Project Rotary: A Proposal To Establish A Rotaract Chapter At CMU
Proposal prepared by Clarence Cheung

I truly believe that within every human being, there exists a light that guides us to help other people. The light may be brighter in one person when compared to another, but when called upon, even the softest lights ignite into flames. While some of us are more fortunate than others - some more comforted, more educated - there are many others whom due to a twist of fate have had to end up sleeping in the streets, have had their homes destroyed by forces of nature, or have been too poor to obtain an education. As students of a higher education institution, we have the knowledge and work together, individual tasks will seem minimal. We have already been established with the “right” connections—with the Rotary International—one of the world’s most

The raindrops began to pound on us. We were at the Salvation Army drop off site, at the conclusion day of the Hurricane Donations drive, which we as students initiated and organized. One by one we gathered to form a line, connecting the cars to the building, passing on our collected goods. The rain came down heavier and heavier…many of us were freezing…but that was soon forgotten…because we were all surrounded by uncontrollable joy and laughter. Being a part of it made me feel like I was on top of the world.

Clarence Cheung

Project Rotary: Challenge
Dear Student,

“To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may just be the world”. My name is Clarence Cheung and I am a student at Carnegie Mellon University. You are receiving this letter because you are invited to participate in shaping what will soon be one of the most influential organizations on campus. The Rotaract Club—the college division of the Rotary International—is soon to be a chartered organization at Carnegie Mellon University.

For those of you who are not familiar with Rotary International, the club is a non-profit organization comprised of business leaders from around the world, with clubs spanning from Pittsburgh to Hong Kong and from Italy to Australia. It currently has over a million members armed with the motto “service above self” and the goal to improve the community and the world. One of the major projects of the Rotary International is Polio Plus, which seeks to eradicate the poliovirus worldwide by the year 2000. In addition, the Foundation provides academic scholarships and funding for some 1200 students to study aboard every year.

Furthermore, the Rotary is a gateway to business opportunities. With its network of business leaders from around the world, this connection could be the stepping-stone to your future career.

Three lawyers with the intention to foster friendship and community improvement first founded the Rotary International. The goal of the CMU Rotaract Club is very similar. Speaking on behalf of the Rotary Clubs of Pittsburgh and the already involved students of the CMU community, I would like to ask you to give a helping hand in setting the foundation of the Rotaract Club. There are leaders and there are followers which would you like to be?

Clarence Cheung

For more information email ccheung@andrew.cmu.edu