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Chat with us on
Twitter during World Rotaract Week |
![Rotaract promotional card]() World Rotaract Week, observed
12-18 March this year, commemorates the founding of the first Rotaract club in 1968. Rotaract clubs can celebrate by participating in joint projects
with their sponsor Rotary clubs. After the activity is complete, the Rotary club or district Rotaract chair can download and complete the certificate of recognition for
presentation.
Rotaractors and Rotarians also can participate in a Twitter chat about
World Rotaract Week celebrations on Tuesday, 13 March, 09:30-10:30 CST (check your local time). To join the conversation, search for #RACtalk
on Twitter. Read a transcript of a recent Twitter chat about
how Rotaract clubs and Rotary clubs can work together. Learn more about World Rotaract Week and find suggestions for
projects. Also, take advantage of special pricing on the new
Rotaract promotional cards. From now through 1March, you can get 50 cards for just US$5. |
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Literacy
project webinar |
Join a panel of literacy experts during an upcoming webinar to hear stories
of successful projects from around the world, information about Rotary's literacy partnerships, and inspiring project ideas for Literacy Month in
March. Register for the webinar, Taking on a Literacy Project:
You also can discuss literacy projects with other Rotarians during a
Twitter chat on Monday, 27 February from 15:00-16:00 CST. Follow the tag #rotarylit to participate. |
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How will
you celebrate Rotary’s anniversary? |
![Video: Rotary lights up the world]()
Rotarians around the world will light up local landmarks with the End Polio Now message on 23 February to
mark Rotary’s 107th anniversary. How will your club celebrate? Read about other celebration plans, including a swim marathon, and
check out 100 Ways to Celebrate a Rotary Day.
You also can celebrate on Twitter:
- Join a
Twitter chat with Rotary's partners in polio eradication on Friday, 24 February at 09:30AM CST (check your local time). Follow
the hashtag #poliochat to participate.
- Use the hashtag #ri107 all week to tell us
how Rotary has impacted your life
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Want to have
your next Rotaract or Interact meeting online? |
Recent changes to RI policy give Rotaract and Interact clubs more
flexibility in how to hold their biweekly meetings. The Standard Rotaract Club Constitution and Bylaws and the Standard Interact Club Constitution
and Bylaws have been amended to permit Rotaract and Interact clubs to meet in person, online, or a combination of both. These recent board decisions
offer all clubs flexibility to connect with their members. Is your club considering
an alternative meeting model? Do you want to try out an e-meeting during a school break? Whether your club holds most of its meetings face-to-face
with an occasional e-meeting, or meets most of the time online, it’s following Rotaract and Interact policy. Discuss your plans with your
sponsor Rotary club, and be sure to communicate any changes with fellow Interact or Rotaract club members. |
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Interactors
discuss polio awareness, funding on Facebook |
Interactors and Rotarians from Chile, Egypt, South Africa, Uganda, the
United States, and elsewhere participated in a Facebook chat on 7 February to discuss one Interact club’s efforts to raise funds and awareness
for polio eradication. Members of the Interact Club of the Episcopal School of Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, spoke about their winning entry in the
2011 Interact video contest, which tells a dramatic story about the fight to end polio. Read what they had to say and see their photos.
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Updates from RI Board meeting |
At its January meeting, the RI Board of Directors weighed in on several
topics related to New Generations. Here are a few of the Board’s decisions:
- Club presidents and district governors-elect are encouraged to appoint New
Generations committees to develop, implement, and support New Generations activities.
- Because service is an essential component of all New Generations programs, clubs and districts should include a service
learning dimension in RYLA and Youth Exchange, as well as in Interact and Rotaract, to promote leadership and team-building skills,
tolerance, and commitment to social responsibility.
- District Rotaract
representatives and sponsor Rotary clubs should encourage Rotaract club officers, directors, and committee chairs to attend district-level
leadership training meetings.
In addition, the Board decided that it will not amend the age range for Rotaract members and will not collect annual dues from Rotaract
clubs. These decisions grew out of recommendations from the 2011
Rotaract Council. Read more highlights of RI Board actions.
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Overheard on social media |
Through social media sites, New Generations participants are sharing
advice, making connections, and telling their stories. Here are a few messages we've seen recently on RI’s social media channels:
- “Rotarians help with
professional dilemmas, career guidance, grant writing, and are contacts in our communities.” From a #RACtalk Rotaract Twitter chat
- “25 years since I was in Rotaract and many of my adult lifetime friends remain from
those wonderful 10 years of my life.” From a discussion
about Rotaract on Facebook
- “We have chosen to take a long term approach
and focus on developing Rotaract and Interact Clubs to develop future Rotarians. . . we would like to establish a vibrant and dynamic Rotaract Club
on every 4-year college/university in our state.” From a LinkedIn discussion on attracting younger club members. (Not part
of the RI LinkedIn group? Join now.)
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Upcoming
events |
Do you know of an event we should add to this list? Email us at prog...@rotary.org.
Ninth Asia Pacific Regional Rotaract Conference
(APRRC)
Bangkok, Thailand
30 April-3 May
Rotaractors from across South Asia are invited to attend this
event, which immediately precedes the Rotaract Preconvention Meeting. ![2012 Rotaract Preconvention Meeting]()
2012 Rotaract Preconvention
Meeting
Bangkok, Thailand
4-5 May
Rotaractors and Rotarians will have the opportunity to exchange
ideas, hear informative speakers, and connect with the global network of friendship, engagement, and action that is Rotaract.
European
Rotaract Convention (EUCO) 2012
Moscow
23-27 May
This year’s meeting is hosted by Rotaractors in
District 2220. RYLA Conference in North America sponsored by
District 7620
Washington, D.C.
11-15 July
This leadership conference will bring together 18- to
30-year-olds, including Rotaractors and former Rotary Youth Exchange students, Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholars, and Rotary
Peace Fellows. |
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