Most have heard of Rotary. But few are as familiar with its junior partner, Rotaract, which seeks young professionals to organize service activities, develop leadership skills, and socialize in communities.

San Diego has 10 Rotary International clubs. Pacific Beach has its own Rotaract Club chapter. And its members, who are recruiting, want the rest of the community to be aware of their growing organization.

“Rotary clubs typically have older, more established core members, whereas Rotaract’s members are mostly young professionals between the ages of 21 and 35,” pointed out Emma Head, PB Rotaract secretary. “We’re predominantly a service organization heavily involved with the community every month. We’re young professionals serving the community to become better people, workers, and community members.”

Noting the group was formed in 2016, Head added its members do not need to be PB residents. “It’s a place for young professionals to meet and network,” she added.

Rotaract membership totals more than 250,000 in more than 10,000 clubs worldwide. Rotaract clubs are self-governing and self-supporting and can be either university- or community-based. Individual Rotary clubs sponsor Rotaract clubs offering guidance and support, which makes Rotaract clubs true “partners in service” and key members of the Rotary family.

PB Rotaract has about 15 to 20 members, a fluid group with a seven-member board and a membership that tends to turnover quickly as young professionals move upward and onward.

Head said PB Rotaract partners with other community organizations supporting and complementing them, especially Shoreline Community Services operating The Compass Center delivering homeless services at 1004 Chalcedony St.

“We work with and donate quite a bit to them,” she said. “We also work with Discover PB (business improvement district) as well as Pacific Beach Town Council.”

Organizations PB Rotaract has partnered with include Think Dignity and End Polio Now. For years, Rotaract has also participated in the adopt-a-beach program coordinated by I Love A Clean San Diego. That program involves adopting Crystal Pier and surrounding areas while organizing a quarterly beach cleanup inviting the public to join in. The group partners with Don’t Trash PB and the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club as well to have reusable buckets at each of its beach cleanups.

Head talked about PB Rotaract’s upcoming fall signature event.

“Our goal this year is to build our membership, and to raise funds to get new members” she concluded adding, “We’re actively planning our signature event, the seventh annual PB bar crawl, along with Rotary International, on Saturday, Oct. 21. All proceeds will go to ending polio. We also participate in 5Ks, street fairs, and charity kickball tournaments, as well as doing beach clean-ups along with PB Town Council.”

To join PB Rotaract members must attend one business meeting, participate in one service event, join in one fellowship event, and pay membership dues.

WANT TO JOIN?

Membership, based on the Rotary Calendar Year starting July 1, is $25 per quarter, $100 annually. For more information, contact [email protected].