Rotary-rotaract - Under The Microscope

Rotary- Rotaract U nder the Micros cope Sunday 26 August, 2007 By PDG Dr Paul C K Lee

Rotaracting di ffer s in di ff erent count ri es Rotaract is very strong eg India, Hong Kong, Philippines Rotaracters there are very active, well qualified & financially strong Rotaracters in our district 3300 and maybe 3310 are different

In D istri ct 3300 We have both community based Rotaract Clubs and institution based Rotaract Clubs

Communit y base d Rota ract C lubs face many challenges 1. They have longer years in Rotaract 2. They have less stringent rules to abide with BUT …. • They have difficulties to get members • Thus their membership is small

Institution based Rotaract Clubs face even more challenges 1. Their members are not working; thus have financial problems 2. Their membership can be very big but only a handful are active 3. They have great difficulties to maintain the existence of the Rotaract Club if no aggressive membership drive takes place every year

Sponso ring Rotar y C lu bs 1. Many sponsoring Rotary Clubs are themselves very weak in membership 2. Many are not financially strong to provide financial assistance to their Rotaract Club 3. Sponsoring Rotary Clubs do not have enough Rotarians to serve as Advisers in their Rotaract Clubs

4. Many Rotary Clubs appoint the youngest and newest Rotarian to be advisers who very often have insufficient knowledge of Rotaract and not to mention Rotary 5. Rotaract Clubs are thus left to “swim” on their own and solve their problems on membership and funding

Rotary Di stri ct 1. District Governors are very keen to be “I” specialists 2. They charter new Rotaract Clubs just to get credit that they have sponsored many Rotaract Clubs during their year as Governor 3. They do not seek the help of Rotaract District Leaders in training and guiding the new Rotaract Clubs before they are chartered.

4. They do not seek views on the Rotaract District Leaders on whether the new Rotaract Clubs are viable to be chartered 5. Some District Governors have very little knowledge or experience with Rotaract activities 6. Some Rotary District Officers appointed to serve in the Rotary District Rotaract Committees are often themselves not well informed of Rotaract

Rotaract Clubs & Rotaracters 1. Rotaract Clubs want independence with no interference from Sponsoring Rotary Clubs 2. Rotaracters want to be treated as young professionals BUT …… 6. They expect Rotary to provide them assistance like finance 2. They expect to be given preferential treatment in Rotary programmes 3. They lack knowledge in Rotary

Ro taract Di str ic t 1. Lack proper policies and structure in administration ex: election of DRR, credentials verification, voting, propose resolutions 2. Lack of knowledge in RI policies in Rotaract 3. Lack of funds and weak financial administration

Malaysian Law on Registration of Clubs 1. Rotaract Clubs can register separately with the Malaysian Registrar of Societies 2. Upon registering, they are “independent” 3. Thus they “can” even exist in the context of Malaysian Law even if the sponsoring Rotary Club withdraws the sponsorship 4. They have to by law submit their annual report of AGM, Accounts, Board of Directors etc 5. Many clubs have been advised by some past governors to register and have subsequently ran foul of the law and thus were deregistered

Re ctifi cation

1. Introduce Rotary’s system of verification of credentials, election procedures, proposal of resolutions 2. Appoint past Rotaracters or Rotarians whose clubs have Rotaract Clubs to be on the Rotary District Rotaract Committee 3. Proper structured Training Modules for the Rotaract Club Leaders at the District Rotaract Assembly

4. Proper training provided for the Rotaract Group Discussion Leaders who will conduct the training sessions at the District Rotaract Assembly 5. Rotary District provide financial assistance to the District Rotaract Representative (DRR) to carry out his/her duties during the year 6. Invite District Rotaract Representative (DRR) to the Rotary District Conference and

7. Give due consideration to Rotaracters to be members of GSE Team or Youth Exchange 8. Advise sponsoring Rotary Clubs to appoint senior and knowledgeable Rotarians as Rotaract Club Advisers 9. Invite Rotaract Club members to their weekly meetings

10. Provide financial assistance to their Rotaract Club Leaders to attend the District Rotaract Assembly 11. Implement joint projects with the Rotaracters or involve them in the Rotary Club’s projects and activities 12. Encourage Rotarians to bring their children and staff to join Rotaract