Steven Hanson, District 6000 Interact chairman and Rotary member at West Liberty, Iowa informed us about how to start and maintain an Interact club at our community school. Steve just retired from Superintendent of West Liberty Schools. His spouse, Anna, attended as well. She is the current president of the West Liberty Rotary club.
Steven says there are several clubs in district 6000 who have started Interact clubs, including his club at West Liberty.
Steven says the main things required to start a club are
--to apply to Rotary International for permission to host an interact club
--a school administrator to help get the club approved within the school
--a school faculty member that provides a room for them to meet and attends meetings to help them stay organized.
--ability to provide the faculty member some compensation for their time & effort
--a club liaison to help guide the Interact club and answer questions
--the school to create a checking account for the club
--youth who are excited to start the club - usually ones that have attended RYLA
Most Interact clubs meet every other week. They are responsible for doing a fund raiser and community project each year. Ideally they are very independent of the Rotary club, setting their own meeting agenda and arranging their functions on their own.
Benefits to the students include earning community service hours that count toward the Silver Cord awards at graduation, gaining leadership experience as an officer or committee leader within their club, building relationships - within their club, with the community, and with our Rotary Club.
Benefits to the sponsoring Rotary club include having an opportunity to serve the youth of the community and improving the odds that the members of Interact will want to join Rotary as adults.