The Rotaract Club
of Philadelphia was officially
chartered on April 12, 2006.
With the help of twelve young
adults, the Rotary Club of
Philadelphia, and Philadelphia
International House, the city’s
only community-based Rotaract
club was born.
Planning for the
club began one year earlier at a
Rotaract session during the 2005
District 7450 Conference led by
District Rotaract Chair, Jane
Williams. Among the attendees,
Brian Shaffer and Kadidja Diallo
volunteered to explore the
possibility of starting a
Rotaract Club in Philadelphia’s
University City, partnered with
the Rotary Club of
Philadelphia. The year that
followed was wrought with
countless hours of meetings and
advertising. But, with a lot of
help and a little luck the club
was chartered with Brian
becoming the founding President
and Kadidja the founding Vice
President.
Below is an
excerpt from an article written
for the Rotary Bulletin, by a
charter member Ronica
Licciardello the week after the
club was founded:
“April 12
was an exciting night for
the City of Brotherly Love.
The Rotaract Club of
Philadelphia became official
as twelve community-minded
young adults signed our
charter. With meetings held
at the University of
Pennsylvania’s International
House, our group’s diversity
embodies the spirit of this
city. The club’s President
is Brian Shaffer, Vice
President is Kadidja Diallo,
and Stephanie Grubb is
taking on the
responsibilities of both
Secretary and Treasurer.
Other members include John
Balassis, Camille Siochi,
Thomas Radice, M. Sarper
Gokturk, Sarah Poole, Didem
Temizel, Jamie Castellano,
Eugenio D’Angelo, and Ronica
Licciardello (that’s me).
Our wonderful and supportive
advisors include Bill Decker
and Frank Hoffman. Glenn
Martin from Penn’s
International House will be
attending our meetings as
well.”
Since then, the
club has held many fundraising
events, community service
projects, international
projects, professional
development sessions, and club
development sessions. We have
also welcomed numerous
ambassadorial scholars and
international Rotaractors during
their stay in Philadelphia.
Club members have attended
Rotary Meetings, District
Conferences, Rotaract Leadership
Seminars, business card
exchanges, and networking
events. We even appeared
on TV! (See below)
Our officers,
members, Rotary sponsors and
hosts have made and continue to
make our club a reality.
Together, we are all a family of
Rotary united in service, for
the city of Philadelphia and the
world.
