New Generations Avenue of Service

Long before this Fifth Avenue of Service was formally adopted to the way Rotarians look at how their actions will benefit youth in our community, The Rotary Club of Fair Lawn has been a long time sponsor to The Interact Club at Fair Lawn High School.   As the proud Rotary sponsor of this club, we have been highlighting Interact activities for the past few months and will continue to happily do so, as we see how the next generation of leaders are being groomed right here in Fair Lawn.

The Interact Club at Fair Lawn High School has around 100 members for the 2010-2011 school year.  The current President is Donna Elazar; she is joined by Kristina Vishnevyetskaya as Vice President, Stephanie Fleischer, Secretary, Suzy Simkin, Treasurer, Gianna Acevedo, Historian, Stephanie Sonkin, Publicist and the following Activity Coordinators: Jillian Kaltman, Danielle Zegman, Yaniv Pines, Sujish Patel and Mark Schaefer.  As with any school based club program, teachers serve as advisors to the students. The Interact Club at Fair Lawn High School has two Club Advisors; Mr. Kaplan and Mrs. Meltzer.  Mr. Kaplan has been this club’s Advisor for 11 years. 

As the next generation of leaders, these Interactors utilize modern methods of communication to keep all of their members informed and engaged in the many philanthropic and fundraising activities that the Club undertakes each year.  The Interact Club at Fair Lawn High School has a Facebook group, where all members can find the latest news and events and get reminders for upcoming meetings and events.  However, electronic communication methods such as Facebook, e-mail and text messages has not totally replaced the old fashioned need for group meetings, the Club meets every other Friday at the high school.  The need for multiple forms of communication is necessary as each Interactor is asked to participate in a minimum of four (4) activities between the start of the school year and January and then take part in an additional four (4) activities by the end of the school year.  These required activities include philanthropic events as well as club fundraisers.

So far this year Interactors have participated in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk, assisted in the Rotary Charities Spaghetti Dinner, sponsored a food drive at the high school, sold gobble grams to benefit the needy on Thanksgiving, dressed teddy bears for the Salvation Army and raised awareness and fundraising for a local child needing a bone marrow transplant.  Club members are also in final preparation to deliver holiday gifts to children in Paterson School 6.  Future activities include the annual Cut-A-Thon, sponsoring two blood drives, participating in the Spring Walkathon for Cystic Fibrosis and food drives at all school dances as well as assisting at The Rotary Club of Fair Lawn’s pancake breakfast.  Other activities are in the planning stages for the second half of the school year.

In order to complete these undertakings, The Interact Club at Fair Lawn High School holds various fundraisers such as bake sales.  Currently, the Club is selling Interact T-Shirts and selling discounted restaurant gift cards where the funds raised are for the benefit of the child needing the bone marrow transplant.

Members of The Interact Club at Fair Lawn High School are the next generation of leaders and the tenants of Rotary will help guide them through the process of learning about what is takes to be a good citizen and leader, how to identify local and global needs and what it takes to provide assistance to those in need around the corner and across the globe.