Why should our Rotary club sponsor an Interact club?

Organizing an Interact club is one of the most rewarding activities a Rotary club can undertake in its community. The Interact program gives Rotarians the opportunity to mentor dynamic young men and women who want to provide service in their communities and in the global community. Rotarians serve as resources for Interactors who will become tomorrow's parents, business professionals, and community leaders. In turn, an Interact club can bring new energy to a Rotary club, inspire fresh ideas for service, increase support to projects, and spread knowledge of Rotary into other sectors of the community. Interactors, with the experience they have gained through this Rotary program, make exceptional future Rotaractors and later Rotarians.

PROGRAM GUIDELINES:

• Each Interact club must perform at least two service projects a year — one that benefits the school or community and one that furthers international understanding.

• Each Interact club must have a Rotarian advisor who is a member of the sponsoring Rotary club. This resource person must attend Interact club and board meetings and provide advice on organizing service projects, fundraising, and club administration. The Rotarian advisor also acts as a liaison between the Interact club and the sponsoring Rotary club.

• An Interact club can be school-based or community-based. A community-based Interact club may draw members from several different schools within the territorial limits of the sponsoring Rotary club. The Rotarian advisor must attend every meeting of a community-based club. A school-based club is subject to the policies and regulations governing all other organizations of that particular school. In most instances, a faculty counselor — who may or may not be a Rotarian — is appointed to work with the Interactors. In the case of a school-based club, the Rotarian advisor is only required to attend the Interact club's board meetings.

• The Interact constitution requires clubs to meet at least twice a month. To remain eligible for membership, Interactors must attend 60 percent or more of regularly scheduled meetings.

• Interact clubs are self-supporting organizations that require little or no financial support from the sponsoring Rotary club.

• Dues, if any, should be minimal; money for projects and activities should be raised through club activities.

• Each Interact club must submit an Incoming Officer Data Form and an Interact Project Data Form to RI annually.

• An Interact club is not allowed to merge with any other organization.