Rotary beyond the club: The power of Action Groups

PICTURED: The House of Friendship Booths at Rotary International Conventions provide a great opportunity to promote the work of Rotary Action Groups like the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health.

Rotary Action Groups connect members with global networks, shared passions and meaningful opportunities to turn professional expertise into lasting humanitarian impact.

Words PDG Andy Rajapakse. Rotary Club of Burleigh Heads, Qld.

Some of my most rewarding Rotary moments have happened beyond my own club, district and zone. The club is where many of us first discover Rotary friendship and service, but Rotary also opens the door to a wider world of expertise, opportunity and global impact.

For me, Rotary Action Groups are one of the best ways to step into that wider world. They connect Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, Youth Exchange alumni and non Rotarians who share a passion for humanitarian causes and want to work with Rotary clubs and districts on hands-on projects that create lasting change.

My involvement with the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health (RMCH) over the past four years has enriched my life as a Rotarian and leader. As a past district governor, I believe members remain engaged when they find meaningful opportunities to use their skills, pursue their interests and contribute to something larger than themselves. RMCH has allowed me to work with a multi-national team on major projects across international borders.

I am privileged to serve as Director for the Oceania Region on the RMCH International Board. Founded 20 years ago as Rotary’s first Action Group, RMCH has 12,000 members across 60 countries. As the board’s only international marketer, I have connected with respected medical professionals, public health leaders, World Health

Organisation representatives, advocates and Rotarians who I might otherwise never have met.

My fellow board members come from Uganda, Nigeria, Germany, the United States, Austria, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, India and South Korea. Our monthly Zoom meetings expose me to different cultures, values and perspectives while strengthening my interpersonal and leadership skills. Their knowledge, commitment and friendship continue to inspire me.

Another highlight has been leading the RMCH promotional booths at Rotary International Conventions in Melbourne, Singapore and Taipei. These events allowed me to combine my marketing experience, creativity and Rotary passion while showcasing RMCH’s work to Rotarians from around the world.

Each convention required recruiting and coordinating approximately 20 volunteers to manage the booth across five days. Local Rotary friendships were also invaluable. Past District Governor Phillip Archer in Melbourne, Shan Balakrishnan in Singapore and Ronald Li, president of the Rotary Club of Taipei Excel, connected me with reliable local design companies. Together, we created professional and interactive booths that reflected the purpose and heart of RMCH.

The 2026 Taipei booth was ceremonially opened by my Rotary mentor, RI Past President Ravi Ravindran, and his wife Varnathy. Among its thousands of visitors were RI President Francesco, current and former RI directors and trustees, district governors, Rotaractors and Interactors.

A central feature of the booths was RMCH’s successful implementation of The Rotary Foundation’s US$2 million Programs of Scale grant. Awarded in 2022, the Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria initiative involved Rotary districts and clubs in Nigeria and Germany. The three-year program concluded in January 2026 after reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in four targeted areas from 24 per cent in 2022 to 18 per cent in 2025.

The project demonstrated what Rotary can achieve when compassion, technical expertise and strong local and international partnerships come together. By sharing these stories, our convention booths inspired clubs to do more and encouraged more people to join the Action Group. Rotarians want action and impact, not meetings and minutes.

This is why Rotary Action Groups can be so important to member engagement. They offer another place to contribute, another circle of friends and another reason to remain connected. No individual Rotary club can provide every experience its members seek.

With more than 25 Rotary Action Groups available, members can find a cause that speaks to their skills and interests. You do not need to be a past district governor or club president to join, and many groups welcome non-Rotarians.

For current and prospective members alike, Action Groups can transform Rotary from a local club experience into a lifelong journey of purpose, learning, friendship and impact. My RMCH journey reminds me that Rotary is at its best when local commitment meets global purpose.

For more information on the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health, visit rotaryrmch.org