Rotaract

In the late 1960s, noting the success of the recently formed Interact program, the RI Board realized the need for a program of service, activity, and fellowship for young adults no longer of Interact age (14-18). The name Rotaract (Rotary in Action) was selected to show the program's close affiliation with both Rotary and Interact clubs. 

RI President Luther Hodges inaugurated Rotaract in 1968, with the Rotaract Club of University of North Carolina-Charlotte, USA, being the first club. The club received its charter on 13 March and had 21 members.

Within a day of the certification of the Rotaract Club of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, the Rotaract Club of the University of La Salle was chartered in Tacubaya, Mexico. The Rotaract clubs of Florence, Italy; Gaston College and Sylva, both in North Carolina; and Secunderabad, India, were all certified in the following weeks. Since the 1950s, many Rotary clubs had been starting unofficial clubs for young adults, so this fueled Rotaract’s rapid growth in its first few years. Rotaract grew from 21 clubs in 1967-68 to 289 clubs a year later. There are now 7,000 Rotaract clubs in 163 countries and geographic areas.

Rotaract clubs were originally open to young men and women ages 17-24. Since 1971, young adults ages 18-30 have been welcomed. 

District 6170 currently has three active Rotaract Clubs in our area. These clubs are located at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, University of Central Arkansas in Conway and the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville. 

Our goal is to have a Rotaract on every college campus in the district.

If your club would be interested in sponsoring a Rotaract club, please contact Jane Cater, 11 Fitzgerald, Clarksville, 72830 or by email at jcater@ozarks.edu.