Age Limits

Age Limits

Background

Rotaract clubs are at the heart of how people of action unite for good to create lasting change. They are local groups, led by socially minded members and connected through a global network, which respond to community needs while fostering a sense of belonging. Rotaractors are changemakers who join our organisation to build meaningful connections which they use to create a positive impact in society.

Being a member of a Rotaract club was formally recognised as a type of Rotary membership following the Council on Legislation amendments to the constitutional documents of Rotary International in 2019. As a result, Rotaract changed from a Rotary “youth programme” to a type of Rotary membership. This means Rotaractors should be recognised as members equal to Rotarians.

After the Council on Legislation approved revising the Rotary International Constitution and Bylaws to include Rotaract as a membership type, the Elevate Rotaract Task Force was formed and began surveying members to come up with policy recommendations. On the advice of the task force, the Rotary International Board of Directors approved several changes to Rotaract including the removal of Rotaract’s upper age limit.

Rules outlined by Rotary allow Rotaract clubs to be able to set their own age limit, with the approval of their members. There is no data on the average age of a Rotaractor.

Currently, Rotaract is advertised to and for people aged “18 and over”, “18-30”, “18-30+”, “18-35” and “18-35+” with a mix of terms such as “young people”, “young adults” and “young leaders” also being used.

This overview of age limits for Rotaractors has been created by Rotaract Great Britain and Ireland (GBI) as a resource for clubs. It outlines Rotactor GBI’s position and guidance on the subject.

We also want to ensure that the language we use is correct and consistent so as well as this guidance on age limits, Rotaract GBI has also created a guidance document on the subject “Talking About Rotaract” which you can find here.

Rotaract GBI is a Multi-District Information Organisation and not a legislative body so this document is for guidance only and, within the scope of the Rotary International Code of Policies, clubs are free to set their own rules on the subject.

Age Limits

Rotary International no longer sets an upper age limit for Rotaract membership. Rotaractors are recognised as a Rotary membership type, and clubs may determine their own age criteria in line with Rotary rules and member agreement.

With or without age limits, Rotaract has a wide age range. Appropriate behaviours and actions may vary between different age groups.

Rotaract GBI supports an approach that distinguishes between the age limit to join a Rotaract club and the age limit to continue as a Rotaractor.

This document is for guidance only and is not policy.

Age to join a Rotaractor club

Rotaract GBI recommends clubs set a joining age range of 18–35.

This reflects the typical life stage Rotaract is designed to support; people who are,

• Establishing careers or professional pathways

• In or recently graduated from higher education

• Developing leadership skills

• Building networks and community connections

• Exploring service and identity as adults

Age to continue as a Rotaractor

Rotaract should be a place people grow within, not a space where they must “age out”. This is also why we support the idea of age being secondary to central ideas about characteristics that make Rotaractors “changemakers” rather than Rotaractors being an age group of Rotary.

Once an individual is part of a Rotaract club, their contribution, experience and leadership should not be limited by an arbitrary age threshold. Removing members due to age alone,

• Disrupts continuity and leadership development

• Risks losing skilled volunteers

• Undermines the principle that Rotaractors are full adult members

Rotaract GBI therefore does not recommend requiring members to leave a club solely because they reach a particular age.

It cannot be assumed that Rotaractor’s will automatically move to a Rotary club at a certain age. A Rotary International Membership Growth Committee report on Rotaractors Becoming Rotarians highlighted that only 3%-5% made that transition. It should also be noted that someone can join a Rotary club from the age of 18 so the idea of “aging out of Rotaract and into Rotary” is outdated.

While we do not recommend Rotaractors are required to leave their Rotaract club at a certain age, this isn’t to say that we don’t support individuals being able to explore and take part in other opportunities that Rotary can offer, which they feel are right for them.

Rotaract clubs should always seek to expand their membership.

Dual Membership

Initiated in 2016 and strengthened by Rotary International's policy changes, dual membership allows individuals to be active members of both a Rotaract club and a Rotary club simultaneously.

Rotaract GBI reinforces an individual’s choice to be a dual member and wants to ensure systems support this and that dual membership options are fully understood and respected.

It is our view that dual membership must be an individual's own choice and that joining a 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 member and equal partner in service.

Fees

Rotaract and Rotary clubs have different fee structures which reflects a different style of experience and the typical life stage of members. A difference in cost does not represent a difference in value, status or legitimacy. The two club types are distinct membership types within Rotary International. They are parallel forms of membership, not junior and senior versions of the same pathway, and the difference in fees reflects structure and context, not hierarchy.

Rotaract GBI does not support using lower cost as a primary promotional message. Positioning Rotaract as the “cheaper option” risks undermining the identity of Rotaract, creating a perception of lower status and could attract members for financial reasons alone rather than shared purpose. Cost transparency is important, but messaging should focus on impact, community, leadership and opportunity - not price comparison.

Language

Rotaract GBI doesn’t support the use of the term “young person” or “young people” when talking about Rotaract or Rotaractors.

There is no single, universal definition of “youth” and the term can refer to different age groups depending on context. This creates ambiguity about who is being described.

The United Nations defines “youth” as someone between the ages of 15 and 24 years old but this can also be as low as 10 years old and up to 29 years olds depending context. In the UK, a “young person” legally means someone aged 14 up to, but not including, 18 and in Ireland the principal legal category is “child” which is defined as any person under the age of 18 years old.

Rotaract clubs are for people aged 18 and over which means that Rotaractors are legally adults. Describing adult members as “young people” risks infantilising them, undermining their role and creating confusion about duty of care and safeguarding structures.

Rotaract is not a youth group. Rotaractors are adult members of the Rotary family.

As well as supporting language around the characteristics of Rotaractors being “People of Action” and “changemakers” we also encourage the use of language that makes it clear that Rotaract is only for those aged 18 and over. This may include “adults”, “young adults” and “early-career professionals”.