Big West Rotaract started off in 2009 as an unofficial collaboration between Rotaractors across the west coast, spearheaded by Rotaractors Joanna Kwong and Mitty Chang from District 5160. The collaboration was focused around a regional conference for Rotaractors by Rotaractors, with the goal of leadership development and friendship without borders. That first conference became known as the Big West Rotaract Conference and took place at the University of California, Berkeley from October 15-17, 2010 with the theme of “Bridging Connections.”