Today we’d like to introduce you to Rotaract Club Of Doral.
Hi Rotaract, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
It all started when President Maria Kai Pardo and I, Vice President Ashley Gutierrez-Rodriguez, were invited to our first ever Rotary meeting. That day, we were introduced to the “Magic of Rotary,” and it truly left an impression on us. By the end of the meeting, we were consulted about starting the very first community-based Rotaract club in our district (Rotary Club for young adults). Even though that was the first time Pardo and I had ever met, we both felt inspired and eager to take this step.
Right away, I notified my close friends Patricia Valladares (Service Projects Chair) and Karel Lopez- Minot (Public Relations Chair) about the good news, and immediately got to planning. We soon brought in the rest of our founding board—Valerie Avilan for Treasurer, Hannah Villamizar for Digital Communications, and our original Secretary, Ember Hernandez, who later had to step down due to time constraints. Luckily, Sofy Diez, who had been attending all our meetings, was more than happy to step in and take over the role.
Before our board was fully formed, the Rotary Club of Doral welcomed us into their weekly meetings and supported us every step of the way. Once we were ready to branch out and host our own meetings, we found the perfect home at Doral Legacy Park and the rest is imprinted history.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Our club fortunately had a door opened for us, granting us access to the possibility of developing a club that will forever impact our community. However, just because this door opened didn’t guarantee a path paved for us to embark on this journey. One of our biggest obstacles was developing a solid foundation regarding our club’s development in order to promote and share our vision with our community. Finding individuals to fulfill vital roles within the board of directors proved to be no easy feat, however with resilience and perseverance we managed to gather a good group of people to run this integrity-based club within a month. Developing the club and finalizing logistics was a time consuming and detail-oriented task. With seven members in the board, having different opinions led us to bump heads on certain ideas, but it was how we chose to deal with it that allowed us to push beyond that point of deviation. By keeping open minds and open communication, we were able to actively break cycles and flourish into the club that we are today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The Rotaract Club of Doral specializes in community service and volunteer work. Our board alongside our committed members dedicate our down time to contributing to the greater good of our community by beautifying the streets with cleanups, by hosting interactive seminars to educate the public about objective current events, and by partnering with multiple foundations/ organizations to aid individuals/ places that face the struggles of being overseen. Our club takes pride in the lasting connections we not only build with the individuals we impact, but also the places that we tend to. Making these connections and fortifying our overall sense of community allows us to flourish as a club while simultaneously opening doors and pathways for us to further impact our immediate environment. Our members consist of young adults, which is vital for the progression of our community’s future, and on a broader scale: our society’s future. Creating a space for them to volunteer and engage with their community opens up their ability to empathize and be openminded to all types of individuals and situations- which plays a crucial role in interpersonal relationships in almost every aspect imaginable. The young minds of this generation have the potential to shape our ever-developing society, and they are something that we should not only cherish, but respect.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Pinpointing just one lesson after undergoing so many morally and ethically challenging experiences is difficult. The Rotaract Club of Doral has instilled many lessons in all our participants. Ranging from integrity to empathy, we have all experienced and learned these themes together. In our opinion, maintaining a sense of community has been the most prevalent theme amid all our events and experiences together. Our club is centered around strengthening our sense of community and togetherness all by taking executive action through community service. Taking part in all these events not only allows us to grow stronger as a group, but it also shows our community that there are individuals who are actively caring for those that go unseen and inspires others to do the same. Ultimately these communal experiences have taught us how to empathize with those around us, how to promote positivity and togetherness as a collective, and how to balance our personal lives with the time we dedicate to these events. All of these lessons learned along the way have helped us refine the individuals that we are professionally, and most importantly, interpersonally.
Pricing:
- $16 annual membership fee
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rotaractdoral
- Other: https://linktr.ee/RotaractDoral
