WKU’s Rotaract club works to promote community service

Sidney Blanford

With minimal requirements and unique benefits, the WKU Rotaract Club hopes to increase its membership this semester while serving the Bowling Green community.

 According to its website, the club engages in activities that encompass professional development, leadership development and service projects.

 Marion senior Megan Heady is the current Rotaract public relations chair. She said the club not only does community service but also international service.

 “I really liked the troops care package project,” Kendall Blue, Madisonville senior and Rotaract president, said. “We actually had multiple people come and fill up the boxes.”

 In April 2011, the club members made numerous care packages that were sent to the armed forces overseas.

Blue said it was such a unique experience because not only did they send these packages, they were also able to find out when the packages made it to the troops.

 Kristin Waller, a senior from Madison, Ind., joined the club in 2010 and is currently the secretary. Although membership has decreased since the December graduation, Waller said the club remains active.

 “We don’t require any type of fee or set number of service hours,” Waller said. “Basically, anyone who wants to be a member can be.”

 Heady said they like for people to attend three meetings before adding them as a member to ensure they will remain active.

 The club meets every first and third Wednesday of each month, when they discuss service projects and have professional development speakers from the Bowling Green Rotary Club come in a talk to them.

 “We try to bring professional development and service together,” Waller said.

John Baker, assistant professor of leadership studies, is the current adviser of the Rotaract club. He said he feels that their affiliation with the Bowling Green Rotary Club really sets their organization apart.

 “We are allowed to attend the noon lunches, which is a great opportunity to network,” Waller said. “We even had a girl receive an internship from someone she met at one of those lunches.”

 Heady, Blue and Waller said they all agree this club not only benefits the community but has been of personal benefit to them. From a resume builder to networking to helping those in need, the members of this club are gaining real word experience for their futures.

 This semester, the club will be working to raise money for ShelterBox, “an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth and dignity to people made homeless by disaster worldwide,” according to ShelterBox.org.

 Waller said they hope to have another series of professional development speakers come in and give them tips that will help them with life after college.

Heady said this club is great for anyone who likes to help the community.

 She said as someone helps the community, they’re also helping themselves.

 The club meets in Tate Page Hall, Room 214.