Burlington High School Interact Club Welcomes New Members

The following is a story from the Burlington Rotary Club: 

Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting.  The Rotary Club of Burlington has been sponsoring the High School Interact Club for over seven years.   As one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 10,700 clubs in 109 countries and geographical areas, Interact has become a worldwide phenomenon. Almost 200,000 young people are involved in Interact thought the world.

When the Interact Club was first established there were only about 20 members.  This past school year the club had over 50 active members in the club.

Some of the community service projects they students did last year were participated in the “Buddy Walk” for downe syndrome, collect socks and make holiday cards for veterans.  Last year the club designed and put together the “Haunted House” at the Halloween Spooktacular.  They also participated in other parts of the Spooktcular; helped with parking, played games, etc.  At Easter time the students purchased the supplies and made Easter Baskets for over 80 children at the Food Pantry.   

Each year the Rotary Club hosts a Valentine Dinner for the Seniors of Burlington with over 200 seniors attending.  The Interact Club attends each year. They great the seniors, hang up coats, put on corsages, serve dinner, clean up after dinner and dance with the seniors. The Interact Students are a big part of the success of this dance.

The club plans to participate in all these events again this year as well as adding some new activities.

The Interact Students also holds fund raising events to help support their causes.  This year the plan is to hold a fundraiser at Flatbread Pizza in December. They will also hold a dance in the Fall and the Spring at the .

They have a lot of fun at their meetings with Guest Speakers from organizations throughout the town. They have pizza parties and ice cream parties at one meeting a month.  In return for participating in the ice cream and pizza parties they students bring a canned good for the food pantry. 

The Interact Club is structured just like the Rotary Club with a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Board of Directors.  The club meets twice a month at 6:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria of the Burlington High School and prior to the meeting at 6 p.m. there is a Board of Director meeting.    

Members of the Rotary Club are Advisors to the Interact Club and attend their meetings and events.  This year’s advisors are Roger Bell, John Tuccinardi, Jim Tigges and Janet Fitzgerald.  Kelsey Carnell is their year’s Interact President.

Being a part of Interact is a great way to learn about community service and have fun while doing it. The Interact Club will be at the High School Club Fair in September so plan to stop by, learn about interact, and  join the club.  The club welcomes new members from grades 9 – 12.

 For more information about Interact see their facebook page Rotary Interact 2010 – 2011 or go to the BHS website www.burlington.mec.edu/hs/ and click on “get involved” and then “Rotary”