Interact Club Could be Back in Lynn

Back in April, two Lynn Classical High School juniors, Juan Rodriguez and Nestor Medrano, approached their guidance counselor, Mr. Chris Hayward, and inquired about how to start a Rotary Club at the school. Hayward contacted Lynn President Ray Bastarache, and a meeting was arranged. Bastarache followed that initial meeting by reaching out to District 7930 Interact Chairman Keith Harris who came to Lynn and met with some 12 interested students. Keith explained how Interact members (age 12-18) tackle community or school issues that are of concern to the members and presented a slide show on some of the activities the Ipswich Interact Club has worked on over the past few years. The group of 12 expanded to 16 on the following Wednesday when the students elected Club officers and a Board of Directors. Rodrigues and Medrano,, the two students who got the ball rolling, were voted President and Vice-President respectively. At the election meeting, three new members were present.

With the school year coming to a close, the Board of Directors have agreed to meet periodically during the summer to keep the momentum going. Classical Principal Gene Constantino has asked club members to assist in the selection of a faculty moderator which is a stipend position. The Classical Interact members have already signed on to a volunteer opportunity in July at My Brother’s Table Soup Kitchen. In thinking about a Rotarian to serve as liaison to Interact, Bastarache has many possibilities. Rotarians Jeff Weeden and Steve Upton are Classical graduates and Upton is an officer in the school’s alumni association. Rotarians Jared Nicholson and Patricia Capano and very involved in the Lynn Public Schools as both serve on the School Committee.