North Reading Rotary - Interact Club

Interact is Rotary International's service club for young people ages 14-18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary Clubs, which provide support and guidance, but Interact Clubs are self governing and self supporting.

Club membership varies greatly. Clubs can be single-gender or mixed, as well as large and small. The membership bas can be drawn from the student body of a single school or from two or more schools from the same community.

Each year, Interact clubs complete at least two community service projects, one of which furthers international understanding and good will. Through projects, Interactors develope a network of frienships with local and overseas clubs. And, in the process, Interactors develope leadership skills and learn the value of hard work.

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 meeting and provide advice on organizing service projects, and club administration. The Rotarian advisor also acts as a liason between the Interact club and the sponsoring Rotary club. The Interact club can be school-based or community based. The Rotarian advisor must attend evry meeting of a community-based. A school-based club is subject to the policies and regulations governing all other organizations of that particular school. In most instances, a faculty councelor - 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.

As one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 10,700 clubs in 109 countries and geographical areas, Interact has become a worldwide phenomenon.

Interactors also often spearhead the formation of Rotaract clubs and participate in Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). Interactors also often go on to become Youth Exchange students or Ambassadorial Scholars.

For more information about Interact in your area, contact your local Rotary club or district Interact chair.