This month the spotlight will shine on the amazing Rotaract Club of Muskoka. This active and dynamic club of 8 members has provided service to the community for the past five years, this year under the leadership of President Amanda Smart.
One of the major goals of the club is to support youth in the community. Each year they recognize one graduating student in each of the four area schools (Gravenhurst H.S., St Dominic’s CHS, Bracebridge Muskoka SS and Huntsville HS) with a $500 scholarship. Students are chosen based on citizenship and academic ability.
The environment is another focus. Muskoka Rotaractors participate in such initiatives as National Clean Up Day this past year cleaning up the local skate board park. They also care for their garden plot in the Rotary Centennial Garden in Bracebridge.
The club has just completed their latest fundraiser, selling a variety of 12” saplings to coordinate with Earth Day, with the dual purpose of supporting the environment and raising funds for the local foodbanks. Purchasers have the option of planting trees themselves (a great family way to celebrate Earth Day) or donating them to the local forest school for students to plant when circumstances allow. The fundraiser involved partnering with the local Rotary Clubs to share promotion, logistic etc. The club sold 350 trees! Well Done!Remember making mud pies as a kid? There was more learning involved than one would think. A mud kitchen is a structure where children can get dirty and cook up their imaginations. It provides a space for free play, role play and inquiry. A staple in forest schools, Rotaract has designed and built 8 mud kitchens that have been donated to local elementary schools across Muskoka. Their efforts have even been recognized by CBC.
Rotaract Muskoka has not let Covid 19 stop them. Their annual “Vinyl Valentine’s” a fundraiser that traditionally includes social gathering, dancing and a silent auction pivoted to a “date night” package in the comfort of your own home. It included a meal kit, flowers, dessert, drinks, candle light and a spotify playlist of music to round out the evening. The event sold out.
They also ran a Christmas wreath fundraiser which surpassed expectations and will be continued in future years. Thanks for the money raised, 29 shoeboxes (Muskoka Shoebox Project) with necessities and few “luxuries” were filled and donated to women in need throughout Muskoka to help brighten the Christmas season.
The club has continued to respond to the needs of the community. They partnered with the Rotary Club of Bracebridge to deliver holiday meals to community members in need and “thank you” cookies to the staff of long term care facilities in recognition of the amazing work they are doing. They have also make donations to Friends of Muskoka Midwives Covid Relief and the Salvation Army.
Rotaract is about service and fellowship but also leadership and professional growth. The Muskoka Rotaract Cub and Bracebridge Rotary Club have started a new initiative whereby Rotarians and Rotaractors partner to discuss professional goals, leadership opportunities and get to know each other on a more personal level. The partners drive the agenda and conversation. Although relatively new, there is already positive response to this opportunity.
Although not meeting in person, Muskoka Rotaract has stayed connected. Meetings feature thought provoking and educational speakers such as Kyla Holmes (residential schools) and Andrew Struthers (cutting edge technology). Social times include trivia (sometimes in competition with the local Rotary Clubs) and mixology classes to learn to make your favorite alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage.
To learn more about the work of this club, check out the club’s Facebook page or contact President Amanda. Thank you to the Rotaract Club of Muskoka for your commitment to making the community a better place.