Pick It Up Europe 2026 Unites Rotaractors Across Europe

On 6 June 2026, Rotaractors across Europe came together for Pick It Up Europe 2026, an environmental initiative organized in collaboration with End Plastic Soup, 2 Hands, Plastic Free, and Rotaract Europe.

Through local clean-up activities, participants helped remove waste from beaches, rivers, parks, and public spaces while raising awareness about plastic pollution and environmental responsibility.

Participating Clubs and Districts

• Rotaract Brussels Coudenberg International
• Rotaract Luxembourg
• Rotaract Amsterdam International
• Rotaract Kyiv Sophia
• Rotaract Covilhã
• District 2440 (Türkiye)
• District 2120 (Italy)
• Rotaract Baden
• Rotaract Great Britain and Ireland

Together, these clubs and districts demonstrated the power of international cooperation and service in creating a cleaner, more sustainable future.

E.R.I.C. President Visits Rotary International Headquarters and Engages Rotary Leaders at AscenCon 2026

In May 2026, E.R.I.C. President Matteo Facchetti traveled to the United States for a series of meetings and discussions focused on the future of Rotaract and its relationship with Rotary. The visit included participation in AscenCon 2026 in Chicago and a dedicated meeting at Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston with senior Rotary International staff.

Together, these conversations contributed to an ongoing dialogue about how Rotary and Rotaract can strengthen their partnership and better integrate Rotaractors into leadership and decision-making processes across the organization.

A Shared Vision for Rotary and Rotaract

AscenCon, organized by the Ascension Rotaract Network MDIO and chaired by Elizabeth Roach, brought together Rotaractors and Rotary leaders from across North America and beyond.

During the conference, Matteo had the opportunity to discuss the future of Rotary and Rotaract with several Rotary International leaders, including Larry Lunsford, Incoming RI President for Rotary Year 2027–2028, Rose Cardarelli, RI Representative to UNICEF and the United Nations and District Governor 2027–2028, and Tom Gump, RI Director-Elect for 2026–2028.

A recurring theme throughout these conversations was the need to move beyond simple inclusion and towards a genuine partnership between Rotary and Rotaract. Discussions focused on how Rotaractors can contribute not only as participants, but also as leaders helping shape the future of the organization.

Particular attention was given to increasing Rotaract participation within Rotary’s governance structures, including RI committees and, in the future, representation at the RI Board of Directors level. Both Larry Lunsford and Rose Cardarelli expressed support for strengthening Rotaract’s involvement in leadership and decision-making processes.

As Rose Cardarelli stated in her address to participants:

“We must institutionalize youth power, not just youth presence. This means embedding young people into formal decision-making structures such as on advisory boards with real authority, voting roles in relevant bodies, and accountability mechanisms that ensure youth recommendations are acted upon, not archived.”

The discussions also highlighted the importance of creating stronger leadership pathways between Rotaract and Rotary, allowing Rotaractors to engage with Rotary leadership earlier in their journey and helping create a more natural transition into future Rotary leadership roles.

Turning Vision into Opportunity

During the same week, Matteo visited Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston for a meeting with senior RI staff, including Sarah Crawford, General Manager and Chief Programs & Engagement Officer, alongside colleagues from the Membership Growth & Club Experience team and other departments.

The meeting focused on practical ways to strengthen collaboration between Rotary and Rotaract at the international level.

Topics discussed included increasing awareness of opportunities for Rotaractors to serve on RI committees, improving communication between Rotary International and Rotaract leaders, and exploring how MDIOs can support continuity, leadership development, and international coordination.

A key point emerging from the discussion was that Rotaract does not necessarily need separate international institutions. Instead, participants explored how Rotary and Rotaract can work more closely within the existing Rotary framework by ensuring that Rotaractors are meaningfully represented in leadership, governance, and strategic discussions.

The conversation also addressed the importance of reducing the disconnect that many Rotaractors experience when transitioning into Rotary by creating earlier opportunities for engagement with Rotary leadership and governance structures.

Looking Ahead

The visit followed the recent visit of RI President Francesco Arezzo to Luxembourg, home of Matteo’s Rotaract club, and reflects a growing international conversation about the future relationship between Rotary and Rotaract.

While Rotaract continues to thrive at the club and district levels, discussions in both Chicago and Evanston highlighted a shared ambition: to build a stronger partnership between Rotary and Rotaract through greater collaboration, stronger leadership pathways, and increased Rotaract participation in Rotary’s decision-making processes.

ERIC looks forward to continuing these conversations with Rotary International, fellow MDIOs, and Rotaract leaders around the world as we work together to ensure that Rotaractors are not only present in the room, but actively helping shape the future of the Rotary family.