Loren A. Urfer - Chair
Richland County

Purpose: Promote Interact promotion and encourage extension within our district.

Goals: Speak at clubs when invited, publicize Interact in the district newsletter and on the website; organize a minimum of one additional Interact Club within the district.

Interact is Rotary International's service club for young people ages 14-18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but Interact clubs are self-governing and self-supporting.

Club membership varies greatly. Clubs can be single-gender or mixed, as well as large and small. The membership base can be drawn from the student body of a single school or from two or more schools from the same community.

Each year, Interact clubs complete at least two community service projects, one of which furthers international understanding and goodwill. Through projects, Interactors develop a network of friendships with local and overseas clubs. And, in the process, Interactors develop leadership skills and learn the value of hard work.

As one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 8,600 Interact clubs in some 110 countries and geographical areas, Interact has become a worldwide phenomenon.

Program Guidelines

The following are the basic policies and procedures that govern the Interact program. More detailed information about program guidelines can be found in the Statement of Policy Relating to Interact and the Standard Interact Club Constitution and Club By-laws, which are available for download.

• Each Interact club must perform at least two service projects a year — one that benefits the school or community and one that furthers international understanding.
• Each Interact club must have a Rotarian advisor who is a member of the sponsoring Rotary club. This resource person must attend Interact club and board meetings and provide advice on organizing service projects, fundraising, and club administration. The Rotarian advisor also acts as a liaison between the Interact club and the sponsoring Rotary club.
• An Interact club can be school-based or community-based. A community-based Interact club may draw members from several different schools within the territorial limits of the sponsoring Rotary club. The Rotarian advisor must attend every meeting of a community-based club. A school-based club is subject to the policies and regulations governing all other organizations of that particular school. In most instances, a faculty counselor — who may or may not be a Rotarian — is appointed to work with the Interactors. In the case of a school-based club, the Rotarian advisor is only required to attend the Interact club's board meetings.
• The Interact constitution requires clubs to meet at least twice a month. To remain eligible for membership, Interactors must attend 60 percent or more of regularly scheduled meetings.
• Interact clubs are self-supporting organizations that require little or no financial support from the sponsoring Rotary club.
• Dues, if any, should be minimal; money for projects and activities should be raised through club activities.
• Each Interact club must submit an Incoming Officer Data Form and an Interact Project Data Form to RI annually. Download forms.
• An Interact club is not allowed to merge with any other organization.