History of Rotaract
Rotaract, Rotary International's service club program for young adults ages 18-30, was officially inaugurated during January 1968 under RI President Luther Hodges. On 13 March 1968, the Rotaract Club of the University of North Carolina, sponsored by the Rotary Club of North Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, was the first Rotaract club to receive its official charter. Although this club is recognized as the first Rotaract club, Rotarians have been sponsoring similar organizations for young adults since the early 1920s.
In 1927, Round Table clubs were founded in Great Britain and Ireland. Membership in Round Table clubs was open to young men ages 18 to 40, and by 1935, there more than 90 Round Table clubs existed. In November 1930, the first Apex club was formed in Geelong, Australia. Apex clubs grew rapidly, expanding to more than 20 clubs in just a few years. These clubs were sponsored by Rotary clubs, and were open to professionals and students between the ages of 18 and 35.
Similar Rotary club-sponsored groups continued to spring up simultaneously and independently around the globe. Unisserve clubs in India, Orbis clubs in South America, Rotors clubs in South Africa, Paul Harris Circles in Europe, and Quadrant clubs in the United States are some of the best-known examples. Eventually, these clubs would provide the base for the future growth of Rotaract as the clubs adopted new names under the Rotaract program.
A special committee was convened to design the new service club program for young adults during 1966. After polling students at the University of Houston, Texas, USA, the committee decided that "Rotaract" would be the best name for the program — a combination of the words "Rotary" and "action." Coincidentally, the service club at the University of North Carolina had already adopted the name in 1966, but they coined it as a combination of the names "Rotary" and "Interact." The committee also decided that young women should be allowed to join on equal standing with male members at the discretion of the sponsoring Rotary club.
Australia had the distinction of chartering the 4th and 7th clubs in the world, namely Brisbane West, Queensland on 16 June 1968, and Shellharbour, New South Wales in August 1968. In the first five years of the Rotaract program, Australia had 288 of the 1,543 clubs worldwide.
After its official creation, the Rotaract organisation was for many years considered by Rotary International as nothing more than a Rotary club's community program. The 1990s marked a turning point in Rotaract history with the creation of Multidistrict Organisations in Europe, Australia and South America. These groups have made it possible for Rotaract to become the "Partners in Service" of Rotary Clubs, as described by Past RI President Rajendra Saboo. This change in the way Rotaract is considered by Rotary was enhanced in 1996/97 by RI President Luis Vicente Giay, who made the development of Rotaract one of his top priorities.
- Information obtained from The Rotarian, Rotaract News, Rotary International Office Communications, the Minutes of the Rotary International Board of Directors, "A Brief History of Rotaract," by Cyril Noirtin and Magali Füss, and the personal correspondence of Bill Kemp, Rotary Club of North Charlotte, USA.
In 1927, Round Table clubs were founded in Great Britain and Ireland. Membership in Round Table clubs was open to young men ages 18 to 40, and by 1935, there more than 90 Round Table clubs existed. In November 1930, the first Apex club was formed in Geelong, Australia. Apex clubs grew rapidly, expanding to more than 20 clubs in just a few years. These clubs were sponsored by Rotary clubs, and were open to professionals and students between the ages of 18 and 35.
Similar Rotary club-sponsored groups continued to spring up simultaneously and independently around the globe. Unisserve clubs in India, Orbis clubs in South America, Rotors clubs in South Africa, Paul Harris Circles in Europe, and Quadrant clubs in the United States are some of the best-known examples. Eventually, these clubs would provide the base for the future growth of Rotaract as the clubs adopted new names under the Rotaract program.
A special committee was convened to design the new service club program for young adults during 1966. After polling students at the University of Houston, Texas, USA, the committee decided that "Rotaract" would be the best name for the program — a combination of the words "Rotary" and "action." Coincidentally, the service club at the University of North Carolina had already adopted the name in 1966, but they coined it as a combination of the names "Rotary" and "Interact." The committee also decided that young women should be allowed to join on equal standing with male members at the discretion of the sponsoring Rotary club.
Australia had the distinction of chartering the 4th and 7th clubs in the world, namely Brisbane West, Queensland on 16 June 1968, and Shellharbour, New South Wales in August 1968. In the first five years of the Rotaract program, Australia had 288 of the 1,543 clubs worldwide.
After its official creation, the Rotaract organisation was for many years considered by Rotary International as nothing more than a Rotary club's community program. The 1990s marked a turning point in Rotaract history with the creation of Multidistrict Organisations in Europe, Australia and South America. These groups have made it possible for Rotaract to become the "Partners in Service" of Rotary Clubs, as described by Past RI President Rajendra Saboo. This change in the way Rotaract is considered by Rotary was enhanced in 1996/97 by RI President Luis Vicente Giay, who made the development of Rotaract one of his top priorities.
- Information obtained from The Rotarian, Rotaract News, Rotary International Office Communications, the Minutes of the Rotary International Board of Directors, "A Brief History of Rotaract," by Cyril Noirtin and Magali Füss, and the personal correspondence of Bill Kemp, Rotary Club of North Charlotte, USA.