State of the Blog: So that’s a wrap!

Wohoo! What a year it’s been! Can you believe it all started with us trying to rally the PR Directors for our very first project to get the Editorial rolling? No, I guess we were already on roll, writing captions and finding translators even before we kick-started our projects. Such is the duty of the Editors, and we embraced it all – from non-stop caption making to encouraging creative expression among the club members. And now we are about to wrap things up, looking back at everything we’ve done with a mix of pride, relief, and a little bit of disbelief at how fast time flew by.

And thus, we bring you the State of the Blog, marking our last duty as the Editors for the RI Year 2024/25. Looking back, typing this out, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come —from those first shaky steps trying to figure out things, to receiving compliments. Every comment, every share, every smile and nod of approval was proof of the groundwork we laid during the past year. We invite you to take a moment to appraise the State of the Blog, to look back at a year’s highlights.

Projects

Creepy Pasta

The Editorial Avenue had a slow start to the blog this past year, as the initial focus was on BookTok—a collaborative initiative with the Public Relations Avenue, featuring short-form book reviews in video format. However, things took a spooky turn with the launch of Creepy Pasta in celebration of Halloween. While Halloween isn’t widely celebrated in Sri Lanka, we decided to add a touch of eerie excitement with this blog series. Rotaractors showcased their creativity through horror-themed short stories, resulting in a total of six articles. In hindsight, horror might not have been the best genre to kick off the blog—it’s not for everyone, after all!

What We Love

This heartwarming blog series was about just that—sharing what we love. Whether it was a favorite book, video game, or hobby, members opened up about their passions, helping us foster connection and understanding within the club. We published a total of eight articles as part of this series.

The Love Gazette II

Back by popular demand, The Love Gazette II made its return following the success of the previous year’s edition. After all, who doesn’t love love? Originally, the plan was to publish the series throughout February in celebration of Valentine’s Day. However, mid-semester assignments and academic commitments delayed the release. Ironically, the articles ended up being published during the stressful period of end-semester exams! Despite the delay, the series resonated deeply with our readers, with a total of 11 heartfelt articles.

The Month in Review (MIR)

Month in Review is our recurring recap series highlighting the club’s projects and achievements. This year, we primarily published quarterly editions rather than monthly, as keeping up with the flurry of activity proved challenging—especially during our busiest months. Nevertheless, these recaps offered a valuable reflection on all the great work done throughout the year.

Project Articles

We also published articles celebrating individual projects organised by the club. These pieces offered insight, reflection, and behind-the-scenes moments from our initiatives.

Miscellaneous Articles

A variety of special articles added extra depth to our blog content this year:

• An introductory article by our President, Rtr. Vibhavee Sarathchandra
  
• A touching Valentine’s Day piece by Vibhath Jayasinghe (Co-Editor, 2021/22)
  
• A collection of traditional folk tales as part of the Storytelling Circle project, organised by the International Service Avenue in collaboration with the Rotaract Club of Vadodara, India
  
• For the very first time, a joint bulletin published in collaboration with the Rotaract Club of R.V.C.E., marking a milestone in inter-club partnership and community engagement
  
• And a series of farewell articles from the outgoing Executive Committee and Board of Directors

And with that, we sign off. Now that has been a year of learning curves, unexpected plot twists, and more than a few last-minute edits. Not everything went to plan, but we showed up—and so did you. To everyone who wrote, read, shared, or accidentally clicked on a link—thank you for being part of this creative chaos. As we hand things over to our dearest juniors, we leave behind not just a blog, but a space shaped by stories, voices, and a whole lot of heart. Here’s to new beginnings, bold ideas, and whatever beautiful chaos that comes next. 

-Rtr. Janani Kumarasiri & Rtr. Chamodi Peduruarachchi 

Co-Editors for the RI Year 2024-2025