Service activities and resources: Taking your service project to the next level

By Rotary Service and Engagement staff

This post is part of the ‘Making the Most of Your Membership’ series celebrating Rotary Membership and Club Development Month throughout August.

Rotary is founded on the ideal Service Above Self. It’s rooted within our guiding principles and at the core of club activity. Every day, you take on service projects and initiatives to address local community needs. Although members come from diverse backgrounds representing a cross-section of professionals and business leaders, you work together to advance international understanding, goodwill, and peace through service.

To plan effective projects, it’s important to understand community needs and leverage project resources. Take advantage of the Rotary assets below to help strengthen your initiatives:

• Collaborate with subject matter experts from a Rotarian Action Group (RAG)or lend expertise to empower Rotary members to make their service projects more impactful. RAG members help clubs and districts plan and implement high-impact projects within their respective area of expertise. To get involved, check the group directory or view a list of action groups and contact the one you’re interested in. Read about their inspiring service in the Rotarian Action Groups annual report.

• A Rotary Community Corps (RCC) can enhance community engagement and ensure project sustainability by empowering local leaders to pioneer change. RCCs are teams of non-Rotarian community members – men and women who may be farmers, teachers, shop owners, or even retirees – who work in partnership with Rotary clubs to improve their communities. They are committed to their communities’ long-term development, and bring enthusiasm, creativity, and sustainability to the projects they design and carry out. By organizing an RCC, you can make a tremendous, long-term impact in your community. Learn more about what you can do through a Rotary Community Corps.

• The Avenues of Service are part of Rotary’s guiding principles and are the foundation of club activity. District committees for community, international, and vocational service are great resources to help you plan successful humanitarian activities and implement projects. District committee chairs are well-positioned to help fellow Rotarians by suggesting innovative approaches to address community needs, identifying service-related resources, linking clubs to mentors or subject matter experts, and publicizing initiatives undertaken by clubs.

Throughout August, we encourage you to make the most of your membership. Follow this blog and look out for more activities and programs available to the Rotary family.

____

Related: