ERIC
ERIC stands for European Rotaract Information Centre: it is an MDIO that includes 119 districts from 49 countries across Europe, directly and indirectly connecting more than 25,000 Rotaractors. Founded in 1988 by 15 countries, including Italy, ERIC was officially recognized by Rotary International in 1993 as the first MDIO in the world. ERIC's main purpose is to enable and promote the exchange of information and the development of international relationships between Rotaract Clubs and their members across participating European districts. It also aims to encourage Rotaractors to work together on international projects.
ERIC carries out its operations through the following collegial bodies:
- The board of directors: made up of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and various specific officers
- The Council of State Representatives
- The general assembly
The president is elected by the general assembly, which is held in winter and votes on candidacies received at least 4 weeks before the general assembly itself. The remaining board members are elected by the spring general assembly.
Each office must be held by a different person.
The various board members may have one or more assistants, who do not take part in the board's decision-making processes. The board of directors may set up committees, whose term matches the relevant Rotary year. The members of the Council of State Representatives are elected by ERIC's members. State Representatives vote on behalf of members within the Council of State Representatives and at the general assembly, and act as a link between ERIC and its members. Representatives are formally delegates of one or more district Rotaract Representatives.
The general assembly is convened by the ERIC president, the ERIC secretary, or by 50% of members, and is chaired by the President. It is held three times a year: twice under the name REM (Rotaract European Meeting), and once as EUCO (European Rotaract Convention). State Representatives attend the assembly with voting power over agenda items, which may only concern:
- Amendments to the constitution
- Election and removal of board members
- Approval of annual budgets
- Dissolution of ERIC
- Appointment of liquidators
- Dismissal of an ERIC member
- Other activities as prescribed by Luxembourg law, and cases where a vote is required under the Code of Policies
MED
MED (Mediterranean) is the MDIO founded in Pompeii in 2012 and recognized by RI in 2013. It includes 18 countries, for a total of 36 districts and more than 15,000 Rotaractors. Its purpose is to be a meeting point for young leaders across districts and for multicultural understanding. MED's structure is similar to ERIC's: 2 public meetings are held each year, called the Mediterranean Convention (MEDI-CON) and the Meeting of Mediterranean Rotaract (M2R). Its decision-making bodies are:
- Board of directors
- Council of State Representatives
Unlike ERIC, elective assemblies can be held in closed form, with asynchronous voting. Districts that are honorary MED members — that is, that do not meet the condition of being a district along the Mediterranean coast, or of being a district of a country bordering the Mediterranean — may have a non-voting State Representative.