Rotarians. The district organization plans regional conferences, develops regional projects, holds club leadership training programs, and sponsors special events to strengthen the bond among clubs.