In 2004, we learned that Arizona’s Roosevelt Public School District was one of the poorest in the entire nation (ranked 5th poorest at the time). Our club made a commitment to provide school libraries in this district with current reading materials. We began an annual holiday book drive. Every year, we select an elementary school from the district as our beneficiary and conduct a book drive on their behalf. Our first year, we were able to donate over 500 books to Brooks Academy. The following year, we collected nearly 900 books and computer software for John R. Davis Elementary. Our goal for this year’s drive is 1,000 books. Check back, as our 2006-2007 Book Drive Beneficiary will be named in the fall!

Every December, the Rotaract Club of ASU partners with one of its sponsoring clubs, Tempe South Rotary, as well as el Club Rotario de Agua Prieta to perform a food distribution in Agua Prieta, Mexico. The schools and local government work to identify the neediest families in the city, and Rotary works to provide food and blankets to these individuals. Members from our club travel to Mexico to assist with setting up the distribution and handing out bags of food.

Every summer, members are eligible to attend a Rotaract conference. At these events, members attend workshops, listen to speakers, and network with other clubs and individuals. In July, eight members were sent to Los Angeles, CA to attend the United States, Canada, and Caribbean Rotaract Conference. Members attended workshops on everything from project planning to fundraising to stress management. The nights were filled with networking at various social and gala events.