Interact Installation

Posted by Dot Sieradzki 
on Sep 24, 2014
 
New Interact Club at the Manchester-Essex Regional High School
Today the Manchester-Essex Rotary Club inducted 31 high school students into the MERHS Interact Club. WHAT IS INTERACT? Interact is the Rotary International equivalent for students ages 12-18 who want to connect with other young people in their community for the purpose of carrying out service projects and learning about the world, while having fun. Interact clubs organize two service projects a year: one that benefits their community and one that encourages international understanding. While Rotary clubs sponsor Interact clubs, the clubs are largely self-sustaining, and self-directed.
 
After a delicious breakfast, Manchester-Essex Rotary President David Ray officiated the ceremony; each student received a lapel pin and a handshake of  "Welcome in Fellowship." David noted the similarity of Rotary's mission and the MERHS's goals and ideas, namely, to participate in activities that foster citizenship and contribute to the community.
Rotary member Josephine McCullough, who worked tirelessly since last spring to engage students in Interact, noted that Interact stands for international action. Rotarians focus on promoting peace, eradication of disease, and improving living conditions world-wide, while performing local service and raising funds for local scholarships.
Witnessing today's ceremony were High School Principal Patricia Puglisi, High School instructor and  Interact faculty advisor, Dean Martino, High School Assistant Principal, and Rotary member, Paul Murphy, and several parents who were able to attend.
Installation of Interact officers followed the induction ceremony. Interactors elected Maddie Shaw as President, Jacob Ostrovitz as Vice President, David Reid as Treasurer, and Halley Malloy as Secretary. Officers hold leadership roles in the club and reflect the esteem and confidence of the members.
Congratulations to the new members of Interact and future leaders of America: Susie Buck, Will Burgess, Chris Carr, Craig Carter, Melanie Carter, Troy Ciarametaro, Lauren Coogan, Henry Doucette, Parker Edington, Courtney Feuerbach, Kelly Finnerty, Eric Fossa, Jackson Haskell, Jack Hennigan, David LaForge, George Lantz, Olivia Lantz, Brittni Larcom, Molly Lynch, Caitlin Malloy, Hayley Malloy, James Marshall, Isabella Mastendino, Jacob Ostrovitz, Sabrina Pallazola, David Reid, Henry Rohner, Chelsea Rose, Maddie Shaw, Madeline Surette, Olivia Tyler.