Information about Interact

Interact
 

Over 50 years ago in Melbourne, Florida a group of 23 high school students formed the first Interact club, which is the high school and junior age companion of Rotary clubs.  Now Interact is one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 10,700 active clubs and 200,000 enthusiastic, energetic, service minded members spread throughout the world in 109 countries and geographical areas.

Interact is a place where young people cultivate their leadership skills and establish a positive lifetime habit of service. Interactors provide their communities and the world with the same kind of service as do Rotarians. 

One of the most significant outcomes of a thriving Interact program is the development of prospective Rotarians.  Interactors are our future, vital members of our Family of Rotary. 

Interact in D6000:

There are 26 Interact clubs in D6000, each sponsored by a Rotary club.  Our Interactors provide service to their schools, neighborhoods, towns and the world in varied ways, from raking leaves and shoveling snow for senior citizens, to cleaning highways, to undertaking large-scale fundraising efforts supporting community and international causes.  Interactors have even traveled with Rotarians to Xicotepec, Mexico, acting as hard-working goodwill ambassadors. 

To organize an Interact Club:

Organizing an Interact club is one of the most rewarding activities a Rotary club can perform in its community.  It is an excellent way to share the Rotary motto “Service Above Self” with youth members by offering the opportunity for service of their own choosing. The D6000 Interact Committee exists to assist clubs that may wish to form an Interact Club.  Here are the steps to establishing an Interact club:
  1. Determine that there is sufficient interest among youth to form a club.
  2. Talk with school administrators to see if they would agree to a school-based Interact club.  [If not, then the club will have to be a community-based club.]
  3. Hold an organizational meeting of prospective Interactors:  elect officers and determine when club meetings will be held.
  4. Download and adopt the standard Interact Constitution and Bylaws:  https://www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/document/standard-interact-club-constitution-and-bylaws
  5. Download and complete the Interact Club Certification Form:  https://www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/document/interact-club-certification-form
  6. Get the signature of the president of the sponsor Rotary club, and ask the president to obtain the signature of the district governor.
  7. Send copies of the signed club certification form to the sponsor Rotary club, the district governor and the district Interact chair.
  8. Submit a copy of the signed certification form to the Rotary International office:  interact@rotary.org.  After processing, Rotary will send a certificate to the sponsor Rotary club president to present to the new Interact club.
 
Note:  Even before the official certificate arrives, members of the new Interact club — under the guidance of the sponsor club’s members — can meet, organize, and take action in the community
 
If you have any questions, or need any help with the registration process, please do not hesitate to contact the Interact team chair.
 
More detailed information can be found in the Interact Club Guide for Rotary Sponsors and Advisers:  https://my.rotary.org/en/document/interact-guide-rotary-club-sponsors-and-advisers.  Another good resource:  https://www.rotary.org/get-involved/interact-clubs.