Interact

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Interact, a Rotary-sponsored youth service club, was launched by the Rotary International Board of Directors in 1962. The first Interact club was established by the Rotary Club of Melbourne, Florida. Interact clubs provide opportunities for boys and girls in high school to work together in a world fellowship of service and international understanding. The term "Interact" is derived from "inter", for international, and "act", for action. Every Interact club must be sponsored and supervised by a Rotary club and must plan annual projects of service to its school, community and in the world.

The Rotary Club of North Ridgeville sponsors the North Ridgeville High School Interact Club, which was chartered during the 2001 - 2002 Rotary year. Rotarians Giles Norrington and Warren Blakely spearheaded the project with the assistance and support of North Ridgeville High School Principal, Mrs. Patricia Bahr.  The club is currently being guided by Rotarian Adam Sonnhalter.

Today, there are more than 10,700 Interact clubs with nearly 200,000 members in 109 countries around the world. Interactors develop skills in leadership and attain practical experience in conducting service projects, thereby learning the satisfaction that comes from serving others. A major goal of Interact is to provide opportunities for young people to create greater understanding and goodwill with youth throughout the world.

The club's active membership ranges anywhere from 15-30 students during a given year. Over the years, the club has been involved in many service projects and fundraising events including:

- Annual 1st Grade Christmas Party where about 350 first graders from the North Ridgeville school system visit with Santa and get to hang out with a high school student for the morning playing games, making crafts, and eating cookies

- Pizza Challenges in 2007-2008 raised a total of over $3,000 in cash and 400 pounds in food to be donated to Community Care in North Ridgeville

- Rock Concert to Save Darfur which raised over $1,000 to help fund the relief effort in Darfur by hosting a local rock off for local high school bands

- Hundreds of dollars donated to the Rotary International Polio Eradication Project through a handful of fundraisers including a garage sale, candy sale, walk-a-thon, and bowl-a-thon

- Book drive that lead to donating over 800 books to an inner city elementary school in Cleveland

- Donate time to work at local animal shelters

Here are just a few of the Interactors in action!