Preconvention Highlights
June 21, 2010
This past weekend, I took a trip up to Montreal, Canada, with our newly-elected President, Shauna, for the annual Rotaract Preconvention. Despite the cultural differences, mainly French being the primary language and use of the Metric system (the speed limit on the highway is, in fact, 100 k/hr, not mph…), the trip was a resounding success.
We attended seminars on a number of things that will help our club out, including: leadership skills; public relations; fundraising; and international projects. The trade show floor, the “House of Friendship,” provided us with many ideas for future projects as well. We also made friends with a Rotaract chapter in Scranton, PA, which was amusing considering the fact people were there from all around the world. Who knew we’d find a club similar to our own who reside a mere 1.5 hours away?
One major thing I realized this weekend was just how much Rotaract is capable of. We watched presentations on chapters that won service project awards, which included things such as clean water education in foreign countries; literacy awareness; and relief programs. We also listened to a presentation by Ramesh Ferris, polio survivor, who has been working across Canada to promote Polio awareness and raise funds for vaccines. He received a resounding standing ovation as he walked to the podium with help of his crutches.
In all, the preconvention was a great experience and the things we learned will greatly help our little club expand and do greater things. I’m already itching to register for next year’s convention in New Orleans.
I didn’t take too many photos this weekend, but what I did can be found on our Flickr page.
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2010/2011 Exec Board
March 25, 2010
This month’s meeting included voting on next year’s exec board. Congrats to all!
President: Shauna Varela
Vice President: Angela Zurlo
Treasurer: Dan Fitzpatrick
Secretary: Anne Campbell
At some point our website will be updated as well, including the upcoming events page. We have some good stuff planned, so stay tuned.
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Pancake Breakfast
February 1, 2010
On Sunday, January 31st, Rotaract participated in Wallkill East Rotary’s first annual Pancake Breakfast. We set up our table at 8:00 a.m. (earlier than usually for us, on a weekend, at least) and provided info on Rotaract and some prizes off for raffle. All in all, turnaround for the event was awesome. Rotary and Pine Bush football also had raffles going on, and in between breakfast people wandered to check out the goodies. And, of course, you can’t go wrong with pancakes. (I may have gone for seconds.) I also had an opportunity to chat with some members from the new Interact club, who seem really excited about things. If their meetings weren’t 2:30 in the afternoon, I’d definitely attend myself.
We did fairly well with our own raffle; part of the proceeds from the event will go toward aid for Haiti. Also, big thanks to Wal-mart for their gift card donation to our raffle, and those members involved in preparing for the event. And as always, thanks to Rotary for letting us tack onto their events. Rotaract may have big ideas, but it’s the help from Rotary that puts those ideas into action.
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Making Strides
October 21, 2009
This year’s breast cancer walk occurred on, perhaps, the most miserable day of the year. It was cold and rainy, and I carried an umbrella the entirety of my walk around Woodbury Commons. But despite this, we had a small group of Rotaractors in attendance and bundled up to fight the cold. Our team raised over $650 for breast cancer research and awareness.
The walk is an annual tradition of our Rotaract chapter and something we always look forward to participating in. It’s fun (even in the rain!) and the money goes toward a good cause. I never grow weary of seeing the mass number of people that participate, knowing that we’re all there for the same important reason.
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Membership
October 6, 2009
Recruitment is, quite possibly, the most difficult aspect of a volunteer group. Especially one that’s focused around a particular age range. People in their 20’s are all over the place by nature to begin with. It’s that time we’re trying to find jobs and a place to live and where we fit into the world. So to commit ourselves to one place and stick with it through the Rotaract years… well, I’m impressed if anyone does.
Because of this, finding new members is difficult. Our group is based in my hometown and, from what I’ve seen, most people our age leave town as soon as they can. Many leave for college and don’t return. And of those that do, we’re so busy with other things (working, social lives, et al) that volunteerism isn’t the priority it should be. So the question is… how do you recruit?
Where do the Rotaract-types hang out? Since we’re not a college-based group, we have to go into the community and find them. But where? And how do we make our group appealing?
Membership is the most difficult goal of any group; it’s never-ended. People will constantly come in and leave (more so the latter) and, with Rotaract, eventually graduate. We have to somehow keep membership at the top of the priority list, coming up with new ways to recruit. But where do we start?
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Rotaplast
September 5, 2009
At our September meeting, Rotaract welcomed a fellow Rotarian to speak with us about Rotaplast. Our club has been great with reaching to our local community, but felt a need to further the Rotary mission and reach the world.
The presentation was fantastic and emotional. Rotaplast provides free reconstructive surgery for the underprivileged with cleft pallets & lips. We saw the “before” shots, the majority of which are children, and how happy they were in the “after” photos. It takes our district at least two years to raise the funds to send a group of volunteers, between medical funds, food, and lodging. I think I speak for everyone when I say she did a great job presenting the importance of this organization.
Not to get ahead of myself, but I see our club doing what we can to contribute to this cause. It’s easy to say “I want to help the world,” but it’s not until you see the photos and hear stories that you understand that people everywhere have needs, and it motivates you to want to help them out. Like the saying goes, every little bit counts.
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Participation
July 19, 2009
Being a part of Rotaract is sometimes difficult. It tends to be discouraging when so much preparation goes into activities and the turnout isn’t as expected. I’ve experienced this a lot in the past with other volunteer organizations, so I know it’s not just Rotaract in particular.
How do you encourage people to participate? To reach out into the community and get people to come? It’s certainly more difficult with a small group. If we had fifty members, 10% showing up would be pretty good. But with only ten members, that 10% isn’t so good anymore.
The age group is also difficult, with us starting to really build our lives, most of us post-college, and experiencing many of life’s big changes. But we somehow have to appeal to the majority, both within and outside the group. It’s no fun when you get excited over things and end up scraping for participants just so it feels like your hard work didn’t go to waste.
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June 29, 2009
Our little local Rotaract chapter is finally emerging into the technological world. We now have a twitter account! (And, if the plugin was installed correctly, you’re learning about this through the twitter account. I love auto post.)
http://twitter.com/MWERotaract
Be sure to follow us and keep up with what we’re up to 
Speaking of technology, we’re also on flickr. We have been for some time, but we only have one contact (ie, our president, also known as the one who set the account up) so add us as a contact there as well!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/middletownrotaract
And as always, our website is fairly regularly updated, so there’s no way to miss out on what we’ve been up to and what’s coming up in the future.
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Chili’s Fundraiser
June 19, 2009
On Tuesday, June 16th, Rotaract took part in Chili’s 10% night as one of our fundraisers. We printed & distributed flyers to family & friends, and all they had to do was present the flyer to their server. Rotaract received 10% of the bill. Easy as that!
The evening was fun, walking into Chili’s and seeing crowds of familiar faces. Special thanks go out to Pete Lazier and Paul Halpern of Middletown Rotary for chatting it up with patrons and handing out flyers in the restaurant.
Overall, we made over $150 that evening. Thanks to everyone who participated, and to Chili’s for the opportunity! What a great, easy way to raise funds for the club.
Also… so how about this blog? Pretty spiffy, eh?
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Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build good will and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
