Guide For Interact Club
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INTERACT
Guide for Rotary Club Sponsors
and Advisers
WHAT IS INTERACT?
Interact is a service club for youth ages 12 to 18 who want to connect with other young people and have
fun while serving their communities and learning about the world. Clubs, which meet at least twice a
month, are sponsored by local Rotary clubs. Interact clubs organize two projects every year, one that
helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding. Members of
sponsor Rotary clubs mentor Interactors as they carry out the projects and develop leadership skills.
CONTENTS
STARTING AN INTERACT CLUB 1
RISK MANAGEMENT FOR WORKING WITH YOUTH 3
SUPPORTING YOUR INTERACT CLUB 4
INTERACT ADVISERS: YOUR INTERACT CHAMPIONS 5
ROTARY DISTRICT SUPPORT 6
INTERACT’S GLOBAL COMMUNITY 7
BEYOND INTERACT: ROTARY’S PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG LEADERS 8
ROTARY RESOURCES 9
Interact Guide 1
STARTING AN INTERACT CLUB
Take action in your Rotary club
A successful Interact club starts with a committed
sponsor Rotary club. Rotary members support Interact
as sponsors, guides, and mentors, working alongside
Interactors to serve local schools and communities.
Rotary members keep the connection between Interact
and Rotary strong by reporting the names of club
leaders in the Rotary database, connecting Interact
clubs with new opportunities, and providing a safe
environment for all participants.
Make Interact the topic at your next Rotary club
meeting. Team up with other members who want to
support young leaders in your community. Discuss
what kind of Interact club your community needs. As
a sponsor club, you have the freedom to innovate and
engage diverse communities within your district. You
have two key choices to make when you start your club:
the age range and the club base.
AGE RANGE
The age range for Interact membership is 12 through 18.
However, you can choose to focus on any subset
between 12 and 18, based on your community needs,
your club’s interest, and its capacity to support the
chosen age group.
CLUB BASE
Each Interact club is either school-based or
community-based. A school-based club draws its
members from one school, while a community-based
club draws from multiple schools.
If your Interact club is based in a school, be sure to invite
members from all grades. You’ll need to gain approval
from school authorities and assign a faculty adviser to
the club. (Learn more about faculty advisers on page 5.)
If you choose to sponsor a community-based club, work
with community partners to reach out to young people
and to decide on a meeting location. Invite young people
in your area, including those with disabilities, members
of indigenous and immigrant communities, and those
without access to leadership development support.
Interact clubs can meet in person, online, or a
combination of both — making Interact a flexible option
for rural communities and home-schooled students.
Online meetings also oer a great opportunity to keep
members engaged during school breaks.
Do you want to partner with other clubs in your
district as co-sponsors? Interact clubs may be
co-sponsored by up to three Rotary clubs. When
clubs co-sponsor, you share the responsibilities
of supporting and mentoring Interactors and
strengthening local Rotary connections.
Recruit members
Once you’ve determined the kind of club you’ll sponsor,
reach out to prospective members. Young people who
are familiar with Rotary, such as family members of
Rotarians, can be enthusiastic Interactors. Use your
network to promote the club to service-minded young
leaders. Be sure to seek out Rotary Youth Exchange and
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) participants
and alumni.
If you’re sponsoring a school-based club, ask school
ocials how to recruit students. For a community-
based club, choose a meeting location where young
people already gather to study, play sports, or connect
with their peers. Hang up posters in community and
youth centers, collaborate with community partners,
and promote Interact through social media. Set up a
meeting to connect potential members, answer their
questions, and confirm their commitment to develop an
Interact club. You can also determine when and where
the new club will meet.
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2
2 Interact Guide
Elect ocers
Each Interact club has a president, vice president,
secretary, and treasurer. Clubs can establish additional
ocer positions with the approval of sponsor club(s).
Check the Standard Interact Club Constitution and
Bylaws for guidance on ocer elections.
In order to strengthen the connection between Rotary
and Interact, Interact club presidents are encouraged
to identify themselves to Rotary using the Interact
Club Contact Information form. That way, they can
receive the latest Interact resources and opportunities
directly from Rotary. Although this is not a requirement
and is completely at the Interact president’s discretion,
it’s important, in order to comply with youth protection
and data policies, that Interactors choose to report
themselves rather than have their information shared
by someone else.
Make it ocial
Now that you’ve gathered a group of young leaders eager
to begin their Interact service, here’s how to ocially
charter your club with Rotary:
Complete the Interact Club Certification Form, adopt
the standard constitution and bylaws, and obtain the
required signatures from your club and district leaders.
Scan your completed form and email it to
interact@rotary.org. You can also fax or mail a
copy of the original form to the appropriate Rotary
International oce. Note that there is no fee to
charter an Interact club.
Once Rotary receives your paperwork, it will take
four to six weeks to charter the club and prepare the
certificate. Rotary will email it to the sponsor Rotary club
president(s) to sign and present to the new Interact club.
You don’t have to wait for your official certificate
to arrive in order to start club activities! Even
before you receive it, members of the new
Interact club — under the guidance of your club’s
members — can meet, organize, and take action
in the community.
Celebrate!
Once the certificate arrives, plan an event to celebrate
the launch of your new Interact club. In addition to
recognizing the partnership between the Interact
club and your Rotary club and any co-sponsors,
this event also strengthens the connection between
Interactors and your Rotary district. Invite Interactors,
family members, school administrators and teachers,
community partners, Rotarians, and district leaders.
There’s no standard ceremony to charter an Interact
club, induct members, or recognize ocers, so be
innovative! Blend your Rotary traditions with the
energy of these Interactors to create something new.
Keep your Rotary connection
strong
Now that their club is ocial, your Interactors will
grow more independent. They’ll develop confidence
as they plan their own meetings and organize their
own projects. But your Rotary club’s support is
still important. Hold joint meetings for planning,
assign Rotary members as mentors, and identify an
enthusiastic adviser — a Rotarian, faculty member, or
community leader — who can eectively connect Rotary
and Interact. (Learn more about advisers on page 5.)
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Interact Guide 3
RISK MANAGEMENT FOR WORKING
WITH YOUTH
When Rotary clubs work with youth, they make an
investment in the future of their communities and in
Rotary itself — but this investment can succeed only if
all activities are administered responsibly. Interact clubs
don’t exist in a vacuum; they operate in a world that can
be dangerous. Risk management involves understanding
potential risks associated with youth activities — such as
injury, illness, and abuse — so they can be prevented or
mitigated. Your club should consider the following points
when developing safe procedures for working with
Interactors, and youth in general:
••Follow Rotary’s youth protection policies as
outlined in the Rotary Code of Policies.
••Ensure adult supervision for meetings, activities,
and service projects.
••Screen all adults who have significant
unsupervised contact with Interactors. This
includes Rotarian and faculty advisers, mentors,
and chaperones.
••Follow local guidelines for youth participation in
online activities, such as e-meetings and the use
of social media.
••Follow Rotary’s youth travel policies for travel
outside the local community.
Develop and implement a club youth protection policy
that addresses physical, sexual, and emotional abuse
and harassment. Ensure that any reports of abuse or
harassment are communicated immediately to district
leaders and/or local law enforcement. Contact your
district youth protection ocer, Rotary Youth Exchange
chair, or district governor for additional policy details
and requirements.
Establish a code of conduct for adult and youth
participants. These rules should reflect local laws, cultural
standards, and any applicable policies of the district or
club, as well as best practices for youth protection.
Stay in regular communication with district leaders
to coordinate fast action during potentially dangerous
situations, including those that involve travel, the use
of power tools, the transport of heavy materials, and
participation in outdoor service projects.
Interact project and activity planning should include a
risk management plan that evaluates potential risks and
provides a solution for each. As a sponsor club, consider
these questions as you develop your risk management plan:
••What happens if someone is injured?
••What happens if a participant reports
inappropriate or dangerous behavior?
••What happens if a natural disaster strikes during
the program or event?
Work to minimize potential risks in these ways:
••Implement volunteer screening and training
programs as required by your district policies and
in line with best practices.
••Teach participants about safe behavior during
the program.
••Develop and practice your disaster emergency plan.
••Purchase adequate liability insurance coverage
for your region.
STATEMENT OF CONDUCT FOR
WORKING WITH YOUTH
Rotary International strives to create and maintain
a safe environment for all youth who participate
in Rotary activities. To the best of their ability,
Rotarians, Rotarians’ spouses and partners, and
other volunteers must safeguard the children
and young people they come into contact with
and protect them from physical, sexual, and
emotional abuse.
If you have any questions about this policy,
email interact@rotary.org.
4 Interact Guide
SUPPORTING YOUR INTERACT CLUB
Interact members are legal minors, and Interact may be
their first service club experience. That’s why Rotarians
attend their meetings and oversee the financial records
of Interact clubs. Although Interact clubs are largely
self-sustaining and require little or no financial support
from your club, they do need guidance in managing
their funds.
When Rotarians play an active role in the Interact clubs
they sponsor, they help Interactors develop leadership
skills, build connections in the community, and become
part of Rotary’s family.
Although Interact activities may vary depending
on local custom, the support that Rotarians oer is
universal. Here are some ways you can mentor and
support Interactors:
COLLABORATE
Volunteer at youth-led service projects and invite
Interactors to join you for your own club events.
GUIDE
Share successes and lessons learned from Rotary
service projects. Help Interact clubs align their service
with Rotary’s areas of focus.
PROMOTE SERVICE
Showcase Interact club projects in your club newsletter
and on your district website.
LEARN TOGETHER
Invite Interactors to your district conferences and
attend district Interact training events.
INNOVATE
Exchange ideas about how to create a vibrant club that
engages members and attracts new ones.
CELEBRATE SUCCESSES
Develop programs that recognize Interactors’ leadership
skills. Encourage clubs to apply for the Presidential
Citation for Interact Clubs, and inspire them to take
part in the annual Interact Video Awards. Together, plan
service projects and events to commemorate World
Interact Week each November.
STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS
Introduce Interactors to Rotary Youth Leadership
Awards (RYLA) and Rotaract. Invite Interact ocers
to RYLA events to build their skills in leadership,
communication, and teamwork. Promote Rotary Youth
Exchange to Interactors. Connect university-bound
Interact members to Rotaract clubs.
Interact Guide 5
INTERACT ADVISERS:
YOUR INTERACT CHAMPIONS
Interact advisers are adults who serve as advocates
for young leaders in schools and communities. They
support the day-to-day operations of Interact clubs,
function as the primary club liaisons to Rotary
International, and ensure that everyone who works with
the clubs follows Rotary policies to safeguard youth.
In order to guide Interactors in service and develop
young leaders’ skills, each Interact club must have
at least one adviser. Advisers can be Rotarians in the
sponsor Rotary club, teachers, parents, or community
volunteers; Rotaract members also make excellent
Interact advisers. Although only one adviser is required,
clubs benefit from having multiple advisers to mentor
and support them.
In addition to Rotary-related advisers, school-based
Interact clubs must have a faculty adviser who ensures
that club members meet the school’s extracurricular
and academic requirements.
Interact advisers’
responsibilities include:
MENTOR AND MOTIVATE
••Oer advice during project planning.
••Inspire members during challenging times.
••If conflicts occur, encourage Interactors to find
constructive ways to resolve them.
••Oversee ocer elections and provide guidance to
make sure they are fair.
••Support innovative project ideas.
FACILITATE AND PROTECT
••Attend meetings and ensure that all members feel
safe and respected.
••Supervise Interact activities and projects.
••Handle equipment needs and logistics at project
sites.
••Help create a calendar of Interact events.
••Secure parental consent for all club social media
activities.
••Make sure Rotary policies are followed whenever
young people travel, work with adults, and use
social media.
CONNECT AND COACH
••Exchange stories, ideas, and strategies with the
district Interact chair.
••Help maintain accurate club records and oversee
club funds.
••Ensure that the club provides contact
information to Rotary every year.
••Promote Interact to Rotarians, school leaders,
and community members.
••Coordinate leadership training for Interact
ocers by connecting them with RYLA,
district leadership events, and local training
opportunities.
By 1 July every year, be sure that Rotary receives
the most current information about your Interact
adviser or advisers. Even if an adviser serves for
multiple years, you must submit the Interact
Club Contact Information form annually.
6 Interact Guide
ROTARY DISTRICT SUPPORT
Sponsor Rotary clubs play the primary role in guiding
and mentoring Interact clubs, but Rotary districts also
support Interact. Rotary oers several district-level
roles, committees, and training events to promote and
strengthen Interact. In addition, districts should look
for opportunities to include Interactors in their events,
service projects, and training sessions.
District Committees
District governors are encouraged to appoint the
following committees to promote and strengthen
Interact and Rotary’s other programs for young leaders.
DISTRICT INTERACT COMMITTEE
Members may include both Rotarians and Interactors;
the district Interact chair leads the committee. This
committee promotes Interact, encourages new clubs,
and provides local support for clubs.
DISTRICT YOUTH SERVICE COMMITTEE
This committee supports young leaders’ transition
through Rotary’s programs and oers them
progressively greater leadership opportunities as they
develop their skills. It also strengthens connections
between the programs and encourages participants to
take part in alumni activities.
District Roles
Through the following roles, each district has the
opportunity to support Interact. Rotarians serve in all
the roles except that of district Interact representative,
which is filled by an Interact member.
DISTRICT GOVERNOR
The district governor supports all programs and
activities in the district. The governor approves new
Interact clubs and co-sponsorship of Interact clubs and
appoints the district Interact chair and other leaders.
DISTRICT INTERACT CHAIR
The district Interact chair administers the Interact
program and ensures that all clubs submit contact
information to Rotary International every year. The
Interact chair finds innovative ways to connect Interact
clubs with one another and to strengthen the link
between Interact and Rotary.
DISTRICT INTERACT REPRESENTATIVE
If there are more than two Interact clubs in your district,
Interactors can elect a district Interact representative
— an Interact member who encourages Interact clubs
and fosters a deeper commitment to international
understanding.
DISTRICT YOUTH SERVICE CHAIR
The district youth service chair identifies opportunities
for Interactors to get involved with Rotary at the district
level and facilitates connections between Rotary’s
programs for young leaders, alumni engagement
activities, and membership outreach.
DISTRICT YOUTH EXCHANGE CHAIR
In addition to administering Rotary’s Youth Exchange
program, the district Youth Exchange chair can serve as
a valuable resource regarding youth protection and risk
management.
DISTRICT YOUTH PROTECTION OFFICER
The district youth protection ocer can advise on
Rotary’s youth protection policies and procedures.
DISTRICT ALUMNI CHAIR
The district alumni chair facilitates the transition from
Interact to Rotaract and connects alumni with other
Rotary opportunities.
Are you a district Interact chair? Ask your district
governor to confirm that you’ve been reported to
Rotary so that you’ll receive emails about Interact
news and opportunities.
Interact Guide 7
District Events
When Interactors and Rotarians learn and serve side by
side, they build lasting Rotary connections. Work with
your district leaders to bring Interactors and Rotarians
together at training events and conferences, where they
can exchange ideas with other service-minded leaders
in your region.
DISTRICT INTERACT TRAINING
One of the district Interact committee’s most important
responsibilities is to provide training for Interact club
ocers, Interact club committee chairs, Rotarian
advisers, and faculty advisers. The training should be
scheduled at least one month before the leaders take
oce so they have time to familiarize themselves with
their new roles and have questions answered.
DISTRICT INTERACT CONFERENCES
These annual events allow Interactors to share
project planning ideas and learn how Interact works
in your area. They are an excellent way to inspire
community service and provide leadership development
opportunities.
MULTIDISTRICT MEETINGS
Joining together across districts gives Interactors an
even greater opportunity to learn from one another,
work cooperatively on projects, and see the global
community of Interact in action.
INTERACT’S GLOBAL COMMUNITY
One of the best things about Interact is that it connects
young leaders with Rotary’s global community, enabling
them to build relationships, learn about other cultures,
and exchange ideas with peers worldwide. As a member
of a sponsor club, you expand your own network, foster
international understanding, and deepen relationships
with other Rotarians who actively support young
people’s development as leaders.
Here are some ways to help your Interactors connect
with other clubs, both locally and globally:
••Start with your district. Sign in to My Rotary
to access a list of Interact clubs in your district
and then reach out to sponsor clubs and advisers.
Introduce the clubs to one another, plan a district
service project, and invite the members to district
leadership training.
••Would you like to connect with an Interact
club in a particular region? Check the Ocial
Directory; any Rotary club with an (I) after its
name sponsors at least one Interact club. Get in
touch with the sponsor club’s president to set up
an online exchange or a twin club relationship.
••Discover the world of Interact through social
media. Like Rotary’s Interact Facebook page to
see, in real time, what’s on the minds of Interactors
worldwide and how they take action to improve
their communities. Reach out to other Interact
clubs and districts to develop friendships,
brainstorm project ideas, and share project photos.
••Explore Rotary’s social network on Rotary.org,
where you can create your own profile to connect
with other members who share your Interact
commitment. Exchange ideas in Rotarian-led
discussion groups, and find partners to connect
Interactors worldwide.
••Take advantage of the power of the Internet.
A few minutes of research will lead you to club
and district websites worldwide, where you can
find contact information for other Rotarians who
support Interact.
8 Interact Guide
BEYOND INTERACT: ROTARY’S PROGRAMS
FOR YOUNG LEADERS
Interact is just one of the ways that Rotary invests in
young leaders. Learn more on Rotary.org, and contact
your district leaders to find out how you can get
involved. Tell Interactors about these other programs
so they can experience the full range of Rotary’s
opportunities for young leaders.
ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS (RYLA)
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, better known as
RYLA, is a leadership experience developed by clubs and
districts. Each RYLA has a particular focus — building
confidence, developing skills, providing professional
development, or encouraging personal growth — and
all of them give young people an opportunity to develop
leadership skills and make new friends.
ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE
Rotary Youth Exchange activates the global community
of Rotary — districts, clubs, host families, and schools —
to give students the chance to discover a new culture,
learn a new language, and become ambassadors for
peace in more than 70 countries.
ROTARACT
Rotaract is the perfect next step after Interact. Rotaract
clubs, open to those ages 18 to 30, carry out local and
international projects while developing leadership skills.
NEW GENERATIONS SERVICE EXCHANGE
New Generations Service Exchange is a customized
and intensive international exchange experience with a
humanitarian or vocational focus for adults up to age 30.
Interact Guide 9
ROTARY RESOURCES
Online Tools
•• Brand Center — Customize and download
your Interact club logo for use on promotional
materials, club shirts, and more.
•• Rotary Showcase — Be inspired by completed
service projects, and post yours for everyone to
see.
•• Rotary Ideas — Find service ideas or seek
contributions, volunteers, materials, or partners
for your projects.
•• Discussion groups — Share your experiences
and ideas with members around the world.
•• Interact Facebook page — Connect with
Interactors and the Rotarians who support them.
Events and Awards
•• World Interact Week — Celebrate Interact’s
global impact during the week surrounding the
founding of the first Interact club on 5 November.
•• Interact Video Awards — Share your Interact
story for a chance to win this global award.
•• Presidential Citation for Interact Clubs —
Recognize Interact clubs that meet the Rotary
president’s challenges to make a positive
dierence.
Communications and
Publications
•• Young Leaders in Action — Monthly
e-newsletter covering Rotary’s programs for
young leaders, including Interact
•• Visual Identity Guidelines: Rotary’s
Programs for Young Leaders — Provides
inspiration and best practices related to logos,
color palettes, typography, and more
•• Interact Statement of Policy
•• Standard Interact Club Constitution and
Bylaws
•• Interact Club Certification Form
•• Rotary’s Areas of Focus —Introduction to
the six areas of focus, with examples of service
projects for each
•• Community Assessment Tools — Guide for
identifying eective service projects within the
community
•• Rotary Code of Policies — Policies and
procedures established by the RI Board of
Directors in support of the RI Constitution and
Bylaws
Visit Rotary.org for more resources for sponsoring,
co-sponsoring, and supporting an Interact club.
Questions? Email interact@rotary.org.
This is the 2016 edition of the Interact Guide for
Rotary Club Sponsors and Advisers, formerly
known as the Interact Handbook. The information
contained in it is based on the Constitution and
Bylaws of Rotary International and the Rotary
Code of Policies. Please refer to those documents
for exact Rotary policy. Changes to the documents
listed above by the Rotary International Board of
Directors override policy as stated in this guide.
This guide is produced by the Programs for Young
Leaders department of Rotary International. Email
questions or comments to interact@rotary.org.
One Rotary Center
1560 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201-3698 USA
www.rotary.org 654-EN—(516)
