Engaging Rotary clubs to expand Rotaract

Focus on increasing Rotaract membership and talk to Rotary clubs so that they come forward to sponsor new Rotaract clubs in their neighbourhood, said DG Anil Agarwal at the two-day (Feb 25-26) Rotaract district conference, Adithya, of RID 3120 in Varanasi. “Some clubs are unable to pay the mandatory RI dues which have come into force after #Elevate Rotaract policy was adopted by Rotary,” he said.

At present, there are 600-plus Rotaractors in 35 clubs in the district, after 30 inactive clubs were terminated following the RI directive. There is a huge opportunity to form institution-based clubs as “we can attract college-going youth in large numbers into the Rotaract fold,” said ­Agarwal. Hence, he urged, DRR Sachin Upadhyay to open a “channel of discussion with those Rotary clubs who have not yet sponsored a Rotaract club with the help of district Rotaract chair PDRR Nilesh Bhuwalka.” DG ­Agarwal has set a target of 1,000 Rotaractors by June 30 this year.

A website for Mahadan 8.0, the multidistrict blood donation camp, and its anthem were launched at the discon. DRR-elect Harsh Srivastava unveiled the district theme — Serve with Joy — for next year (2023–24). Another interesting session was a panel discussion among PDRRs in which they shared ideas and experiences to take Rotaract forward in RID 3120. Two new clubs, RACs Banaras and Varanasi Kabir, were installed and “their  club forms duly filled in were sent to RISAO, Delhi, for charter certificates,” said DRR Upadhyay.

The Rotaract clubs gave presentations on their project activities, and “for some of the Rotaractors who are attending the discon for the first time, it was a great learning experience. They expressed a desire to take part in the multidistrict Rotaract and Rotary events to widen their contact and friendship network,” he said.

Interesting sessions on personality development, membership and ‘Rotaract beyond designations’ had Rotarians and experts giving stimulating talks, followed by interactions. Around 150 delegates including 30 Rotarians were present at the discon. Bhuwalka was the guest of honour.

Mahadan 8.0

During World Rotaract Week (March 13–19), all the Rotaract clubs organised around 40 blood donation camps and collected 2,000 units of blood. “We donated the blood to government hospitals and blood banks. It was a huge success,” said Upadhyay. He had instructed the clubs to reach out to underprivileged children under Project Smile, a district priority event. “We donated stationery items, took the children to a movie, and distributed food packets, thus benefitting over 700 children in all.”

On achieving the membership target (1,000 Rotaractors), he said, “we are trying our best to reach the target set by our DG Agarwal. We have spoken to some Rotary clubs who are interesting in chartering Rotaract clubs.”

Having been a Rotaractor for five years, Upadhyay, a teacher and partner in running a coaching institute for competitive exams, said, “Rotaract is a kind of self-development platform.” He became a dual member after joining RC Prayagraj Sangam in July 2022. On his long-term plans, “Rotary is a service organisation and also enables one to make new connections. I will strive to make the society around me a better to place live by working as full-time Rotarian in the coming years.”