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Rotaract, a Rotary club for young adults 18-30, is starting in La Crosse.
Their mission parallels that of Rotary International by providing leadership opportunities and participation in community and international service, said Jamie Durocher, president of Rotary East.
“Rotaract means ‘Rotary in action,’” said president Kristina Smaby, 21, Viterbo University junior. “We are a stepping stone. We are a representation of Rotary, and we act with Rotary.”
La Crosse’s Rotaract group, now 26 members strong, is sponsored by Rotary East, one of eight Rotary clubs in the La Crosse area.
“It was my interest to re-establish a Rotaract club in the La Crosse community because we have such a large student population,” said Durocher, noting that La Crosse had a Rotaract club 18 years ago.
He said for a Rotaract group to start, it must have sponsorship from a Rotary club.
Rotaract members are primarily students at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University and Western Technical College, however, the group would like to attract more young professionals out of school and in the work force, said Smaby.
The group has only had a couple of meetings, the last of which it elected officers and voted on bylaws and constitution. No projects have been started yet, said Smaby.
Erin Anderson, UW-L freshman and vice president of Rotaract, heard about Rotaract through a friend on Facebook.
“I wanted to join a group where I could make a difference,”she said. “Rotaract offers that opportunity in our local community, nationwide and even internationally.”
The hope is that Rotaract develops some of its own service projects, but also help out with area Rotary Club projects, said Durocher.
Jessica Paultz, a first-year accounting student at Viterbo, heard about Rotaract in one of her business classes.
Connections to Rotary members though Rotaract will likely guide her in deciding on a career, she said.
“They will give us ideas on what we would like to do and how to get started,” she said.
While Rotarians can serve as mentors, Smaby said Rotaract members can bring a younger perspective to Rotary’s service ideas, and more helping hands.
It can also become stepping stone to becoming a Rotarian, she said.
During her term as Rotaract president, Smaby would like to bring generations together through service projects or volunteer opportunities with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, elderly service organizations and elementary schools. They’ll also bring generations together just through interaction with Rotary clubs, said Smaby.
“When I am involved in a business organization some day, I want to be connected to everyone involved in the organization and communicate effectively, and this club is offering those opportunities,” said Smaby. “It is essentially leading me in the right direction toward being a leader of today’s generation.”
Rotaract meets every other Wednesday at 7 p.m. Locations vary. The next meeting will be Wednesday, March 26, in room 500 in the Murphy Center at Viterbo University.
Rotaract welcomes presenters or community service project ideas. A membership fee has not been finalized, but it will be minimal, said Smaby. Those interested in membership can call Durocher at (608) 397-7580.
KJ Lang can be reached at (608) 791-8226 or klang@lacrossetribune.com.
