OUR HISTORY
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.”
The primary mission of Big West Rotaract, or “BWR” for short, is to provide leadership training and education to Rotaractors on the west coast of North America through leadership training weekends, conferences, information exchange, and online resources. Although BWR is one of the newest chartered Rotaract MDIOs in Rotary International, it is quickly becoming one of the most active MDIO in the world.
Currently, Big West Rotaract’s flagship annual events are the Big West Rotaract Institute and the Big West Rotaract Conference. The BWR Institute is where the west coast Rotaract President Elect Training Session (PETS), Rotaract Governor Elect Training Session (GETS), and Rotaract Board Elect Training Session (BETS) take place. This happens annually on the third weekend of July in Northern California. The BWR Conference is an annual conference every Fall. BWR Conferences serve as an annual gathering point for Rotaractors on the west coast to receive leadership training and foster growing connections.
Big West Rotaract’s geographic scope is the Western Region of North America including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Canada and Mexico.
MEMBER DISTRICTS
5000 - Hawaii
5010 - Alaska
5020 - Washington & Vancouver Island
5030 - Seattle
5080 - East Washington
5100 - North Oregon: Portland
5010 - Southern Oregon
5130 - North California & Coastal N. San Francisco
5150 - North California & San Francisco
5160 - North California & Berkeley/Davis
5170 - North California & Silicon Valley
5180 - North California & Sacremento
5190 - Central California & Reno
5220 - Bay Area
5230 - Mid California & Farmland
5240 - Southern California & Ventura/SLO
5280 - Southern California & LA
5300 - Southern California & LA/Las Vegas
5320 - Southern California & Orange County
5330 - Southern California & Desert
5340 - Southern California & San Diego
5495 - Northern Arizona
5500 - Southern Arizona
OUR ORGANIZATION
Big West Rotaract’s leadership team includes the Big West Rotaract Board of Trustees, the Big West Rotaract Board of Directors, and the Big West Rotaract Administrative Team. This is a 100% volunteer driven organization with no paid staff. We are incredibly thankful and lucky to these talented individuals who have stepped up to power Big West Rotaract and all of its services.
