New Guidance on Age Limits for Rotaract Clubs Published

Rotaract Great Britain and Ireland has published its long anticipated guidance on age limits for Rotaract clubs, offering clarity for clubs and members following changes within Rotary International that confirmed Rotaract as a distinct form of Rotary membership.

The guidance reflects the evolution of Rotaract from a youth programme into a full membership category. It reaffirms that Rotaractors are full members of Rotary and supports clubs in setting inclusive, flexible and locally appropriate age policies.

Rotary International no longer sets an upper age limit for Rotaract membership.

In the new guidance, Rotaract GBI supports an approach that distinguishes between the age limit to join Rotaract and the age limit to continue as a Rotaractor.

Rotaract GBI recommends that clubs set a joining age range of 18–35, reflecting the typical life stage Rotaract is designed to support, including those establishing careers, developing leadership skills, building professional networks and exploring service opportunities as adults.

However, the guidance recommends that members should not be required to leave a club once they reach a particular age. It argues that Rotaract should be a place where people grow and develop over time, with contribution, experience and leadership valued regardless of age.

It makes the case that being a part of Rotary club shouldn’t be seen as the ultimate aim as this risks undermining the unique role and space Rotaract clubs provide as a full form of Rotary membership and as equal partners in service.

In addition to the age-related recommendations, the guidance addresses the language used when describing Rotaract and its members. It advises against referring to Rotaractors as “young people”, noting that Rotaract is exclusively for adults aged 18 and over.

The guidance also extends to Rotaract GBI’s support for dual membership and an individual’s ability to choose a Rotary membership type that works for them.

The guidance is intended as a resource for clubs and is not policy.