(L to R): Samuel Elzinga, Kendra Martell and Enoch Chapman during the meeting.
As of Tuesday August 28th, 2018, the Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF), a coalition of clubs at Utah Valley University, has added Rotaract, the university student branch of Rotary International, to its coalition. The partnership was formally established during our meeting with Kendra Martell, the current president of Rotaract. The partnership discussions were very substantive, and both clubs think it is in their mutual interest to forge a strong partnership.
The goals of UIMF and Rotaract are nearly one in the same, though the means by which they accomplish these goals are different. At UIMF, the ultimate goal is to promote the implementation of the United Nations (UN) mountain targets and the Utah model of sustainable mountain development on the global stage and in turn promote global advocacy through student engagement. Rotaract has a very similar goal of student involvement in the mission of Rotary International by providing opportunities for students to complete international service projects and attend global conferences on youth advocacy. With such similar missions, it makes sense why UIMF and Rotaract have forged a partnership.
We discussed also an idea about UIMF and UVU Rotaract making a joint statement during the United Nations forums on implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), taking into account that the Rotary International has a status of the non-governmental organization in a special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN). With the support of Orem Rotary club and UVU Rotaract, UIMF is confident this very well may become a reality at next year’s High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development when many SDGs relevant to Rotary International’s mission will be under review.
Ms. Martell seemed very excited to get UVU Rotaract involved with UIMF, and I am confident that our two organizations can benefit each other in a great deal of ways. With Rotary International so well connected to humanitarian work, which is a central theme in sustainable development, it was the next logical step as UIMF continues to grow.
Enoch Chapman, Rotarian with a very good knowledge about activities of Rotary International and Dr. Baktybek Abdrisaev, UIMF mentor participated at our meeting.
Samuel Elzinga, Vice President, Utah International Mountain Forum, a coalition of student clubs at Utah Valley University
