THIS IS ROTARACT
"FELLOWSHIP THRU
SERVICE"
A Short History Purpose Of Rotaract Who Are Rotaract Members? What Does Rotaract Do? Who Runs Rotaract?
And Something More!
Why Join Rotaract! Club Information
A Rotary sponsored service club for young adults between the
ages of 18 and 30 years old, who are interested in Community,
Vocational and International Service. It is a non-profit, non-political
and worldwide organization. It was first introduced in the
country of Belize in 1973, the first club was formed in Orange
Walk in December 1973, by Father Rene Gomez. In July 1979 the
Belize City and Corozal clubs were formed, presently only the
Belize City and Orange Walk clubs still exist.
Our country belongs in district 4250, along with Honduras and
Guatemala. There are many other districts and each district is
headed by a District Rotaract Representative (DRR), who is a
Rotaractor elected by the Rotaract clubs in the district at the
annual district conference. In 1982, Belize made history when
Alfredo Martinez, of Orange Walk was elected DRR for the Rotaract
year 1982-1983.
The purpose of Rotaract is to provide an opportunity for young
men and women (ages 18 to 30) to enhance the knowledge and skills
that will assist them in personal development, to address the
physical and social needs of their communities and to promote
better relations between all people worldwide through a framework
of friendship and service.
All applicants are considered on the basis of character (will
the individual's ideals match those of the club?), and leadership
potential (is this an individual who will accept challenges in
service and for international understanding?). When you become a
member of a local Rotaract club you will have obligations and
opportunities not unlike those of Rotary club members. Although
your Rotaract club must be sponsored by a Rotary club, the two
are entirely separate.
Undertakes service projects and activities which provides
valuable experience and opportunities for the personal
development of each Rotaractor. Rotaract activities are the basis
for fellowship as well as service. Rotaract gives all members a
chance to work together in active service projects in the
community. It also links you with thousands of others who are
working for better international understanding through Rotaract.
Every Rotaract club works on at least three major service
projects annually - one to serve the community, another to
promote international understanding and a third to stimulate high
ethical standards in business and professions. When you join,
there will be a special place for you. In fact, you may be the
one on whom the success of a project depends, or even the one who
recognizes the need for a particular project.
In Orange Walk, to commemorate Pan-American day (Oct. 12) the
Rotaract club hosts an annual Miss Pan-am pageant, along with a
parade.
Belize City and Orange Walk clubs give out high school
scholarships to needy children. Belize City Rotaract club hosts
an annual Children's Christmas party for the needy around the
city along with the Children from the Child Care Center (Children's
Home) .
To commemorate Worldwide Rotaract Day (March 13) both clubs
prepare a week of activities. In 1994, the Belize City Rotaract
club painted the Belize City Swing Bridge. During this week the
Orange Walk Rotaract Club also organizes a Civic Pride Campaign.
Rotaract activities are not all work, by any means. Rotaract
groups find that their association is the basis for fellowship as
well as service. Whether it is a group trip to tourist sites
around Belize, an overnight trip, or a sporting event, or tour to
a company, or a special project for a local hospital, school or
other public agency, you are part of the action through Rotaract.
Rotaractors are invited to participate in the four-day Annual
District Conference, hosted by a different country every year.
Belize hosted its first conference in 1987.
The members run Rotaract along with the sponsoring Rotary club
which provides advisors. The primary responsibility rests in the
elected officers. Election for the offices of president, vice-president,
secretary, treasurer, and directors shall be held annually prior
to 1 March. A Rotaract club year is the same as a Rotary club
year. Those elected shall take office on 1 July.
Each club is governed by the Standard Rotaract Club
Constitution and Standard By-Laws (given to you when you become a
member). Certain demands are made upon you as an individual
member to assure your full participation and a high level of
efficiency in club efforts. Each member must work on the club's
major projects in community, vocational and international service,
as well as attend at least 60 percent of the club's regularly
scheduled meetings. Dues, kept at a minimal level, are paid in
order to be considered a full member with a right to vote.
Rotaract shares goals similar to those of Rotary which
encourage all Rotarians to pursue four aims:
Because it needs you and you need it. If the "present is
a consequence of the past but not at all an anticipation of the
future," you and others in Rotaract have a special role for
yourselves. This decade, following as a consequence of the decade
of the sixties is the second great decade of action. It is a time
to be, to know, to change and to perfect. It is a time to build
bridges, to understand new friends, and to rise above the
divisions brought on through years of apathy. A way to work
toward this understanding and to build this co-operation with
others is what Rotaract is all about.
"They are planning to build a new hospital, and they want
to have special equipment in the surgical wing." The people
building the new hospital may not have way to pay for this new
surgical equipment. You, as a member of the Rotaract club, may be
one of the means through which the money can be raised. You can
determine the future!
But you are more than a means to raise funds. You are a person
who can give of yourself to other persons. In the final analysis,
it may be the gift of self that will be your most valuable gift.
You can be with elderly persons who are lonely, with young
children who are less privileged than you, with the lonely who
are afraid, with the sick. In the end, it is the gift of yourself
that can determine the future for so many.
Belize City
Rotaract Club
or attend one of our meetings.
We meet every Thursday at 8:00 p.m.
at the Radisson Fort George Hotel
(please check with front desk).
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San Ignacio Rotaract Club
at 7:30pm at Habet's Building
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We meet every Friday at 8:00 p.m.
Palmar Road, Orange Walk Town
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