Organizations are established to bring people of the same values and goals together. One with its mission of standing for what is right and true to their core, community organizations have already introduced themselves as changemakers in the different fields of society. First and foremost, it promotes camaraderie within communities while encouraging its members to place themselves on the ground along with the rest of the group. It has provided an avenue for people to seek the discomfort and know that it is through volunteerism that the kindest hearts would always prevail.
Founded in 2002, the Rotaract Club of Santa Maria has been changing lives for the better through their remarkable projects that have not only inspired others to do good, but to also be part of something bigger than themselves. For two decades, the Rotaract Club of Santa Maria has been opening opportunities to further their advocacy in serving to change the lives of many. Despite starting with few members two decades ago, it is because of the deliberate selection process of passionate youth innovators and leaders that the Rotaract Club of Santa Maria is constantly driven to execute projects. Since its inception in December 13, 2002, now with 19 years of existence, the community club has produced five high-caliber Past District Rotaract Representatives who have made names for themselves in the history of District 3770. Now in 2022, the Rotaract Club of Santa Maria continues its mission of bringing hope through its versatile and strong thirty-five members, who have proudly carried in them dedication and service for the community.
People may think that joining a club like Rotaract would all be just meetings where the executive boards would present one-by-one and the rest would have to follow the memorandum, Rotaract Club of Santa Maria made it entirely different by holding Fellowships right after. That is one thing that comes with Santa Maria, Fellowship… and maybe the hangover you will get the next day! As what their President said when asked of three values that kept the club strong, it would be the following: (1) Careful in choosing the members — members joined the club knowing that it was their passion that drove them here. (2) Careful in choosing the officers — each roster of officers for each Rotary Year were done with utmost consideration and deliberation, and (3) The unending support of the Past Presidents and Alumni who paved the way for the newer ones to continue walking on.
The insurmountable love of our alumni and older members of our club anchored and allowed different projects to be possible such as the Bigyan Limos ang Paang Musmos Year 7 where new shoes were gifted to 270 students, Bigyan Limos ang Paang Musmos Year 8 for our brothers and sisters of the Dumagat Tribe, and the Christmas Handog Projects namely Handog: Para Sa Bata, Handog: Para sa Pamilya, and Handog: Para sa Frontliners. These are just some of the projects that made a lasting impact not only to the lives that the club has touched but to the members who were given the opportunity to do more.
As we welcome another year for us to serve lives, one thing is certain. The Rotaract Club of Santa Maria will be here for a long time. Crafting projects seemed impossible at first, members may not have been active as much as hoped for but as long as there is someone in need, the rest will deliver.
