Interact News

Posted by Val Liddle, District 5040 Interact Chair
 
 
We have had meetings to encourage one another during COVID.  Some Districts reported they were not even allowed to hold Interact meetings at all - even virtually.  At these meetings we discussed the health of our clubs, what we could do as a group to improve the program, etc.  The main ideas to come from these discussions were Interact President training; how to organize a project; increase membership; and, how to run a meeting.  Best practices were shared by all.  We will continue to have these meetings every two months.
 
With vaccinations now in place we look forward the "NEW NORMAL" next year.
 
If your Rotary club does not sponsor an Interact Club contact your District Interact Chair. They will be more than happy to help you start one.  It will invigorate your Rotary club, assist in your projects, and keep you on your toes.
 
Interact is the fastest growing area of Rotary. Join the fun!!
Interact During COVID in 5040
 
As we come to the end of 2020-21 Rotary year, we thought it would be a great idea to update you on all the progress Interact Clubs in District 5040 have made.
 
We all know that the COVID 19 lockdown came on March 13th.  Starting the year in September all school in BC were on virtual programs and in school classes with different grades attending different days.  No school club days were allowed.  This unfortunately led to a decrease in membership.  In good Rotary/Interact style, we sprang into action and changed from regular meetings to Zoom meetings.   Not what we had planned, but Covid was active and so were the Interact clubs.
 
Interactors swung into action with a TV show running every day for half an hour for 100 days, presenting training sessions on Leadership, Mental Health, quiz nights, selling coffee and pumpkins, placing crosses along the highway for Remembrance day, making gift bags for seniors and homeless, collecting 500 books and 40 pairs of cleats to send to the Philippines,  purchasing 6 Sea Bins (a bin to float in the river which suctions out garbage), food banks, on line auctions, helping their Rotary Clubs  plus many more initiatives.
 
To top this all off Interact produced a district wide Zoom Christmas Concert for Senior Rest Homes.  The enthusiasm and talent were amazing.  The show included acts with a flute, concertina, ukulele, harp, piano, and bands.
 
Not to forget our EarlyAct clubs (Elementary schools), Grauer EarlyAct Club created Family Fun Boxes - playing cards and games etc., Henderson Elementary is very active. They started with 30 members and then involved the whole school in projects such as Postcards for Peace, 110 bags to Tla'amin kids in lockdown for COVID, 200 EDAS (everyone deserves a smile) care packages and envelopes for the Campbell River branch of the project.
 
In total the Interactors volunteered over 4,000 hours and donations (including sponsors help) were a whopping $65,000 with not all clubs reporting.
 
Other initiatives included a Zoom meeting for all 5040 Rotary Club Sponsors on Zoom, who for the first time, met and exchanged ideas.  Many thanks to the School liaisons without whom we could not run the program.   We also had a 5040 Interact Presidents meeting at which a lot of information was shared and friendships formed.  From these meetings came the idea of a district wide food bank and bottle drive to start off 2021 - 2022 year off to which we will be inviting all Rotarians and Rotaractors in the district to join in.  We will also be initiating a PETS training program for Interact Presidents, a joint twining of a BC Interact club with an International Interact Club and joint meetings throughout the year.
 
During COVID we chartered five new Interact Clubs.  There are also three possible clubs in the works.   For those clubs sponsoring Interact Clubs THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.  For those who would like to sponsor an Interact Club please contact your District Interact Chair for this opportunity.