ROTARACT: Building Leadership Skills and Community Service

Maggie deBlock

On November 16, 2017, guest speakers for the SaddleBrooke Sunrise Rotary Club were three members of the University of Arizona Rotaract Club: Jesus Nevarez, president, Savannah Perno, Director of Services and Amy Lu Allan, Service Director. The University of Arizona Rotaract Club was founded in the fall of 2013 and is dedicated to community services. Rotaract clubs bring together people ages 18 to 30 to exchange ideas with leaders in the community, develop leadership and professional skills and have fun through service. In communities around the world, Rotary and Rotaract members work side by side to take action through service. From big cities to rural villages, Rotaract involves young adults to make changes worldwide.

The University of Arizona club members volunteer for many community fundraisers including the Tucson Classic Car Show, El Tour de Tucson, Boys and Girls Club activities, Project Linus and various walkathons. The club was honored by the Tucson Clean and Beautiful organization for their efforts to maintain the Turquoise Trail. The Turquoise Trail (formerly called the Presidio Trail) is a 2 ½ mile long loop trail through downtown Tucson that highlights structures and sites of historic interest and is marked by a turquoise stripe on the sidewalk. It begins at the site of the northeast corner of the reconstructed Presidio San Agustin del Tucson, founded in 1775.

The University of Arizona Rotaract Club is part of the Big West Rotaract district and Rotary District 5500. They are sponsored by the Tucson and Tucson Sunrise Rotary Clubs. They recognize their members with a “member of the month” award and actively recruit new members with a “recruitment service day.” Currently they have 30 members. The University of Arizona Rotaract Club has a twin club in Malawi, Africa.

SaddleBrooke Sunrise Rotary Club is proud of all our members who make contributions of time and money to assist those within our community and over the world. Won’t you join us in making a difference? We meet every Thursday at 8:00 a.m. at the MountainView Country Club. Please contact Ron Lenz, membership chair, at 262-358-0130.