By Amanda Bradshaw Sharpe
University Relations

MURFREESBORO – After more than 10 years of dormancy, the Chowan University Rotaract Club was revived in January 2013 with 41 members. Today, the club boasts 79 members, almost doubling in size in four years.

To grow membership, not only do new members have to join, but enough new members to replace the graduating seniors, and more. With 79 members, the Chowan University Rotaract Club has the largest membership in the 7720 District (Eastern North Carolina).

Dr. Corina Wack, the club’s Faculty Advisor, is responsible for the revival, as well as the impressive membership. She attributes this growth to her recruiting methods. She and Dr. Danny Moore, Provost and previous Faculty Advisor, invite students personally to join the club. After reviewing grades, citizenship, and community involvement the duo decides which students will be a good fit for the organization.

Once chosen, students meet personally with Dr. Wack to talk about Rotaract and Rotary International. If students are selected for the club, they partake in an induction ceremony, similar to an honor society. Each member must be invited to join.

Due to her success, Dr. Wack has been asked to talk to other clubs in the district and share her recruiting techniques.

In June 2017, five Rotaract club members will attend the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta Georgia. They are Carrie Blowe of Murfreesboro (President Elect), Samone Morgan of Richmond, VA (Secretary Elect), Kyle Davison of Durham (Current President),  Amber Smaltz of Norfolk, VA (Director of Activities Elect), and CJ Donaldson of Havre De Grace, MD (Vice-President Elect).

Dr. Wack says, “This conference will expose the students to how big Rotary is and what an impact they make as a rotaractor.”

She is also excited for students to return to campus with ideas about how to be more impactful, not only in their communities but at the regional and global levels. The students are in the midst of fundraising for their conference, and have surpassed the halfway mark of their $3,000 goal.

Sponsored by the Murfreesboro Rotary Club, all 79 members of the Chowan University Rotaract Club are devoted to community service. Rotaract is an organization comprised of young adults ages 18-30 who are dedicated to service. As part of Rotary International, an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, they provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Over 1.2 million Rotarians from virtually every nation plan and carry out a remarkable variety of humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs that touch people’s lives in their local communities and our world community.

The Rotaract Club is already working with various organizations in the surrounding community on projects like campus clean-up for NC Big Sweep, volunteering with the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), helping Murfreesboro Historical Association with events, working with the Elizabeth Sewell Public Library, serving with Habitat for Humanity, and volunteering with the Albemarle Mobile Food Bank.

Dr. Wack expects the Chowan University Rotaract Club to become even more involved in service projects, and be invigorated and excited upon the return of the Rotaract officers from their conference.

For more information on the Chowan University Rotaract Club please contact Dr. Corina Wack at wackc@chowan.edu or (252) 398-6215.