Rotary Interact Clubs are gaining popularity around the world, while promoting, and focusing on community service and community interaction.
Platte County High School and the West Platte School District have Interact Clubs in coordination with their local Rotary Clubs.
Carmen Buller, Future Farmers of America teacher at West Platte School District started the Rotary Interact Club in Weston in coordination with Weston Rotary. She has a long history of Interact Club involvement since her teaching career has taken her from Savannah to Cameron to West Platte.
Interact Club is the high school division of the Rotary Club. “The club’s goal is to give students the opportunity to become servant leaders in our community,” Buller said.
Rotary clubs around the world are energizing and inspiring young leaders ages 12-18 through service, and encouraging them to become responsible global citizens by supporting Interact clubs.
Rotary Club sponsors mentor and guide Interact Club members as they carry out projects and develop leadership skills. Interact clubs have to be affiliated with a Rotary Club and that Rotary Club becomes their partner.
“Our goal is to build the leadership skills in high school students and to encourage their involvement in community service,” Buller said. “We want them to see where the needs are and to develop projects that will help meet those needs. We hope that they have many chances to serve those around them and to put others’ needs above their own. This will give them projects to add to their resume, job applications or scholarship applications. We work closely with our Rotary Club and encourage members of the Rotary to join us for our meetings.
The organization is led by students. They also decide what projects and needs around them are most important. Weston students recently wanted to do something with Farmers House.
“They made a secret snowman and adopted the clients, filled a stocking with items, and then as a group we delivered them to the Farmer’s House,” Buller said. “The members determined the project and made it happen all the way to the end.”
Interact clubs organize at least two projects every year, one that helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding. Rotary Club sponsors mentor and guide the students as they carry out projects and develop leadership skills.
Service above self is an important slogan for the Interact Club members.
“This is our goal, and for students to develop this mindset before graduating so they will carry this principle into their adult life,” Buller said.
Since the club in Weston hasn’t been around that long, students have not had the opportunity to see how global and large the organization is, but Buller believes it will be a great way for young people to know that people their age around the globe share their interests in making the world a better place.
The Interact Club is also a good way to build international understanding and find out about different cultures, while helping young people make new friends in many countries. Buller said they hope not only to connect with leaders in their local community but also to partner with clubs in other countries in the future.
The Club emphasizes that students can make a positive difference in their schools and community by learning about the way positive leadership can make schools and communities better around the world.
“We have started with our community and school and making it a better place, and hope to do a world project next semester,” Buller said.
Along with the Farmer’s House secret snowman, the Interact Club’s other recent projects included purchasing wreaths for Wreaths Across America to be placed at a military cemetery.
“We raised money by selling flavored water to students and teachers, made jump ropes out of old T-shirts for Operation Christmas Child and we volunteered with an Interact Club from St. Joseph at Rosecrans Air Show family day,” Buller said.
This is the first year Buller has been a member of Rotary Club. “While teaching in Cameron, I was their Interact Club sponsor for many years during my 19 years of teaching there,” Buller said. “I helped get an Interact Club started at St. Joseph Christian with a Rotary Club of St. Joseph and this year is our first year for having the Interact Club at West Platte High School.
With 30 members now participating in the Interact Club in Weston, Buller believes the Clubs in the area will continue to grow, with positive outcomes for students and community members alike.