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Check out our Interactors of the Month!
OCTOBER '02:
Benjamin Biscocho
NOVEMBER '02:
Lenine Umali
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Interact is an international
organization of service and social clubs for young people of secondary
school age that fosters leadership and responsible citizenship and promotes
international understanding and peace. The name was created by combining the
words "international" and "action." Interact clubs are sponsored by Rotary
clubs as a program of Rotary International. Rotary clubs provide guidance
and inspiration, but the Interact clubs are self-governing and
self-supporting. Clubs take a variety of forms, both single-gender and mixed
as well as large and small. The membership base of a club can be drawn from
the student body of a single school or from two or more schools from the
same community.
Milpitas High School, located in Milpitas, California, is one of those.
Sponsored by the local Milpitas Rotary Club, we are the oldest and largest
community service club on campus. We are a very successful club, one with
over 70 members. Each week, we have about one or two community service
events coordinated just for our members. Our club aims to strongly promote
Interact's motto: "Service Above Self." We want our members to value their
lives, and broaden their horizon to others who are less fortunate. We strive
to promote the power and joy of community service.
One of the projects this year includes plans to charter a Youth Act Club at
our neighboring middle school, Thomas Russell. Youth Act is a middle school
version of Interact. We hope to promote community service at the middle
school level, and act as mentors for these students.
Each year, Interact clubs complete at least one community service project
and at least one project that furthers international understanding and
goodwill. Interactors develop a worldwide network of friendships through
exchanges with local and overseas clubs. Along the way, Interactors develop
their leadership skills and initiative while meeting new friends.
Through their service activities, Interactors learn the importance of:
· developing leadership skills and personal integrity
· demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others
· understanding the value of individual responsibility and hard work
· advancing international understanding and goodwill
The first Interact club was initiated in 1962 by the Rotary Club of
Melbourne, Florida, USA. Two months later, the first Interact club outside
the United States was established in Tanjore, India. Today there are more
than 7,780 Interact clubs in some 107 countries and geographical areas,
making Interact a truly worldwide phenomenon.
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