Where It All Began
Since its earliest days, Rotary has been committed to helping children in need. But in 1960, the organization took a ew approach to youth service. Recognizing the untapped potential of young men and women, RI President Harold T. Thomas urged Rotary clubs around the world to find ways to encourage service among youth, foster their active interest in the community, and offer opportunities for them to develop as leaders.
Two years later, 23 students at Melbourne High School in Melbourne, Florida, USA, came together to form the first Interact club. Now, Rotarians were not just helping youth but empowering them to serve locally and internationally with their Rotary club sponsors. Ever since, thousands of communities around the world have benefited from the service of Interact clubs. Interactors have discovered a program that offers fun, meaningful service activities while providing a chance to develop leadership
skills and meet new friends. In turn, sponsor Rotary clubs have gained increased support for projects and fresh ideas for service while helping to develop future Rotarians.

Six Steps to a Successful Club

Step 1: establish Rotary club support.
If your Rotary club is interested in sponsoring an Interact
club, it should form an Interact subcommittee to study the
requirements of sponsorship. Be sure to talk with the district
Interact chair, who can provide information about how other
Interact clubs operate in your district.
Once it has compiled all the necessary information for sponsorship,
the subcommittee should present its findings to
the Rotary club. Here are some tips for making a persuasive
presentation:
• Highlight the rewards of sponsoring service-minded
young people.
• Emphasize the importance of Rotarian involvement and
support to an Interact club’s success.
• Invite current Interactors to share their positive Interact
experiences.

After the Rotary club board approves the sponsorship of an
Interact club, the club must decide whether its Interact club
will be community or school based.
• A community-based club draws its members from several
schools from the Rotary club’s area. The Rotarian adviser
must attend all of the Interact club’s meetings.
• A school-based club draws its members from one school,
and the Rotarian adviser is required to attend only the
club’s board meetings.

Good to Know   When a Rotary club decides to sponsor
a school-based Interact club, a member of the Interact subcommittee
should meet with school officials to explain the
program and its advantages. Rotarians and school officials
should work together to determine membership requirements,
club policies, the time and location of Interact club
meetings, and the faculty adviser.

Step 2: Identify potential Interactors.
Brainstorm to develop as wide a membership pool as possible.
In a school-based club, ask the faculty adviser to offer
suggestions for possible club members. Sources of potential
Interactors include:
• Community centers, churches, athletic clubs and teams,
secondary schools
• Sons, daughters, and other young family members of
Rotarians in the area
• Rotary Youth Exchange students and attendees at Rotary
Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) events

Step 3: Invite prospective members to an
informational meeting.
In addition to prospective Interactors, you’ll want to invite
these people:
• Interact subcommittee members
• Rotary club president
• District Interact chair
• Faculty adviser (for a school-based club)
• Interactors from nearby clubs who can share their experiences
and answer questions
At the meeting:
• Give students a general idea of Interact’s history, as well as
Rotary’s history and commitment to young people.
• Distribute copies of Rotary Basics (595-EN) and show a
segment from a recent issue of RVM: The Rotarian Video
Magazine.
• Explain the policies and goals of Interact, including a description
of some recent Interact service projects. (Some
examples can be found on the back cover of this handbook.)
• Highlight the program’s internationality, including the
potential to partner with youth in other parts of the world.
• Have copies of the Interact Brochure (600-EN) available
for prospective Interactors to give to friends who might be
interested in joining.
• Allow plenty of time for prospective Interactors to ask
questions. Solicit ideas for club projects from these future
members.
At the end of the meeting:
• Take a vote to confirm that there’s enough interest to establish
an Interact club. Keep in mind that a minimum of
15 charter members is recommended but not mandated.
• Set a date for the first organizational meeting.