World Water Day on March 26th was inspiring and meaningful for participating Bellevue Community College Rotaracters! People from all communities and backgrounds gathered at Alki Beach to listen to guest speakers about various experiences regarding lack of water in their own countries. Like minds shared ideas, as we walked together. Members of the BCC Rotaract Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bellevue, made new friends from World Vision, Mercy Corps, and University of Washington, all of whom have been involved in water projects across the world. Some of these people also work with Rotary Club members. Bellevue Rotary's Sister Club in Patan, Nepal, also hiked for World Water Day.

• Rotaract Club of Seattle
  The Rotaract Club of Seattle is going strong with Rachel Theriot as President. The club has seen growth over the last three months with nearly 10 new members, several of whom are interested in joining the Board. On the downside, the club Secretary stepped down recently when she moved out of the Seattle area. Club members have participated in several volunteer events such as Northwest Harvest and Earthcorps, packing food and cleaning Seattle parks. Upcoming events this fall include volunteering at the Universtiy District food bank, with West Seattle Rotary's holiday shopping spree, and with the Initiative for Global Development. Schedules and photos of events can be found on their website: www.seattlerotaract.org.

• Rotaract Club of Bellevue Community College
  The Rotaract Club of Bellevue Community College is transitioning to a new President. Thanks to Jacob Peltier for a great year, and welcome to Sergey Smirnov. The Bellevue Rotaract has linked to Rotaracters in Nepal. There are 35 Rotarct clubs in that Country and thanks to Bellevue Rotarian Rob Rose, the BCC Rotaract now has a relationship with Nepal.

• New Club Forming: Green River Community College
  Thanks to the involvement of Josh Gerstman of the Kent Rotary Club, a new club is forming in and around Green River Community College. On June 27, Josh and Jibril Leigh had an organizational meeting for a new club at Green River. There was information about the Jessadi Village "Tesito" Primary School Project in Gambia. For more details about this newly forming club contact Josh Gerstman at .

• Woodinville Area Club Possible
  We have heard from the Woodinville Club that there is interest in forming a club around Lake Washington VoTech. John Hughes of the Woodinville Rotary Club is leading that effort. Both of these clubs have the potential of being college and community based clubs so we are looking for Rotary Clubs in those areas to join in and assist with these efforts.

• Interest in Highline Community College & Seattle University Clubs
  District Governor Don Gregory also reports that there is interest in a Rotaract Club at Highline Community College and Seattle University. As more information is available, we may be looking for Rotary Clubs in that area to help.

According to Rotary International, "Organizing a Rotaract Club is one of the most rewarding activities a Rotary Club can undertake in its community. The Rotaract program gives Rotarians the opportunity to mentor dynamic young women and men interested in providing service to their own communities as well as the global community. In turn, a Rotaract Club can bring new energy to a Rotary Club, inspire fresh ideas for service, increase support fro projects, and help develop future Rotary Club members."

In District 5030, there are currently two active Rotaract and at least two "phantom" clubs on the books at Rotary International. Given the District's interest in growing membership and reducing the average age of Rotarians along with the ongoing interest in service activities, it is appropriate that District 5030 develop a plan for growing Rotaract in the District.

Rotaract Clubs consist of women and men age 18-30 residing, employed or studying in the vicinity of the organizing Rotary Club. They are self-governed and largely self-financed at the local level. They work in cooperation with the sponsoring Rotary Club as partners in service. All Rotaract Clubs undertake three types of activities: professional development, leadership development and service. Each Rotaract Club has a Board consisting of a president, immediate past president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and other officers as deemed necessary. A club needs to have at least 15 members to be formed. All Rotaract Clubs operate under standard Rotaract Club Constitution prescribed by Rotary International.

Rotaract is described in Section 8 of the Rotary Manual of Procedure and Rotaract Handbook