Every Rotaract club consist of five committees which effectively carry out the activities of the club. These are Community Service, Club Service, Professional Development, International Service, and Finance. The Club can appoint additional committees as the need arises. Committees meet at least once a month to discuss plans and activities and share them with the President. All committee activities and expenses are subject to board approval.
Each committee is headed by a Committee Director elected from among the members in good standing. Although not mandatory, it is recommended, that the director of each committee have previously been a member of that committee. The Director may at his/ her discretion appoint a deputy and/ or secretary of the committee from among the members of the committee.
Members are placed into committees by the board, and rotated at the start of each Rotaract year to allow members maximum exposure to the various aspects of the club.
Community Service Committee
Built on the principles Service Above Self, and Lend A Hand, the Community Service Committee is the backbone of every Rotaract club. Through this committee Rotaract clubs worldwide fulfil their mandate as community service organisations by undertaking various projects to improve the quality of life in their community. Though the entire club is called upon to participate in these projects, the Community Service Committee, under the leadership of the Committee Director (and in consultation with the President and Board of Directors) is tasked with:
- Reviewing suggestions and developing plans for the club’s community service projects, and
- taking a leadership role in organising and facilitating these projects.
These projects are intended to meet the needs of the community and may include:
- promoting literacy
- assisting the elderly, disabled or underprivileged
- sensitising the community to the ills of society
- beautifying the community
- or providing opportunities for the youth, among others.
Club Service Committee
Through its mandate of Fellowship; the Club Service Committee is tasked with building the club’s membership, and building the bonds of friendship between club members. With responsibility for attendance, membership, recruitment, fellowship, and public relations this committee is vital in keeping the club functional. The Club Service Committee must:
- develops strategies for membership development, recruitment and retention
- take meeting minutes
- write and distribute the club bulletin
- plan fellowship and social activities for the membership
- prepare the meeting venue for meetings and club assemblies
- facilitate the induction of new members and provide them with the tools and information required to be effective members of the club
- facilitate the nominations and elections of the next Board of Directors
- organise and facilitate the clubs handing over ceremony (Investiture)
The Club Secretary is usually a member of the Club Service Committee. The Club P.R.O. and S.A.A. may also be members of this committee. Some activities the committee may plan include the following:
- celebration of the club’s charter anniversary
- celebration of World Rotaract Week (week of March 13th)
- celebration of the birthdays of club members
- plan club outings and social gatherings
- host visiting Rotaractors and Rotaract clubs
- organise and facilitate open house sessions and recruitment drives
Professional Development Committee
In addition to giving Rotaractors the opportunity to serve while building lasting bonds with fellow Rotaractors, the Professional Development Committee makes it all worthwhile by providing members with the opportunity to grow personally and professionally. Geared towards the building of leadership qualities of club members this committee organises and facilitates training sessions and seminars that give club members skills:
- needed to be effective leaders in Rotaract
- that allow them to improve their professional careers
- that are useful in their personal lives
- that build a high ethical and moral standard among members
- that prepare members for membership in Rotary after the age of 30
Examples of Professional Service projects may include:
- educating new and existing members on Rotaract’s organisational structure, practices, policies, constitution, and by-laws
- training members in public speaking, project planning, report writing, budget and financial management
- resource management, motivational speaking, conflict resolution, time management
- computer training, office etiquette, resume writing, interview protocol
- disaster planning, first aid and CPR, emergency preparation and response, food and water safety and sanitisation
- photography, culinary skills, learning a foreign or native language, learning a cultural dance
- tailoring, electrical wiring, and carpentry
International Service Committee
With over 7,600 Rotaract clubs in more than 158 countries the International Service Committee is tasked with connecting these clubs together by spreading international understanding, goodwill and peace. This committee extends all the ideals of Rotaract beyond the local club reaching across regional and international borders spreading friendship, the exchange of ideas, and the sharing of cultural diversity.
Through International Service Rotaractors have the unique opportunity to grow individually, as a club, and at the district level by interacting and corresponding with each other, sharing experiences, and collaborating on joint projects. Every Rotaract club is comprised of members of different social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds from the next club. This lends to the great diversity which is Rotaract as young men and women of all walks of life are welcome. As a result each club is faced with unique challenges and their approach to these challenges varies from club to club. By corresponding and collaborating however clubs may learn that not all of their challenges are unique and that other clubs may already have solutions for some of the problems they face.
The International Service Committee is responsible for:
- enhancing the club’s knowledge of global needs, problems, and opportunities
- develop programs and activities that promote international understanding and goodwill towards all people
- expose club members and the community at large to the cultures of other countries and the practices of the clubs in those countries
- exchanging ideas and seeking common solutions to challenges with other clubs
- liaising with the International Service Committees of other clubs in the district and beyond
- keeping the club informed of the activities of other clubs in the district, and in-turn informing the district of the activities of the club
Examples of International Service Projects include:
- Establish a pen pal/e-mail network to correspond with twin club Rotaractors
- Undertake a small joint international or community service project
- Participate in a friendship exchange by arranging Rotaractor visits
- Observe a mutual day or weekend to celebrate a twining partnership
- Exchange project or club program ideas
- Hold a videoconference or web-based meeting
- Exchange handicrafts and local products
Finance Committtee
Rotaract is a non-profit, voluntary, community service organisation. The wide range of projects and activities a club may undertake require funds to execute. It is the function of the Finance Committee is obtain these funds. The collection of these funds is two fold as every club is required to maintain at least two separate bank accounts since:
- monies collected from the public or private sector through fund raising activities or sponsorship must be used to fund the various community service projects the club undertakes
- the administrative cost of the club including the cost of Club Service, and Professional Service activities shall be meet by the payment of membership fees, dues, fines, or other contributions from club members.
The cost of district dues is included in the club’s administrative cost. This separation ensures that clubs do not rely on funds raised for Community Service projects to cover internal cost, social activities, or activities geared for the sole benefit of members. These funds should instead go towards the community the club serves. Furthermore every Rotaractor is required to pay membership dues to the club they belong. In addition to attending up to 60% of meetings and activities, members are required to pay these dues in order to be considered in good standing.
Examples of fund-raising activities the Finance Committee may undertake to fund Community Service projects include:
- a bar-b-que, cake / cookie sale, food eating competition, raffle
- dance, or social event open to the public
- pageant, concert, play
- car wash, jumble / garage sale
- sale of Rotaract memorabilia such as pens, cups, hats, jackets, wristbands
- sale of books compiled by Rotaractors such as cook books, poetry books, or books containing information gathered from other clubs / countries.
Additionally clubs may carry out internal fund-raisers such as auctions and raffles among members, guests, visiting Rotaractors and Rotarians for the purpose of collecting monies for administrative cost.