World Rotaract Day, March 13th of every year, was set aside by Rotary International to commemorate the significant contribution that Rotaract clubs have given to the Rotary Organization throughout the years. Along with this tribute, Rotary International now began to call Rotaractors, Partners in Service. Rotaract Clubs and Rotary Clubs are asked to hold a week of activities at this time to promote the Rotaract clubs more.

This year, the Rotaract Club of Orange Walk took this opportunity and organized the Annual Civic Pride Campaign during this week. Activities included:

Distribution of Garbage Containers

Drums donated by the Belize Sugar Industries (B.S.I.) Ltd. were painted, sprayed with the Rotaract emblem and the name of the donor. Galvanized pipes also donated by B.S.I. Ltd. were obtained and taken to Technical High School where students of the Welding Class cut them and welded them into "Y" supports. These were then painted and installed at the different locations, with a cement base. The drums which had been equipped with metal rods were then placed on these supports.

Radio Interviews

A "Live" interview was held at a local radio station in which Civic Pride Awareness was promoted. This also provided an opportunity for the club's activities to be well publicized.

TV Ads

A commercial TV ad was placed on the Information Channel and the Broadcast Channel, CTV 3, of the local cable station publicizing the 30th Anniversary of Rotaract as well as the planned activities for the week. This was done at no cost to the club and also helped to provide effective publicity of Rotaract activities.

Donations

Kitchen utensils were donated to the Trial Farm Primary School for their ongoing feeding program for the children that lived too far to go home for lunch or those that had a need for it.

Fundraiser

Bar-B-Q Sale was carried out to help the club finance the activities that were being carried out. About 218 plates of Bar-B-Q Pork were served at BZ$6.00 per plate. It was a sold out.

Overnight Caye Trip

After the Bar-B-Q sale, the members got into a van and drove to Belize City, 54 miles away, where Anthony Hunt, President of the Belize City Rotaract Club, was waiting to take them to St. George's Caye (island). Members of the Belize City Club anxiously waited our arrival, so that the games could begin.

TV Talk Show

A Civic Pride Awareness Talk Show was held "Live" on the local TV station. Panelists included the Mayor of Orange Walk, the District Health Inspector and his assistant, a concerned parent and a concerned citizen. The length of the show was about an hour and 45 minutes and included an opportunity for the audience to call and give their views and comments.

All in all, the program was a success.

Awareness Seminar

A Rotaract Awareness Seminar for the members and prospective members was held. This was done, because although the club had existed for many years, most members had been in Rotaract a year or less. There was a necessity to get everyone reacquainted with the goals and objectives of Rotaract, and also inform them about the many opportunities that Rotaract provided.

 

The prime focus of the Annual Civic Pride Campaign has been to educate the general public, and especially the children, to do their part to make our town a clean one, as well as to instill pride in oneself.