Sonoma State University’s Rotaract Club is a close-knit group of students passionate about making their community a better place.  The club holds two meetings per month, with one as a business meeting and the other as a social event. The club also meets as needed for their service projects and events.

As a club they engage in local and international service, both independently and working with local Rotary clubs. Members address their communities physical and social needs while promoting international understanding and peace through a framework of friendship and service. 

The trip will be funded by the Rotary Club of Luthra as a gesture of gratitude for being assisted on the “Night of 1000 Coats” event by Sonoma State’s Rotaract Club. The event was designed to aid fire victims in accessing necessary things and to bring the community together, which is one of the many things Rotaract club takes pride on. 

Andrea Aviles, a senior political science major and treasurer of Rotaract,  said Rotaract wants to help countries like Brazil by talking to administrators to see if they would be interested in joining their telemedicine project, where doctors from around the globe join weekly education telemedicine rounds and can consult with any partner doctor for diagnosis assurance.

“The purpose for our trip to Brazil is partnering with the Rotary Club of Blumenau-Fortaleza in Brazil for their Cultural Broadcasting School Project,” said Aviles. “Our sponsoring Club, the Rotary Club of Rancho Cotati, helped obtain a grant for the school’s computer lab and  they will be sending two Rotarians along with two SSU Rotaract members.”  

Aviles is looking forward to potentially giving a presentation to the children while being able to mix the two cultures to see if they will continue to support in the future and she is excited to see what the grant has accomplished for the school’s computer lab and to see if they can have Brazil be telemedicine partner.     

According to Monica Morales, a senior biology major and the international chair of the club, Rotaract focuses on the development of young adults as leaders in their communities and workplaces, as well as being involved in community outreach and telemedicine.

Morales will be going  to Brazil to interview hospitals with the hopes of eventually setting up Telemedicine at their hospital. The club will also be attending a variety of Rotary meetings in Blumenau, Brazil.     

Katelyn Quinn,  a senior communications major and president of the Rotaract Club, said she originally joined the club because she has had a long time passion for volunteering. 

 “But this goes beyond simple volunteer work,” said Quinn. “I have been able to gain new skills, have built amazing connections and I have been able to become a leader and help others become leaders too.”  

According to Quinn, who will not be able to attend the service trip to Brazil, the club will be  helping out with various projects during their stay such as distributing vaccinations for certain diseases and helping build houses.