Rotaract is an international organization of service clubs for men and
women aged 18 to 30.  Rotaract clubs are affiliated with Rotary clubs
in their own communities; the name combines "Rotary" and "action".
Their overall mission is to promote leadership and responsible
citizenship, high ethical standards in business, and international
understanding and peace.  (Unlike Rotary, however, membership
requirements are more flexible, and there are no vocational
classifications.)

The first Rotaract club was founded in North Charlotte, North
Carolina, USA in 1968.  Today there are more than 140,000 members in
over 6000 clubs worldwide.  Clubs can be community-wide or university-
based.  Rotaract has a motto, "Friendship in Action", which emphasizes
that service and social events go hand in hand: we need to work
together to solve the problems of our communities and the world.
There are three kinds of service activities: vocational, community,
and international.

Vocational activities serve to develop the careers and leadership
capabilities of Rotaractors; community activities are chosen by clubs
to meet local needs, sometimes in conjunction with other groups; and
international activities expand members' knowledge of other areas and
promote cooperation across national boundaries.

Despite beginning in the USA, Rotaract is much better known in Europe,
India, and South America.  Clubs in the USA can vary greatly in focus
and membership, but this variety can be an asset.  The region
comprising the US, Canada, and the Caribbean held its first annual
conference in Chicago in 1993; subsequent events have been in Los
Angeles and Toronto, and the 1996 conference will be in Sarasota,
Florida.  Rotaract in North America is growing quickly.

For more information contact:

  World Headquarters, Rotary International, One Rotary Center, 560
  Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201, USA

  Phone: (708) 866-3000, FAX: (708) 328-8554 or 328-8281

[Source: Daniel A. Hartung (dhartung@mcs.com), Evanston Rotaract Club.]