interact manual

8/7/2019 Interact Manual

1/72

INTERACTHANDBOOK


2/72


3/72

Preface

The purpose of this handbook is:

q To guide Rotarians in their efforts to organize Interact clubs.

q To provide Rotarians and Interactors with information on adminis-tering an Interact club.

q To define the role of the district Interact committee.

q To illustrate effective project development.

q To highlight the resources of Rotary International and The RotaryFoundation available to Rotarians and Interactors.


4/72


5/72

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction1

What is Interact?

A Key Member of the Rotary FamilyHistory

1. Guidelines for Rotary Clubs3

Getting Started

Ideas for Recruiting Prospective Interactors

Hold an Organization Meeting

Chartering the Interact Club

Hold an Inaugural Ceremony

Hold an Installation Ceremony

Provide Ongoing Support

Sponsor an Annual Meeting

2. Guidelines for Interact Club Officers7

Structure

Form Committees

Conduct Effective Meetings

Recruit and Retain Members

Develop a Strong Service Program

Carry Out Effective Fund-Raising Activities

Maintain Good Communication

3. District Interact Structure13Promote the Interact Program Among Rotary Clubs

Provide Leadership Training for Interact Club Officers

Sponsor District Interact Meetings

Arrange Multidistrict Meetings

Publicize the District Interact Program

Suggested Activities for District Interact Chairpersons


6/72

4. Interact in Action17

Project Examples

5. Rotary International and Interact19

Basic Policies and Procedures of Interact

RI Secretariat and Interact

World Interact WeekInternational Convention

RI Calendar

6. Resources23

Resources of Rotary International

Resources of The Rotary Foundation

Licensed Suppliers

7. Appendices27


7/72

Interact Handbook 1

Introduction

What is Interact?

Interact is a Rotary-sponsored service clubfor young people. Made up of members age14-18 or secondary-school age, Interactgives young people an opportunity to par-ticipate in fun, meaningful service projects.Interact clubs perform at least two projectsa year, with one serving the communityand the other furthering internationalunderstanding. Along the way, Interactorsdevelop their leadership skills and initia-tive while meeting new friends.

Through their service activities, Interactorslearn the importance of:

developing leadership skills andpersonal integrity

demonstrating helpfulness and respectfor others

understanding the value of individualresponsibility and hard work

advancing international understandingand goodwill

Interactors have access to the many re-sources of Rotary International and TheRotary Foundation. Rotary International

provides the administrative support thathelps Interact clubs thrive.

A Key Member of theRotary Family

Rotary International is a worldwide serviceorganization for leading business andprofessional men and women, with 29,000Rotary clubs and more than 1.2 millionmembers. Interact clubs are self-supportedand self-governing but receive guidancefrom a sponsoring Rotary club. This

sponsorship is a result of Rotarys concernthat young people, or New Generations,should take an active interest in commu-nity life and have the opportunity todevelop leadership skills. Interact providesa vehicle through which New Generationscan find that involvement.

Organizing an Interact club is one of themost rewarding activities a Rotary club canundertake in its community. The Interact


8/72

2 Interact Handbook

program gives Rotarians the opportunity tomentor promising young men and womeninterested in service. Rotarians serve asresources for Interactors who are on thepath toward becoming professionals andcommunity leaders. In turn, an Interactclub can bring new energy to a Rotary club,

inspire fresh ideas for service, increasesupport of projects, and help developfuture Rotarians. A successful Interact clubwill form service partnerships with itssponsoring club.

History

When RI President Harold T. Thomastraveled the world during his year in officein 1959-60, he discovered a deep and

widespread feeling among Rotarians thatRotarys potential for developing youthservice had not been fully realized. In 1960Thomas appointed a committee of fiveRotarians to study the issue, and two yearslater, 23 students at Melbourne High Schoolin Melbourne, Florida, USA, came together

to form the first Interact club.

The word Interact stands for internationalaction, and today more than 150,000 youngpeople in about 100 countries belong tosome 6,500 clubs, making Interact a trulyinternational phenomenon. All over theworld, young people are spreading fellow-ship and international understandingthrough a wide array of Interact serviceactivities.


9/72

Interact Handbook 3

1

Guidelinesfor RotaryClubs

Getting Started

If a Rotary club is interested in sponsoringan Interact club, the chairperson of theclubs Community Service committeeshould form an Interact subcommittee ofat least five members. One member of thesubcommittee should be designated as theadvisor to the new club. As part of theinformation-gathering process, the sub-committee should consult with the districtInteract chairperson (a Rotarian appointed

by the district governor to oversee theInteract program within the district) tolearn how other Interact clubs function

in the district.The subcommittee should study therequirements of sponsorship (included inthe Standard Interact Club Constitution,Appendix B) and then make a presentationto the entire Rotary club, emphasizing thatthe involvement of Rotarians is essential tothe success of an Interact club and high-lighting the rewards of sponsoring service-minded young people. The lively videoSerious Fun (650), which showsInteractors from various parts of the worldin action, can be a helpful addition to thepresentation.

After the Rotary club board approves thesponsorship of an Interact club, the clubmust decide whether its Interact club will

be community-based or school-based. Acommunity-based club draws its membersfrom several schools within the territoriallimits of the Rotary club, and the Rotarianadvisor must attend all of the clubsmeetings. A school-based club draws itsmembers from one school within the

territorial limits of the Rotary club, and theRotarian advisor is only required to attend

the clubs board meetings. The majority ofInteract clubs are school-based.

Sponsorship of a school-based club requiresa member of the subcommittee to meetwith school officials to explain the programand its advantages. Rotarians and schoolofficials should continue to work togetherto determine membership requirements,the time and location of the Interact clubsmeetings, and other policies.

Joint sponsorshipof an Interact club

An Interact club can be sponsored by morethan one Rotary club under the followingconditions:

the district governor approves thearrangement in writing

a substantial percentage of the member-ship must come from within the territo-rial limits of each sponsoring club

the circumstances must be such that the

organization of separate Interact clubs,each sponsored by a single Rotary club,would create an artificial division ofwhat is essentially a single body ofyoung adults within the school orcommunity

a joint Interact committee is created withrepresentation from each of the sponsor-ing Rotary clubs


10/72

4 Interact Handbook

Ideas for RecruitingProspective Interactors

q Encourage each member of the Rotaryclub to submit the name of at least oneprospective Interactor.

q

Ask teachers and local youth leaders tosubmit names of potential members.

q Contact all prospective Interactors todetermine their interest in joining.

q Ask prospective Interactors to providethe names of other young people whomight want to join.

Once a group of potential Interactors hasbeen identified, arrange an informationalmeeting. While it is recommended that anInteract club include at least 15 members,you should make sure that a minimum of

30 young people have been identifiedbefore you hold an informational meeting.The meeting should be informal. TheInteract subcommittee, the Rotary clubpresident, and the district Interact chair-person should attend the meeting. Also

invite Interactors from nearby clubs whocan share their experiences and answerquestions.

At the meeting:

q Give the students a general idea of thebackground of Rotary and its commit-ment to young people.

q Explain the policies and goals of Inter-act, including a description of somerecent Interact service projects. (See pages

17-18 for examples.)q Show the video Serious Fun (650).

q Give the prospective Interactors plentyof time to ask questions and share theirideas for projects for the new club.

q Take a vote at the end of the meeting toconfirm that there is enough interest toestablish an Interact club.

q Pass out membership application forms(Appendix E) and schedule an organiza-tional meeting for a time in the next two

weeks.

Hold an OrganizationalMeeting

Once a group of interested prospectiveInteractors has been assembled, you can

begin to organize the club. Hold organiza-tional meetings to plan the clubs activities.Keep the enthusiasm level high by holdingthe meetings no more than two weeksapart, and be sure to keep a record of the


11/72

Interact Handbook 5

names and phone numbers of those whoattend so you can invite them to futuremeetings. Encourage them to invite friends.

Each Interact clubs development is unique.There are no requirements for the numberof meetings held before the certification of

a club, but several issues should be ad-dressed during the organizational phase:

q Hold elections for president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and otherofficers. Provide them with copies of theofficers responsibilities outlined inChapter 2.

q Aim to include equal numbers of stu-dents from each grade level.

q Discuss and establish annual club dues.

q Determine where and when the clubmeetings will be held.

q Begin preliminary planning for serviceactivities, fund-raising events, and theinaugural ceremony.

q Familiarize members with the Statementof Policy Relating to Interact (Appendix

A), the Standard Interact Club Constitu-tion (Appendix B), and the StandardInteract Club By-Laws (Appendix C).

Chartering the Interact Club

When a prospective Interact club has

organized itself, it should be ready toproceed with applying for official RIcertification. In accordance with the Inter-act Statement of Policy (Appendix A), theprospective club should first adopt theStandard Interact Club Constitution(Appendix B) and all of its amendments. Itshould also adopt by-laws consistent withthe Standard Interact Club Constitutionand policy established by Rotary Interna-tional. These by-laws are subject to theapproval of the sponsoring Rotary club.

The Interact Club Organization List (Ap-pendix F) should then be filled out listingall charter members who have committedto attending a minimum of 60 percent ofthe clubs service and social activities. Theorganization list must then be signed by thesponsoring Rotary club president and thedistrict governor and sent to RI WorldHeadquarters or the RI Service Centerserving the area for club certification.

Upon certification of the Interact club, thesponsoring Rotary club will receive a

certificate that can be presented to thenewly formed Interact club.

Hold an InauguralCeremony

The chartering of an Interact club is anexciting moment. The Rotary club sponsormay wish to host an inaugural ceremony.An inaugural ceremony is a good way forthe sponsoring Rotarians to welcome theInteractors as partners in Rotary service.Each ceremony is unique and has no set

format. You might wish to invite districtleaders such as the district governor,district Interact chairperson, and districtInteract representative to this celebration tohelp establish the presence of the newInteract club in the district.

Hold an InstallationCeremony

Another special moment for your newInteract club will be the installation of club


12/72

6 Interact Handbook

officers. An officer installation can be aceremonious occasion or a gala at whichthe new club officers are officially recog-nized as the clubs leadership for the year.An installation ceremony is then heldannually to thank the past officers for theiryear of dedicated work and to greet new

officers for the year to come.

The incoming president and officers of thesponsoring Rotary club should be invitedto this event so they can get acquaintedwith the new Interact club officers. This canincrease communication between Interactand Rotary clubs and strengthen jointprojects and activities.

Provide Ongoing Support

The support and guidance of the sponsor-

ing Rotary club is a key ingredient in thesuccess of an Interact club. Consider thesesuggestions for creating lasting bonds

between your club and the Interact club:

q Invite Interactors to the Rotary clubsmeetings to report on their activities.

q Create an annual Rotary/Interact serviceproject.

q Show the Interactors how to produce aclub bulletin.

q Help the Interact club develop strategiesfor recruiting and retaining members.

q Establish a recognition program thatacknowledges Interactors achievements.(Use the sample certificate in AppendixO.)

q Publicize Interactors achievements tothe community and to the Rotary world.(See the Interact Project Data Form inAppendix L.)

q Inform Interactors of other Rotary pro-grams available to them. (See Chapter 6.)

q Invite the Interact president and secre-

tary to meet with the district governorduring the governors official visit toyour club.

The Rotarian advisorThe Rotarian advisor plays a major role inthe clubs support of its Interact club. Theadvisor attends the board meetings ofschool-based clubs and all meetings ofcommunity-based clubs. Responsibilitiesinclude:

q Counseling the Interactors when theyplan service projects or fund-raisingactivities.

q Acting as a liaison between the Rotaryclub and the Interactors and between theRotary club and the faculty advisor (forschool-based clubs).

q Overseeing the Interact clubs electionseach year and reporting the names andaddresses of new officers to the districtInteract committee.

The faculty advisorIt is extremely helpful to have a facultyadvisor at a school-based club. The facultyadvisor oversees the activities of theInteract club and maintains regular contactwith the Rotarian advisor and schooladministration so that they are kept abreast

of the clubs business and any problemsthat should arise. Specifically, the facultyadvisor:

q Attends all of the clubs meetings.

q Advises the Interactors on serviceprojects, particularly in-school projects.

q Monitors the flow of club funds.

q Verifies that new members meet theschools academic requirements.

Sponsor an Annual Meeting

Your Rotary clubs Interact committeeshould host an annual meeting at the

beginning of the school year or, in the caseof a community-based club, at the begin-ning of the Rotary year. Invite allInteractors, your Rotary club president, andall interested members of your club. Themeeting should cover the following topics:meeting programs, procedures, completedprojects, ongoing projects, attendance,membership development, publicity, andfuture plans.

Insurance

There are no Rotary International insurancerequirements for Interact clubs. Your Rotaryclubs Interact committee is advised to assessInteract-related liability issues and seekappropriate insurance. Rotary clubs covered

by group insurance may contact their carrierand ask about provisions that allow adding anInteract club to their existing coverage.


13/72

Interact Handbook 7

2

Guidelinesfor InteractClub Officers

Structure

Under the leadership of the Interact clubpresident, the members of an Interact clubplan fund-raising activities, serviceprojects, and social events. It is the role ofthe Interact clubs board of directors toreview and approve those plans. The boardof directors consists of all of the clubofficers (president, vice-president, secre-tary, and treasurer) and an additionalnumber of officers determined by the sizeof the club. The Interact clubs board ofdirectors is the governing body of the cluband meets at least once a month. Club

members in good standing may attendboard meetings as observers, speaking onlywith permission of the board.

All club administrative matters should beconducted at board meetings, which should

be held at least once a month. At the nextclub meeting, the board must make a fullreport on actions taken. The Rotarianadvisor must attend all board meetings.

PresidentThe president presides over all meetings of

the club and the board of directors, ap-points all standing and special committees(with board approval), and serves as amember of all committees. As the clubleader, the president helps members todevelop as leaders and works to ensurethat the clubs activities and service projectsare successfully promoted and completed.The president should develop a talent foridentifying members skills and interestsand put them to work in club projects.

Before taking office, the president should:

q Study the Interact Statement of Policy,

Constitution, and By-Laws (AppendicesA, B, and C).

q Meet with the current president toreview the clubs records and discuss itscurrent activities.

q Meet with the new board of directors toreview current activities and plan newones.

q Decide which of the existing committeesshould be retained for the upcomingyear, and think about any new commit-tees that can be created.

q Appoint committee chairpersons basedon qualifications and Interact experience(see Appendix J, The Interact ClubCommittee Appointment Worksheet)and discuss the new chairpersonschoices for committee members.

While in office, the president should:

q Conduct effective meetings by preparinga detailed agenda that includes whatwill be covered and for how long. Allowtime for reports from officers and

committee members.q Pay attention to membership growth

and development. Maintain a balanceamong age groups and keep currentmembers interest high by giving themplenty of opportunity to participate andvoice their opinions.

q Be creative when planning the clubsmeeting programs and plan them well inadvance. Vary the types of programs(speakers, panel discussions, trips,


14/72

8 Interact Handbook

entertainment) to satisfy a wide range ofinterests.

q Avoid getting caught up in the details.Delegate responsibility to help othermembers develop their leadership skills.

q Actively communicate and collaborate

with the Rotarian advisor, the facultyadvisor, and the district Interact chair-person.

Vice-PresidentThe vice-president presides over meetingswhen the president is absent, serves as amember of the board of directors, and mayhandle special assignments for the presi-dent. Before taking office and throughoutthe year, the vice-president should keepup to date on all of the clubs goals andongoing activities. The vice-presidency is

not an automatic steppingstone to thepresidency, but it serves as an excellenttraining ground for a future club leader.

SecretaryThe secretary maintains all club records,including membership records, which arenecessary for determining who is eligibleto vote. These consist of: the membershipactivities record (Appendix I), the commit-tee appointment worksheet (Appendix J),attendance records (Appendix G), record

of dues payments (Appendix H), and eachmembers original application form(Appendix E).

The secretary also completes the InteractIncoming Officer Data Form (AppendixK) and the Interact Project Data Form(Appendix L) and submits them to RotaryInternational.

The secretary must also take minutes at allmeetings. Properly prepared minutes will:

q Reflect what was said at a meeting in aclear, concise manner.

q Report actions taken at a meetingwithout including details as to howdecisions were reached.

q Cover the following points:

kind of meeting (e.g., board meeting,club meeting, committee meeting,etc.)

date

time

place

presiding officer

attendance

approval and correction of lastmeetings minutes

treasurers statement, in totals only

summary of reports from officersand committees

summary of actions taken andof the program

announcements

time of adjournment

TreasurerThe treasurer works with the secretary tomaintain accurate financial records. Thetreasurer should be a responsible, detail-

oriented person. The treasurer, who servesas the chairperson of the finance commit-tee, collects membership dues (see Appen-dix H), deposits the dues and all proceedsfrom fund-raising projects, and handlesmost of the work of preparing and admin-istering the budget. The treasurer alsoprepares a monthly report that shows thefollowing:

q money on hand at the beginning and theend of the month

q receipts, with their source (dues, sale of

items, etc.) clearly indicatedq payments, showing for what and

to whom

A final report summing up the yearsoperation should be given to the cluband to the incoming treasurer. All of thetreasurers reports form part of the clubspermanent record, which should be main-tained by the club secretary.

Other officersAlong with the president, vice-president,secretary, and treasurer, an additionalnumber of officers may be determined

by the club for inclusion on the board ofdirectors. This must be approved by thesponsoring Rotary club. Members of the

board of directors should be familiar withthe Interact constitutional documents(Appendices A, B, and C). The board isrequired to meet at least once a month andreport at the following club meeting on anyaction taken. Board members should think


15/72

Interact Handbook 9

of project ideas, encourage all members toparticipate, and delegate responsibilities.At the end of the year, the board makes anannual report that covers all major actionof the year.

Form Committees

Each Interact club has four standingcommittees: the club committee, thefinance committee, the service committee,and the international understandingcommittee. The president appoints themembers of these committees, and the

board must approve those appointments.Depending on the clubs size, the presidentmay appoint other committees, such asmembership, program planning, andpublic relations. The board must approvethose appointments as well. Committees

handle many of the clubs administrativeand service responsibilities, but they maynot take action without the approval of themembership.

Club CommitteeThis committee is responsible for atten-dance, membership, meeting programs,fellowship, and public relations. Thiscommittee comes up with ideas for theprograms at club meetings, ways to recruitnew members and keep current members,and methods for publicizing the clubsactivities. The committee should maintaina historical record of the club, such as ascrapbook, that includes pictures anddescriptions of the clubs activities.

Finance CommitteeThis committee decides how the clubwill fund its activities, always with aneye toward keeping dues low and makingsure that the club remains self-supporting.Interactors raise money in a variety ofways, such as sales, events, or odd jobs.

The committee also finds ways to solicitfunds from businesses and organizations

by offering something of value - perhapsservices or recognition in return.

Service Committee andInternational UnderstandingCommittee

The Service Committee has one purpose: toinitiate one project each year that benefitseither the school or the community. The

International Understanding Committeealso has one purpose: to undertake oneproject each year that promotes interna-tional goodwill. For examples of successfulprojects carried out by Interact clubs, seeChapter 4.

Strong committee leadershipInteract committee chairpersons shouldconsider these suggestions:

q Give everyone a job to do and keep trackof assignments.

q Establish a set schedule of committeemeetings for the year.

q Make sure all committee members arefamiliar with the clubs constitutionaldocuments and the clubs organizationand goals.

q

When you call a meeting, notify thecommittee members in writing, givingthe date, time, place, and subject of themeeting.

q Prepare an agenda for the meeting andstick to it.

q Contact members scheduled to makereports at the meeting and ask if theyneed any help preparing their reports.

q Ask members for their opinions.

q Keep meetings short and to the point.

q

Keep accurate records but avoid unnec-essary paperwork.

Conduct Effective Meetings

Club meetings should be held at least twicea month at a time and place that suits themembers (and the school for school-basedclubs). This suggested format can help youhold productive meetings:

q Open the meeting with a pledge, anthem,or some other local custom.

q The president introduces guests andmakes announcements and reminders.

q The secretary, treasurer, and committeechairs make any relevant reports.

q Introduce new members.

q Present the meeting program.

q Close with thanks to the speakers orothers who have participated.

q Adjourn the meeting.


16/72

10 Interact Handbook

Recruit and Retain MembersThe success of an Interact club dependson the commitment and hard work of itsmembers. When recruiting new members,seek out those with special interests andabilities who would be enthusiastic aboutthe social and service opportunities Interactprovides. The following suggestions canhelp you build a strong, committed mem-

bership:

q Set membership goals and encourage allclub members to work to meet them.

q Challenge members to bring in one newInteractor every six months.

q Give out an award to the member whorecruits the most new members.

q Organize a special event to attract newmembers. Explain the purpose ofInteract, and show the video SeriousFun (650) along with slides or picturesof your clubs activities. Display theInteract poster (639-MU) and hand outthe Serious Fun brochure (600).

q Publicize your clubs activities in theschool paper and in the community.

q Ask experienced Interactors to adoptnew members and make them feelwelcome.

q Assign committee responsibilities toveteran members. This will let themknow theyre important to the club.

q Monitor attendance. Make sure everyoneattends at least 60 percent of themeetings.

q Maintain a good balance among agelevels and a good balance among malesand females if the club is co-educational.

q Get feedback from the members on thetypes of meeting programs they wouldlike to see.

Develop a StrongService Program

Carrying out interesting and creativeservice projects is a key element of anInteract clubs success. Each year, Interactclubs conduct two service projects onethat benefits the school or the community,and one that promotes internationalunderstanding. See Chapter 4 for a descrip-tion of successful projects conducted byother clubs. Also consult Chapter 6 for

information on Rotary Internationalscommunity and international programresources.

School or community projectsSchool or community projects cover a widescope, so it is helpful to focus your efforts.Think of the following questions whenplanning your service activities:

q What services does our school/community need?

q What other community organizations

could use our Interact clubs assistance?q Can we collaborate with our sponsoring

Rotary club or local Rotaract club ontheir service efforts?

q What types of community serviceprojects fit within our clubs budget?

School and community project ideas:

Hold a blood drive.

Collect books for a school, library, orliteracy program.

Raise awareness of drug or alcoholabuse, HIV/AIDS, or other health issues.

Participate in a clean-up program at apark or other public place.

Raise funds to buy equipment or booksfor your school.

Host a holiday party for disadvantagedyouth or residents of a nursing home.


17/72

Interact Handbook 11

International projectsInternational projects often involve anexchange of correspondence or visits

between members of Interact clubs indifferent countries. Establish ongoingcorrespondence with a club before plan-ning an exchange or a visit. Correspon-

dence can include an exchange of photosor yearbooks, a joint meeting conducted onthe telephone, or a regular exchange ofe-mail or letters.

There are three ways to contact a foreignclub:

1. Consult the Interact CorrespondenceExchange List. Sent by RI to Interact clubseach September, this list includes contactinformation for Interact clubs that haveindicated an interest in correspondingand exchanging with other clubs.

2. Contact district Interact chairpersons inother countries. Your sponsoring clubspresident has a list of all of the districtInteract chairpersons around the world.

3. Search the World Wide Web for thehome pages of Interact clubs.

When holding a fund-raiser:

q Set realistic goals based on how muchfinancial support youll need and howmuch money you can raise. Rememberthat some projects may be expensive toconduct but will also raise more thanenough money to cover the costs.

q Draw upon the resources you have athand. If your members can sing or act,consider putting on a show. Other ideasinclude a car wash or a bake sale.

q Involve all members of the club.

q Promote the project through the localmedia, including the school newspaper.Invite a reporter to attend. Immediatelyafter the event, send action photographsand a brief report of your project to thelocal media and to RI.

Maintain GoodCommunication

Keeping in touch with people who have aninterest in your activities is a good way tohelp keep your Interact club thriving. Youhave three basic lines of communication:a newsletter for your members and yoursponsoring club, the forms that you com-plete and send to RI, and publicity throughthe local media.

The club newsletterThe club newsletter should be designed toprovide information about your club to allinterested parties, including club members,the school newspaper, your sponsoringRotary club, the district Interact committee,the local media, and RI. When creating anewsletter remember to include thefollowing:

q Information about proposed, ongoing,and recently completed service projectsand fund-raising efforts

q News from RI that pertains to Interactq Reports from your clubs officers,

committee members, and directors

q A synopsis of each meeting

q Information about your sponsoringRotary clubs activities that would be ofinterest to your club

Be sure to include in every issue the nameand address of your club, its meeting timeand place, the name of the sponsoring

Other ideas for international projects:

Collect money or goods to send to needypeople in another country.

Conduct a service project in a neighbor-

ing country.

Involve exchange students in your clubsactivities.

Support a project on the RI WorldCommunity Service Projects Exchangelisting (see page 25).

Hold an international festival to increaseyour schools awareness of differentcultures.

Carry Out Effective Fund-Raising Activities

Interact clubs are self-financed and duesshould be kept low, so the best way tofinance club service projects and otheractivities is through fund-raising activities.The basic rule to remember when raisingfunds is that you must offer something ofvalue in return.


18/72


Rotary club, and your Rotary districtnumber.

World Wide WebConsider creating a Web site for yourInteract club. A Web site can serve as aneffective tool for sharing information about

your club with your sponsoring club, otherInteract clubs, and your community. It canalso include links to your sponsoring Rotaryclubs Web site and the Web site of RI(www.rotary.org).

Forms to be sent to RIThe Interact Incoming Officer Data Form(Appendix K) and the Interact Project DataForm (Appendix L) should be completedand returned to the Community Programssection at RI World Headquarters. These

reports are essential for RI Interact recordsand also provide material for use in variousRI publications.

Sample Interact news release

CONTACT: (Name, address, and telephone number of the Interact club president or Rotarianadvisor of the Interact club)

Interact club to collect supplies for needy Mexican village

(City, State, Date) Members of the Interact Club of (name) will be collecting toys, clothing,blankets and other essentials to provide to residents of the village of Cerro Azul, Mexico.

Cerro Azul, a hillside community near Tecate, is made up of families who live in small shacks orsheds without furniture, electricity or running water. The residents primary source of income is

brickmaking, but they have no kilns, so bricks must be sun-dried in a field. A sudden rainstormcan destroy a familys entire livelihood.

Donations may be left in bags at a drop-off center at the school. Members of the Interact club willprepare the collected goods for shipping next month.

Interact is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young people age 14-18, with more than 150,000members in more than 6,500 clubs in 100 countries and geographical areas. The worldwideprogram was launched by Rotary International in 1962. The Interact Club of (name) is sponsored

by the Rotary Club of (name).

Rotary International is a global network of 29,000 clubs in 161 countries and geographical areas. Itconsists of more than 1.2 million professional men and women who, as civic leaders, volunteer toimprove the quality of life in their home and world communities. Rotary clubs support programsthat address todays most critical issues, including violence, drug abuse, AIDS, hunger, theenvironment, illiteracy, youth development and international understanding.

# # #

Public RelationsYour club and its projects are likely toreceive more support if the communityknows about them. A good image in thecommunity can also help your club recruitnew members and contributes to anaccurate, positive image of Interact and

Rotary. Publicize your clubs activities inthe local and school newspapers and othermedia. The public relations committee ofyour sponsoring Rotary club should be ableto provide lists of local media contacts.

Make sure that someone is taking actionpictures at all of your clubs events. Sendpictures and information about the eventsto the district Interact chairperson for usein the district Interact newsletter and tothe district governor for inclusion in themonthly letter to Rotary clubs in the district.

Also send the pictures and information tothe Community Programs section at RIWorld Headquarters for use in various RIpublications.


19/72


3

DistrictInteractStructure

information by using materials availablefrom the RI Secretariat (see Chapter 6), and

invite Interactors to participate in thepresentations by giving firsthand accountsof the programs benefits.

Provide Leadership Trainingfor Interact Club Officers

The district Interact committee has theresponsibility of providing training forincoming Interact club officers, committeechairpersons, the incoming district Interactrepresentative, and the Rotarian andfaculty advisors. Training should take place

after all the officers in the district have beenelected for the coming year but no laterthan one month before they take office.

The DIR should lead all general sessions ofthe training program with assistance fromthe district Interact chairperson. Interactorsshould lead the group sessions. Make surethat a Rotarian is assigned to each groupto serve as a resource person, providinginformation and advice when asked, butnot lecturing or leading the group.

Everyone involved in running the trainingprogram should meet together as a groupin advance to make sure that all participantsunderstand their roles and are adequatelyprepared. For a sample agenda of anInteract Leadership Training Program,see Appendix M.

District Interact chairpersonThe district Interact chairperson is ap-

pointed by the district governor to admin-ister the Interact program districtwide andto offer assistance to Rotary clubs. Thechairperson, along with the district Interactcommittee, publicizes the program andpromotes the organization of new Interactclubs. The committee offers assistance toclubs by sponsoring Interact district meet-ings and providing leadership training forInteract club officers and others.

District Interact representativeDistricts with five or more clubs elect a

district Interact representative (DIR), anInteractor who acts as a liaison between thedistrict Interact committee and the districtsInteract clubs. The DIR helps the districtInteract committee plan districtwide meet-ings and presides at these meetings when-ever possible. The DIR also encouragesclubs to broaden their service programsand helps to involve Interactors in Rotaryprojects in the district.

Promote the Interact

Program AmongRotary Clubs

Encourage Rotary clubs in your district tosponsor Interact clubs by speaking at clubmeetings and by making presentations atthe Rotary district conference and districtassembly. Provide plenty of Interact


20/72


Sponsor District InteractMeetings

A district Interact meeting gives Interactorsthroughout the district a chance to congre-gate, exchange information and ideas,evaluate completed projects, plan newprojects, and strengthen the spirit ofteamwork and friendship.

Every Interactor in the district should beinvited to the district meeting. The districtInteract representative should assist thedistrict committee in planning the event.There are no set guidelines for programcontent, but it should be informative andenjoyable and should promote the forma-tion of districtwide friendships.

District meetings are funded by the Interactclubs themselves, so costs should be keptto a minimum. For more information ondistrict Interact meetings, see Article 20 ofthe Statement of Policy Relating to Interact(Appendix A).

Arrange MultidistrictMeetings

Multidistrict meetings, especially thosethat involve Interact club members frommore than one country, are recommendedwhenever feasible. They are held under theguidance of the district governor and yourcommittee and must be approved by the RIBoard of Directors.

For more information on multidistrictmeetings, see Article 21 of the Statement of

Policy Relating to Interact (Appendix A).

Publicize the DistrictInteract Program

Your district governor can help you publi-cize news about the Interact programdistrictwide through the Governors MonthlyLetter. Keep your district governor informedabout the following:

q All of the activities and accomplishmentsof Interact clubs in the district

q News about a district Interact conferenceor assembly

q Election of a DIR

Also keep the local news media informed.Urge Interact clubs and their sponsoringRotary clubs to send news releases onoutstanding Interact activities to the localmedia and to RI for use in its publications.The clubs should also include coverage ofthese activities in their club bulletins.


21/72


Suggested Activities for District Interact Chairpersons

Month Activity

July/August Review materials contained in District Interact Chairpersons Kit sent by RotaryInternational, especially the status report of all Interact clubs in the district. Reportany changes to the Community Programs section at RI and follow up with theappropriate sponsoring Rotary clubs.

Collect the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of Interact club advisorsfrom each Interact club in the district, both Rotarians and non-Rotarians. Use thislist as a working district Interact directory and distribute it to those involved withthe program.

Obtain a submission schedule for governors monthly newsletter to plan Interact-related article submissions. Ideas include publicizing Interact projects or upcomingconferences, writing a profile on an outstanding Interactor, or reminding Interactorsto submit forms to RI.

Begin planning for the following:q Networking meeting for sponsoring Rotary clubs and faculty advisors

q District training meeting for Interact club officers

q Election of district Interact representative (if there are more than five clubs inyour district)

q District-wide Community and International Service projects

September Review first program mailing sent by RI to Interact clubs, sponsoring Rotary clubs,district Interact chairpersons, and representatives including:

q Interact Project Data Form (Appendix L)

q World Interact Week Celebration Recognition entry form

q Community Programs fact sheet

q Interact Correspondence Exchange List

q Updated list of district Interact chairpersons

q Updates on outstanding Interact projects and other news

October CELEBRATE WORLD INTERACT WEEK

World Interact Week occurs during the week of 28 October in honor of the anniver-sary date of the first Interact clubs charter. Share the spirit of Interact by planning

joint activities or cooperative service projects between Interact clubs and theirsponsoring Rotary clubs. Consider visiting Rotary clubs that do not sponsor anInteract club and give a presentation on the value of the Interact program. InviteInteractors or Rotarians from a sponsoring Rotary club to join you at the presenta-tion. Remind Interact clubs to complete the World Interact Week CelebrationRecognition entry form and return it to RI.


22/72


23/72


4

Interactin Action

q Four Canadian Interact clubs joinedforces to help the Rotary Club of

Singapore in its effort to assist people inCambodia who have chronic eyesightproblems. The Interactors collectednearly 500 pairs of eyeglasses and somesmall medical equipment that wereshipped to the Rotarians in Singapore.

q An Interact club in Maharashtra, India,helped its sponsoring Rotary club holdits annual sports meet for mentallydisabled students. The meet, whichattracted more than 200 students,included races and games, with prizesawarded. Interactors assisted by register-

ing participants, organizing events, anddistributing snacks and drinks.

q Students and faculty at a school in Seria,Brunei, learned about CPR, the Heimlichmaneuver, bandaging techniques, andother aspects of emergency medicaltreatment as part of a first-aid educationprogram organized by Interactors. Theprogram included a talk by a member ofthe Red Cross, whom the Interact clubinvited to raise awareness of life-savingtechniques.

q When a community in Latina, Italy,took action to discourage an increasingamount of drug and alcohol abuse byteenagers, Interactors stepped in to dotheir part. The source of the problemwas identified as a lack of alternativeforms of recreation, so the Interactors,in partnership with their sponsoringRotary club, proposed the building ofan after school library. The Interactors

Service projects play a leading role in anInteract clubs success. While your Interact

club is free to generate its own ideas forprojects, you can also adapt ideas that haveproved successful for other clubs, such asthe examples that are presented below. Seealso Chapter 2 for ideas on project develop-ment and Chapter 6 for a list of RI resources.

Project Examples

q Interactors in New Jersey, USA, con-ducted a bicycle collection in coopera-tion with Pedals for Progress, Inc., acharitable organization that recycles

bicycles and distributes them to workingadults in developing countries. The one-day collection netted a total of 71 bikes,which were dismantled and shippedabroad.


24/72


and Rotarians donated books, a com-puter with Internet access and CD-ROM,videos, and furniture.

q A benefit concert organized byInteractors in Modling, Austria, helpedto raise money for a new heating systemin a local orphanage. The concert featuredclassical and modern music, as well as apoetry reading.

q Helping to spare the environment from

the effects of discarded batteries,Interactors in Ayacucho, Argentina,collected used batteries and sealed themin tubes of cement. The project inspiredother similar environmental efforts inother parts of the country.

q Needy families in the vicinity of Juti,Brazil, received recycled clothingcollected by the Interact club there.The Interactors collected 1,500 pieces ofold clothing, repaired the garments bysewing, dyeing, and adding zippers,then distributed the goods to more than

300 families.q Some 48 hours of labor by 40 Interactors

in South Africa resulted in the worldslongest piece of spaghetti, a healthydonation of money for the NelsonMandela Childrens Fund, and consider-able community support and mediacoverage. The Interactors received all ofthe goods necessary through donationsfrom the community, and after the mile-long spaghetti was created, it wasdonated to various local shelters.


25/72


5

RotaryInternationaland Interact

q Each Interact club must have a Rotarianadvisor who is a member of the sponsor-

ing club. This resource person must attendInteract club and board meetings andprovide advice on organizing serviceprojects, fund-raising activities, and clubadministration. The Rotarian advisoralso acts as a liaison between the Interactclub and the sponsoring Rotary club.

q An Interact club can be school-based orcommunity-based. A community-basedInteract club may draw members fromseveral different schools within theterritorial limits of the sponsoring Rotaryclub. The Rotarian advisor must attend

every meeting of a community-basedclub. A school-based club is subject to thepolicies and regulations governing allother organizations of that particularschool. In most instances, a facultyadvisor who may or may not be aRotarian is appointed to work withthe Interactors. In the case of a school-

based club with a faculty advisor, theRotarian advisor is only required toattend the Interact clubs board meet-ings.

q

A minimum of 15 members is recom-mended for an Interact club.

q The Interact constitution requires clubsto meet at least twice a month. To remaineligible for membership, Interactorsmust attend 60 percent or more of theregular meetings.

q Interact clubs are self-supportingorganizations that require little or nofinancial input from the sponsoring club.

q Each Interact club must elect a new slate

Basic Policies andProcedures of Interact

The following are the basic policies andprocedures that govern the Interact programas approved by the RI Board of Directors.Both Rotarians and Interactors should befamiliar with this material, as well as withthe more detailed information included inthe Statement of Policy Relating to Interact(Appendix A) and the Standard InteractClub Constitution and By-Laws (Appendi-ces B and C).

q Each Interact club must carry out twoservice projects a year one that benefitsthe school or community and one thatfurthers international understanding.Although Rotarians provide guidance onthese projects, the Interactors are respon-sible for planning, financing, organizing,and carrying out their own program ofactivities.


26/72


of officers and directors annually; thenames and addresses of these individualsmust be reported to the district Interactcommittee by the sponsoring Rotary club.

q If there are five or more Interact clubs inthe district, a district Interact organiza-tion may be formed, and the Interactorsmay elect a district Interact representa-tive (DIR).

q Dues, if any, should be minimal; moneyfor projects and activities should beraised through club activities.

q Each Interact club must submit anInteract Incoming Officer Data Form(Appendix K) and an Interact ProjectData Form (Appendix L) to RI annually.

q Two Rotary clubs may jointly sponsoran Interact club with the approval of the

district governor. A substantial percent-age of the Interactors must be drawnfrom within the territorial limits of eachsponsoring club, and a joint Interactcommittee must be established andinclude representatives of both clubs.

q A Rotary club may sponsor more thanone Interact club, provided each clubdraws its members from within thesponsoring clubs territorial limits andhas its own five-member Interact com-mittee of Rotarians.

q

An Interact club is not allowed to mergewith any other organization.

RI Secretariat and Interact

The RI Secretariat is made up of the RIWorld Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois,USA, and its eight Service Centers inArgentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Japan,Korea, the Philippines, and Switzerland. RI

staff are committed to providing excellentservice in administering the Interactprogram worldwide. Addresses and phone/fax numbers for RI Secretariat offices can befound in Appendix Q.

CommunicationGood communication between RI, Interactclubs, and their sponsoring Rotary clubs iskey to the health and growth of this impor-tant program. To facilitate this, mailings aresent each year from RI World Headquartersproviding Interact program updates,information on new publications, andannouncements about special activitiessuch as World Interact Week to all districtInteract chairpersons, Interact clubs, andsponsoring Rotary clubs.

RI Presidents ThemeEach year the new RI president introducesa special theme that aims to unite the serviceprojects of your Interact club and sponsor-ing Rotary club with those of Interact andRotary clubs around the world. Through

this theme, the president invites Interactclubs to take part in a global effort toimprove world understanding and peace.

RI Interact CommitteeAt the discretion of the RI president, aninternational committee is often appointedto serve in an advisory capacity to the RIBoard of Directors regarding the Interactprogram. Interactors and Rotarians whowish to make proposals to the Boardregarding the Interact program shouldwork through the RI Interact Committee.

Interact Club Certificationand RegistrationThe RI Secretariat acts as an administrativecenter for Interact clubs. Each new Interactclub is required to submit an Interact ClubOrganization List (Appendix F) to the officeof the RI Service Center serving its area.This information becomes part of a data-

base of officially organized Interact clubsmaintained at RI World Headquarters,


27/72


making it possible to promote internationaland regional communication amongInteract clubs. An official charter certificateis then sent to the president of the sponsor-

ing Rotary club for presentation to theInteractors.

Each year, Interact clubs are required toprovide updated address information to RIWorld Headquarters to ensure the recordsare accurate. Please use the Interact Incom-ing Officer Data Form (Appendix K).

World Interact Week

During the week in which 28 October falls,Interact clubs and their sponsors join in aworldwide celebration of Interact. WorldInteract Week coincides with the date thatthe first Interact club was officially certified

by Rotary International in 1962. In celebra-tion of this week, Interact clubs are invitedto join with their Rotary club sponsors tocarry out partner activities and promote thepositive effects Interact clubs have on theircommunities.

International Convention

Interactors are invited and encouraged toparticipate in the four-day RI Conventionheld each year in a different part of theworld. Interactors can take part in special

forums, idea-exchange assemblies, theprojects exhibition, and plenary sessions.Participation in the RI Convention givesInteractors a broader understanding ofRotary, its internationality, and its serviceto the world. The convention can provideInteractors with a better sense of howInteract fits into the Rotary family.

The Rotary International Calendar

JULYLiteracy Month

1 July, Beginning of Rotary Year

AUGUSTMembership Extension Month

SEPTEMBERNew Generations Month

OCTOBERVocational Service Month

Week of 28 October, World Interact Week

NOVEMBERThe Rotary Foundation Month

DECEMBERNo official RI designation

JANUARYRotary Awareness Month

FEBRUARYWorld Understanding Month

Second week of February, Family Week

23 February,Rotarys Anniversary andWorld Understanding and Peace Day

MARCHNo official RI designation

APRILMagazine Month

MAY1 May, Deadline for submission of IncomingOfficer Data Form

JUNERI Convention

30 June, End of Rotary year


28/72



29/72


6

Resources

Database, write to the Programs Depart-ment at RI World Headquarters specifying

what types of project examples you areinterested in receiving.

AIDS

The RI Board encourages clubs to workwith governmental health agencies andnon-governmental organizations to in-crease awareness among their membershipand the broader community about AIDSeducation and prevention. Rotary clubshave been asked by the Board to useUnited Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

(UNAIDS) materials in expanding collabo-rative activities with Interactors andRotaractors. Interactors can be key leadersin enhancing AIDS awareness among theirpeers, while taking into account culturaland community sensitivities.

For more information, consult the RIpublication Rotary Responds to AIDS(604-EN).

Children at Risk

Many of the worlds children face a varietyof daunting challenges in their lives.Poverty, hunger, homelessness, illiteracy,violence, drugs, and a lack of recreationalfacilities all threaten this most vulnerablesegment of the worlds population.Interactors are encouraged to contribute tothis emphasis of RI by thinking of creativeways to assist at-risk children.

One of the primary goals of Interact clubsis to provide service both locally and

internationally. Rotary International andThe Rotary Foundation have a variety ofprograms, activities, and emphases tosupport the efforts of both Rotary andInteract clubs in developing their serviceprojects. The following section detailsRotary International and Rotary Foundationprograms, activities, and emphases andexplains how your Interact club can obtainadditional information. Publications listedas resources below can be ordered from thelatest RI Catalog (019-EN), or by completingthe Publication Order Form (Appendix O)

and sending it RI World Headquarters or tothe Service Center for your area.

Resources of RotaryInternational

The RI Programs Department acts as aclearinghouse for information on cluband district service activities worldwide.Through its program publications andProjects Database, Programs staff can helpInteractors develop effective service projects

by sharing the experience and knowledge

of others from around the world.

The Projects Database contains severalhundred project models and ideas alongwith project contact information andresource organizations, providing conciseinformation on Community, Vocational,and International Service projects. Rotariansand Interactors are encouraged to submittheir projects for possible inclusion so thatothers might benefit from their experience.To obtain information from the Projects


30/72


Concern for the Aging

As peoples life expectancy expands,concern for the aging is a growing needin many communities. This CommunityService activity is designed to encourageRotary and Interact clubs to undertake

projects that respond to the social, physical,vocational, and educational needs of seniorcitizens. These projects incorporate seniorcitizens into community activities and help

break down generational barriers.

For more information, consult the RIpublication Learning from Experience: A

Handbook for Working with Seniors (621-EN).

Conflict Resolution

Because of such problems as crime, gang

violence, and ethnic or religious conflict,peace can be elusive in many communitiesthroughout the world. Rotarians addressthe need for conflict resolution in a numberof ways. As young leaders, Interactors canhave an effect on peace in their own commu-nities by helping to deter other youngpeople from choosing a life of violence orcrime.

For more information, consult the RIpublication Building Peace in the Community:

A Role for Rotarians (377-EN).

Drug and Alcohol AbusePrevention

Through its focus on drug and alcoholabuse prevention, RI is drawing attentionto a problem of global proportions. Rotaryand Interact clubs are encouraged toundertake service projects that help reducesubstance abuse in the community particu-larly through educational programs on thedangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Giventhe importance of addressing this problem

as early as possible, Interactors are in anideal position both to influence youngerchildren and their peers with respect tothis issue.

For more information, consult the RIpublication Combating Substance Abuse(627-EN).

Hunger Alleviation

Poverty is on the rise and one of its chief

ill effects is hunger. RI encourages Rotaryand Interact clubs to undertake projects toalleviate starvation, substantially reducemalnutrition and mortality, tangibly reducechronic hunger, and eliminate major dis-eases resulting from inadequate nutrition.

Consult Combating Hunger and PovertyThrough Rotary (307-EN) for furtherinformation.

Literacy and Numeracy

RIs Literacy and Numeracy programaddresses the critical need of teachingfunctional literacy and basic math skills.Rotary and Interact clubs are asked toexamine community literacy and numeracyneeds and develop appropriate projectssuch as adult literacy classes or reading

programs for children.

For more information, consult the RIpublication, Rotary Promotes Literacy(601-EN).

Preserve Planet Earth

The Preserve Planet Earth program seeks toaddress rising concerns over the state of theenvironment. Interact and Rotary clubs canhelp to increase ecological and environmen-tal awareness in their homes, communities,

and throughout the world. Wheneverpossible, clubs should try to incorporateenvironmental protection components intoall ongoing community and internationalservice projects.

For further information, consult thePreserve Planet Earth Handbook(378-EN).

Rotaract

Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service andsocial organization for young men andwomen ages 18 to 30. Rotaractors carryout a wide range of service projects in theircommunity and also work alongside theirsponsoring Rotary clubs on joint projects.Graduating Interactors are encouraged toexplore Rotaract opportunities in thecommunity.

For more information, consult the RotaractHandbook (562-EN) or your district Rotaractchairperson.


31/72


Rotary Youth Leadership Awards(RYLA)

Organized at the Rotary club, district, ormultidistrict level, RYLA seminars focus ontopics of interest to students and youngprofessionals. Participants exchange ideas,

explore career paths, learn more aboutRotary, gain insights for organizing youthand community service projects, anddiscuss approaches for resolving family,social, and professional problems.

Those Interactors interested in learningmore about RYLA activities should contacttheir sponsoring Rotary club or districtRYLA chairperson or consult theRI publi-cation Rotary Youth Leadership AwardsGuidelines (694-EN).

World CommunityService (WCS)

The purpose of the World Community Ser-vice program is to encourage internationalcooperation, carry out projects to improveliving standards and satisfy basic needs,and increase international understandingand goodwill through professional, techni-cal, and material assistance. A World Com-munity Service project is one in which twoclubs from different countries join forces toaddress a community need by providing

international funding, volunteer assistance,or material support. The World CommunityService Projects Exchange (754-EN) listsprojects that need international Rotary andInteract club partners. Interact clubs mayalso list projects that need support in theWCS Projects Exchange with the endorse-ment of the sponsoring Rotary club.

Another WCS resource is the Donations-in-kind Information Network (DIN), a data-

base listing goods and services donated byRotarians and Interactors for use in WCS

projects. The availability of these goods isadvertised in a quarterly bulletin distrib-uted to all district governors and districtWCS chairpersons.

For more information and registrationforms for this program, consult the WorldCommunity Service Handbook: A Guide to

Action (742-EN).

Youth Exchange

The Youth Exchange programsends students of secondary-school age toengage in study or travel abroad for up toone academic year in order to advanceinternational understanding and goodwill.

Youth Exchange students between the agesof 15 and 19 live with a host family andexperience firsthand life, culture, andeducation in another country. Sponsored bysending and receiving Rotary clubs ordistricts, the exchangees are selectedaccording to guidelines and proceduressuggested by the RI Board.

For more information, consult the YouthExchange Handbook (746-EN) or your districtYouth Exchange chairperson.

Interact publications

Rotary International offers a range ofpublications and supplies that can contrib-ute to a successful Interact program.

Serious Funbrochure (600-EN) Colorfulleaflet that describes Interact to new andprospective members.

Serious Fun video (650-EN) Livelyvideo showing Interact in action; ideal for

promoting Interact among Rotarians andprospective Interactors.

Standard Interact Club Constitution andBy-laws (656-EN) *

Statement of Policy Relating to Interact(653-EN) *

Interact Poster (639-MU) Colorfulposter that promotes the Interact program.

Interact Club Organization List (648-EN) To be submitted to RI after a newInteract club has been established. *

Interact Identification Cards (659-EN)* Denotes that a sample is included in this

handbook.


32/72


Resources ofThe Rotary Foundation

Through its humanitarian, educational, andcultural exchange programs, The RotaryFoundation provides financial assistanceto international Rotary/Interact serviceprojects that aim to increase world under-standing and peace. The guidelines used in

judging applications for financial assistancerequire that projects involve two or morecountries and subscribe to establishedcriteria set by The Rotary FoundationTrustees. In addition, funding is availablefor international scholarships.

PolioPlus

PolioPlus is Rotarys massive effort toeradicate the polio virus and achievecertification of a polio-free world by 2005.Interactors are encouraged to join thehundreds of thousands of volunteers at thelocal level who are providing support atclinics or mobilizing their communities for

immunization or other polio-eradicationactivities, and all clubs, even those incountries without PolioPlus efforts, mayhelp by raising money.

For more information, consult the PolioPlusbrochure (323-EN) or your district governor.

Rotary Foundation AmbassadorialScholarships

Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar-ships help to fund study in another country,during which time scholars serve as good-will ambassadors and make themselves

available to speak about their homeland.Upon return, scholars give talks on theirinternational experiences with the aim ofincreasing world understanding. Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships areavailable for one year, Multi-Year Ambassa-dorial Scholarships for two or three years.In addition, there are Cultural Ambassado-rial Scholarships for intensive languagetraining and cultural immersion in anothercountry for either three or six months.(Children and grandchildren of Rotariansare not eligible for these scholarships.)

To learn more about availability, eligibility,and deadlines, consult the Rotary Foundation

Ambassadorial Scholarships Leaflet (132-EN).

Licensed Suppliers

Your sponsoring Rotary club can help youlocate a manufacturer who provideslicensed Interact merchandise such as pinsand banners. A list of vendors is publishedin the RI Official Directory.


33/72


7

AppendicesA. Statement of Policy Relating to Interact

B. Standard Interact Club Constitution

C. Standard Interact Club By-laws

D. Specifications for Interact Emblem

E. Interact Membership Application Form

F. Interact Club Organization List

G. Interact Club Attendance Record

H. Interact Club Dues Payment Record

I. Interact Membership Activities Record

J. Interact Club Committee Appointment Worksheet

K. Interact Incoming Officer Data Form

L. Interact Project Data Form

M. Sample Agenda Leadership Training Programfor Interact Club Leaders

N. District Interact Representative Form

O. Sample Certificate of Recognition for Interactors

P. RI Order Form

Q. RI Service Centers and Regional Offices of the RI Secretariat


34/72


35/72

Appendix A

Statement of Policy Relating to Interactby Board of Directors of Rotary International

1. The Interact program was developed and created by and is an activity of Rotary International, and the

authority for the establishment and enforcement of constitutional provisions, organizational require-ments and standards of procedure, and for the protection and preservation of the Interact name andemblem is retained by Rotary International.

2. An Interact club is a Rotary club-sponsored organization of young people whose purpose is to provideopportunity for them to work together in a world fellowship dedicated to service and internationalunderstanding.

3. The Interact program was originally established as a program for boys only. It still retains a primaryemphasis on training in leadership and citizenship. Should local circumstances indicate to the sponsor-ing Rotary club that good cause would be served by the establishment of an Interact club for girlsonly or a club of mixed membership, the sponsoring Rotary club is at liberty to use its discretionaccordingly.

4. An Interact club is organized, sponsored and supervised by a Rotary club or clubs and is establishedfollowing the endorsement of the district governor upon certification and recognition by RotaryInternational; it can be created and sustained in no other way, and its continued existence dependsupon the continued sponsorship of its sponsoring Rotary club and continued recognition by RotaryInternational.

5. Within the framework established by Rotary International, the sponsoring Rotary club is responsible fororganizing the Interact club and for providing it with guidance and counsel thereafter and has completecontrol and supervision over all activities, policies, and programs of the Interact club.

6. Where the Interact club is school-connected, control and supervision by the sponsoring Rotary club shallbe exercised in full cooperation with the school authorities, with the understanding that such clubs aresubject to the same regulations and policies established by the school authorities for all student organiza-tions and extracurricular activities of the school.

7. All Interact club activities, projects, and programs shall at all times be conducted in harmony with thepolicies of Rotary International; continued sponsorship of an Interact club by a Rotary club andrecognition of it by RI are contingent thereon.

8. There shall be a Standard Interact Club Constitution prescribed by Rotary International and subject toamendment only by the Board of Directors of Rotary International. As a prerequisite of its organizationand certification, each Interact club shall adopt the Standard Interact Club Constitution and shall auto-matically adopt all amendments thereto subsequently made by the Board of Directors of Rotary International.

9. Each Interact club shall adopt by-laws not inconsistent with the Standard Interact Club Constitution andwith policy established by Rotary International. Such by-laws shall be subject to the approval of the spon-soring Rotary club.

10. Each Interact club shall be sponsored by the Rotary club whose territorial limits embrace the area of resi-

dence of the school(s) from which the Interact members are drawn, unless written authority is granted bythe Board of Directors of Rotary International to organize an Interact club outside the territorial limits ofthe sponsoring Rotary club.

11. An Interact club may be organized and sponsored jointly by more than one Rotary club under thefollowing conditions:

a) The district governor must give approval, stating in writing that, in his or her considered judgment,the best interests of the district, the Rotary clubs concerned and the Interact program would be served

by the proposed joint sponsorship.

A-1 29


36/72

b) A substantial percentage of the members of the proposed Interact club must be drawn from within theterritorial limits of each sponsoring Rotary club.

c) The circumstances must be such that the organization of separate Interact clubs, each sponsored by asingle Rotary club, would create or result in an artificial division of what is essentially a single body ofstudents within the school or community.

d) A joint Interact committee must be created with effective representation from each of the sponsoringRotary clubs.

12. Each member of an Interact club, by his or her acceptance of membership, agrees to accept and toadhere to the provisions of the constitution and by-laws of his or her Interact club.

13 Membership in an Interact club shall be evidenced by Interact membership identification cards suppliedto Interact clubs through sponsoring Rotary clubs by Rotary International.

14. The Interact name and emblem, as used in or applied to the Interact program, are the property of RotaryInternational and shall be preserved for the exclusive use of those involved in the Interact program,including duly established Interact clubs and their members in good standing.

15. An Interact club member shall be entitled to use and display the Interact name and emblem in anappropriate and dignified manner during the period of membership in an Interact club and he or she shall

relinquish such entitlement upon termination of his or her membership in the Interact club or upon thetermination of the Interact club itself.

16. An Interact club may be terminated (a) by Rotary International, with or without the consent, approval orconcurrence of the sponsoring Rotary club, for failure to function in accordance with its constitution or forother cause, (b) by its sponsoring Rotary club, or (c) by the Interact club itself upon its own determination.

17. Upon termination of an Interact club, all rights and privileges relating to the name and emblem shall berelinquished by the club and by its members individually and collectively.

18. As a matter of policy, the Board does not recognize the right of any individual or organization except RI tocircularize Interact clubs for any commercial or other purpose.

19. District governors are requested to appoint district Interact committees, composed of Rotarians from vari-ous parts of the district, to assist the district governor in publicizing the Interact program, promoting the

organization of new Interact clubs, and administering the program of Interact within the district. Wherefeasible and practicable in the appointment of district Interact committees, there should be provision forcontinuity of membership by appointing one or more members for a second term. Rotary district Interactcommittees in carrying out their duties might benefit from consultation with members of Interact clubs.

20. Interact organization and meetings beyond the club level.

a) If, within a district of Rotary International, there are five or more Interact clubs, an Interact district maybe established, the boundaries of the district to be coterminous with the Rotary International districtembracing the respective sponsoring Rotary clubs. The clubs in such Interact district may elect an Inter-act representative from among their membership. The method of election shall be determined by thedistrict Interact committee. The district Interact representative will be guided and counseled by theRotary district governor and the Rotary district Interact committee, or other appropriate Rotary districtcommittee, and shall assist the district committee in arranging districtwide meetings and, where pos-sible, shall preside at such meetings, shall give counsel to and provide encouragement and inspirationto the Interact clubs of the district, particularly with respect to broadening and deepening the programof Interact within the district, and shall help focus their attention on the worldwide extent of Interactand the potential and achievements of the program in behalf of international understanding.

30 A-2


37/72

b) If an Interact district has been established, there may be, with approval of the district governor, a dis-trict organization which will provide, in addition to the district representative, for a district secretaryand two or more zone representatives, each responsible for a certain number of clubs and such other re-sponsibilities as may be assigned by the district representative.

c) Within a district of Rotary International, any two or more Interact clubs conveniently located withrespect to each other are encouraged to hold meetings with representatives from each club, with the

advice, guidance and presence of one or more members of the district Interact committee, in orderto increase friendship, exchange ideas, gain inspiration, and strengthen, broaden and deepen theprogram of Interact within the district. When distances permit, such meetings may be held on adistrictwide basis, under the guidance of the district Interact committee, with one or more membersof this committee present.

d) The purpose of a districtwide Interact meeting is to provide encouragement, enlightenment, and in-spiration to the Interact clubs with respect to school and Community Service and to focus attentionon the worldwide potential and achievements of Interact in behalf of international understanding.

e) No meeting of members of Interact clubs beyond the club level shall have any legislative authoritynor shall be so organized or conducted as to give the appearance of having such authority. Never-theless, such a meeting may include the opportunity for expression of ideas which might be ofvalue as advisory observations to those who are involved at the district or other levels with the ad-

ministration of Interact.

f) All Interact district activities shall be financed by the Interact clubs in the district. No expenses ofdistrict Interact meetings or Interact district representatives shall be paid by Rotary International.The cost of such meetings shall be minimal and within the financial means of those participating.

21. Meetings of Interact club members from more than one district, particularly from districts in more thanone country, are recommended and encouraged wherever feasible, such meetings to be held under theguidance of the host Rotary district governor and the Interact committee, with one or more membersof the committee present and in conjunction with the host Interact district representative and Interactpresidents, and subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of RI. Requests to the Board of Direc-tors of RI for holding multidistrict meetings of Interact clubs must be accompanied by:

a) Information including the date, location, purpose, program and participants of the proposed meet-

ing;b) A copy of the anticipated budget for the meeting with assurance that the sponsors are in a position

to and will assume complete responsibility for contractual and financial obligations inherent in themeeting;

c) Proof of adequate liability insurance covering the event;

d) Assurance that the planning and implementation of the proposed meeting will be carried out underthe direct supervision of Rotarians;

e) A statement from the Director or immediate past director of RI resident in the area in which themeeting is to be held that he approves the plan for holding such meeting.

22. Financing the cost of the Interact program.

a) No part of the expenses of Interact district representatives or meetings of Interact clubs or groups ofInteract clubs shall be paid by Rotary International.

b) Costs involved in arranging any meetings of Interact clubs or groups of Interact clubs should bekept as low as possible consistent with effective meetings and a meaningful program.

c) It is the responsibility of the Interact club to raise the funds necessary to carry out the program of theclub.

A-3 31


38/72

d) Rotary clubs sponsoring Interact clubs should not contribute more than occasional or incidental finan-cial assistance to such Interact clubs.

e) Interact clubs should not make general solicitations for financial assistance from Rotary clubs or fromother Interact clubs.

f) Interact clubs should not solicit financial assistance from individuals, businesses or organizations intheir respective communities without giving something of value in return.

g) Any dues or assessments on the membership of any Interact club should be nominal and should beonly for the purpose of covering the cost of administering the club; funds for activities and projectsundertaken by Interact clubs should be raised by such clubs apart from such dues or assessments.

h) Rotary clubs and Rotary district conferences inviting members of Interact clubs to participate in theprograms of such clubs and conferences should subscribe to sufficient trip accident and liability in-surance to protect the Rotary club or district conference against any possible legal or moral obliga-tion and liability.

23. As a matter of principle, Interact clubs are not authorized to assume membership or merge with otherorganizations regardless of the purpose of such organizations.

653-EN(699)

32 A-4


39/72

Appendix B

B-1 33

Standard Interact Club Constitution

ARTICLE I Name

The name of this organization shall be the Interact Club of

ARTICLE II Purpose and Goals

The purpose of Interact is to provide opportunity for young people to work together in a world fellowshipdedicated to service and international understanding.

The goals of Interact are:

1. To recognize and develop constructive leadership and personal integrity.

2. To encourage and practice thoughtfulness of and helpfulness to others.

3. To create an awareness of the importance of home and family.

4. To build respect for the rights of others, based on recognition of the worth of each individual.

5. To emphasize acceptance of individual responsibility as the basis of personal success, communityimprovement, and group achievement.

6. To recognize the dignity and value of all useful occupations as opportunities to serve society.

7. To provide opportunities for gaining increased knowledge and understanding of community, national,and world affairs.

8. To open avenues of personal and group action leading to the advancement of international understandingand goodwill toward all peoples.

ARTICLE III Sponsorship

1. The sponsor of this Interact club is the Rotary Club of which, through a committeeof not less than five Rotarians, shall exercise supervision and control over all activities, programs and poli-cies of this Interact club. The continued existence of this Interact club shall depend upon the continuedactive personal participation of the sponsoring Rotary club. In the case of a club composed of youngwomen only, the committee shall also include one or more responsible women as ex officio members.

2. This club is not a part of, and neither this club nor its members have any rights or privileges with respectto, the sponsoring Rotary club.

ARTICLE IV Membership

1. To be eligible for membership a person must possess good character and leadership potential and (a) in a

school-based club be a student at the secondary-school or pre-university level, or be age 14 to 18; (b) in acommunity-based club be a young person between the ages of 14 and 18.

2. The membership of this club may be all male, all female, or both male and female in any ratio, at thediscretion of the sponsoring club.

3. The method of electing members of this club shall be determined by the sponsoring Rotary club in consul-tation with the Interact club. The method of electing new members of a school-connected club shall havethe approval of the school authorities.

4. Each member of this club shall attend at least 60% of this clubs regularly scheduled meetings.


40/72

5. Membership shall automatically terminate (a) upon removal from the community; (b) in a school-basedclub upon graduation or otherwise ceasing to be a student in the last four years of school preceding theuniversity level in the area from which the membership is drawn or in a community-based club, not inconnection with a school, upon graduation or upon reaching the age of eighteen; (c) by termination of theclub; or (d) by failure to meet attendance requirements unless excused by the board of directors of thisclub for good and sufficient reason.

6. Membership may be terminated for cause as determined by this club by vote of not less than 2/3 of all themembers in good standing.

ARTICLE V Meetings

1. The club shall meet not less than twice per month, as provided in the by-laws, at a time and place suited tothe convenience of the members, with due regard for their school obligations.

2. The board of directors shall meet as provided in the by-laws. In a community-based club, no meeting ofthe club or of the board shall be deemed official unless a member of the Interact committee of the sponsor-ing Rotary club is in attendance. In a school-based club, no meeting of the board shall be deemed officialunless a member of the Interact committee of the sponsoring Rotary club is in attendance.

3. Meetings of the club and of the board of directors may be cancelled during holiday or vacation periods at

the discretion of the board of directors, with the approval of the sponsoring Rotary club.

ARTICLE VI Officers and Directors

1. The officers of this club shall be a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and such additionalofficer(s) as may be provided in the by-laws.

2. The governing body of this club shall be a board of directors composed of the president, vice-president,secretary, treasurer and additional directors whose number shall be determined by this club with the ap-proval of the sponsoring Rotary club, all to be elected from among the members in good standing. Alldecisions, policies and actions of the board and of the club shall be subject to the authority of the sponsor-ing Rotary club, the provisions of this constitution, and policy established by Rotary International.

If school-connected, this club shall be subject to the same regulations and policies established by the

school authorities for all student organizations and extracurricular activities of the school.

The board of directors shall have general control over all officers and committees and may, for good cause,declare any office vacant. It shall constitute a board of appeals from the rulings of all officers and actionsof all committees.

3. Elections of officers and directors shall be by methods compatible with local customs and procedures, butin no case shall more than a simple majority of the members present and in good standing be requiredfor election.

The term of office of all officers and directors shall be one year, unless a shorter term is provided in the by-laws. No provision shall be made for a term of office shorter than one year except with the written permis-sion of Rotary International.

ARTICLE VII Activities and Projects

1. Within the limits prescribed in section 1 of Article III, this club shall be responsible for planning, organiz-ing, financing and conducting its own activities and shall itself supply the money, manpower and creativeimagination necessary thereto, except that in the case of joint projects or activities undertaken in coopera-tion with other organizations, such responsibility shall be shared with such other organization(s).

2. The club shall undertake among its activities at least two major projects annually, one designed to servethe school or community, the other to promote international understanding, and each shall involve all ormost of the members of the club.

34 B-2


41/72

3. The aim of international service in Interact is to encourage and foster the advancement of internationalunderstanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of youth united in the ideal of service. Theaim of community and school service is to encourage and foster the application of the ideal of service byeach Interact club member to his or her personal, community and school life.

4. It is the responsibility of the club to raise the funds necessary to carry out its program. It shall not solicit oraccept more than occasional or incidental financial assistance from its sponsoring Rotary club, nor shall it

make general solicitations from Rotary clubs other than its

interact manual

Documents