Fairmont's Disability Action Center launches Rotaract Club
FAIRMONT — One evening while Julie Sawyer sat watching TV with her husband, and an idea popped into her head.
'My husband was talking about a Disability Action Center board meeting he attended, and it just popped into my head,' Sawyer, president of the Rotary Club of Fairmont, said. 'I said, why don't we have a Rotaract Club at the DAC?'
After a few months of planning and organizing, Sawyer's idea grew and sprouted.
Tuesday afternoon, Alesa Anne Staud, first president of the DAC's Rotaract Club, gaveled the bell signifying the very first meeting of the organization. Staud described being president of the club as 'incredible.' Member's from Fairmont's Rotary Club, as well as the South Fairmont Rotary Club, were on hand to assist and provide guidance for the meeting.
Sawyer said Rotaract Clubs are offshoots of the main club, and are mainly for people who want to engage in the Rotary's community service mission but don't have the time or ability to do a traditional meeting. Instead, meetings are typically held at breakfast or lunch time, which makes them accessible to more people. Individuals who show interest in the club can fill out an application and go through a vetting process before joining. Rotaract Clubs are typically for younger adults, Sawyer said.
'Sean and Julie Sawyer approached me about starting a Rotaract Club at the DAC,' Julie Sole, executive director of the DAC, said. 'To which I replied, 'why didn't I think of that?' It was the most amazing idea, and I really could not believe I hadn't thought of it already.'
Sole said the organizing of the the new club took part throughout the fall of 2024. Rotaract fits in well with the DAC, because the nonprofit already had a community service group that meets monthly. The DAC transformed the existing club into the Rotaract and educated parents and clients about what the transformation meant. The DAC chartered the club last month.
Sole is a Rotarian herself. The Rotary Club is a global organization composed of smaller community clubs that dedicate themselves to community service. Sole said the DAC's Rotaract Club will partner with local Rotary groups on service projects, such as the annual Celebration of Lights at Morris Park or the community flag program. Each month will have its own theme. This month's is conflict resolution, Sole said the DAC wants to do some things which pertain to that.
Staud said the Rotary Club will help her find 'the real her.' She said among the projects she wants to do is community trash pick up, blanket making and donations.
'It makes me feel good,' Staud said. 'It's always making me feel so good, and just to be out there. To stay true to myself.'
Sole thinks Staud won't be the only one to pick up positive benefits from having the club.
'I think as you've seen today, they are empowered,' Sole said. 'They know this is a big deal. They've become part of a global organization. They are officers in their Rotaract Club. They're going to lead meetings. They're going to plan service projects and give back to their community. It's an amazing thing.'
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