Frequently asked questions
There are no doubt many questions you may have about Rotaract so here we have the most common questions, if your question is not answered here please do get in touch for more information.
Q. Is a Rotaract club a Rotary club ?
A. NO! Rotaract and Rotary are two separate organizations that work independently although often collaborate with each other. Rotaract is financially independant from Rotary although we do owe a lot of thanks to Rotary for their varied ways of helping and supporting us.
Q. So what is the connection between Rotary and Rotaract ?
A. Rotaract as an organization was started by Rotary (please see the about Rotaract page). Each Rotaract Club has a sponsoring Rotary club, basically this means that a member of the sponsoring rotary club will sit in on Rotaract committee meetings to offer advice and maintain a link between the Rotaract and Rotary club and establish where and when a Rotaray and Rotaract club could work together in order to have even more fun or make an event a greater success.
One very good example of Rotary and Rotaract collaboration is Rotaract helpers at the Calvert Trust each year where up to 15 Rotaractors get the chance to have a very cheap week taking part in an outdoor activity week helping physically/mentally disabled people do the same with the option to stay on very cheaply for the weekend in the lake district after and make it their own.
Q. But what fun is there in anything to do with Rotary ?
A. Unfortunately the vast majority of people misunderstand what Rotary is and is about and/or have an outdated and limited view of the organization. If you think Rotaray is about a bunch of old men having dinner together and giving money away you could not be more wrong.
Today Rotary is much more and has changed significantly in recent decades. Today Rotary clubs are made up of all sorts of people both men and women some aged as young as 25. It is indeed common for areas to be covered by more than one rotaray club, usually the original club that was started in the area and a younger generation club often made up of past Rotaractors with ages starting at 30. Rotaraians takes part in many differnt activities mostly centred around fundraising and often as outdoor and physical as you could get and have a great time doing it.
Q. I’m under 18, can I join ?
A. Unfortunately Rotaract is for over 18 year old’s due to the possible legal complications of having a mixture of over and under aged people can bring due to the age requirement of some of the social activities Rotaractors may take part in or potential problems when taking part as event organizers. However you can join an Interact club, please contact us to find your local rotary club and see if they are running an Interact club. If you are 17 then do contact us so we can ensure you join as soon as you can.
Q. I’m over 30, can I join ?
A. No you can’t, while it is not uncommon for members to “stick around” for a while after they reach the age of 30 (commonly and affectiomately known as “coffin dodging”) a club cannot accept a new member over the age of 30. You may wish to consider joining a Rotary club and there are ever more young generation Rotary clubs, if you would like help finding a suitable Rotaray club do contact us and we will put you in touch.
Q. Is Rotaract a singles club ? Are their any rules regarding “that sort of thing” ?
A. Rotaract is a social club for young adults that is community and volunteering orientated. However it goes without saying that as with any organization with specific goals and reasons for being, members usually meet and make friends with like minded people and it is not uncommon that people meet their “soul mates” through Rotaract given the target age group and amount of fun Rotaractor’s have socially together. Single people, couples and married couples alike are most welcome to join rotaract.
Q. Will I have to stand on streets shaking a collection tin to raise money ?
A. Not at all. Fund-raising events are thought up to be fun, both for the clubs members running the event and members of the public taking part. If you really do not want to take part in a fund raising event you do not have to however you will be missing out on the fun ! (people watching while collecting money with your friends can also be more amusing than you think too and may get you free entry to sports events such as footbal and rugby matches).