There are currently 14,911 Interact Clubs in over 145 countries, with over 342,900 young adults involved, according to the Rotary website. Interact is an international program derived from the global Rotary Club, one of the largest service organizations in the world. Interact was created to give high school students the same kinds of service opportunities that Rotary offers for adults. According to Jenny White, the current Interact President at Ipswich High School, Interact Club is “a club that values service above self and aims to help out not only the school community but the Ipswich community as a whole.”
At Ipswich, the four officer positions—President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary—are all filled by upperclassmen. In addition, the board of directors comprises approximately ten motivated students who help make decisions and keep everything running smoothly. This year, the Ipswich chapter created two new committees, called the Fundraising Committee and the Creative Committee, led by board members and composed of club members who want to become more involved in promoting Interact.
Each Interact Club also has a Rotary advisor to supervise the program and its activities. According to the Rotary website, “The chair oversees the Interact program, ensures that Rotary International has current club and adviser contact information, and plans activities and leadership training events for Interact members.” At Ipswich, the advisor is Keith Harris, an avid Rotary member, who plays a crucial role in Interact’s success and overall well-being. When asked about what the most meaningful part of Interact was for him, Keith shared that he loves “working closely with the leadership team. Watching as they run events, pull together, and discover things about themselves is inspirational.” Keith continues to keep the Ipswich chapter connected to other schools and makes the officers and board members aware of new opportunities for the club to pursue.
Impressively, the Interact Club at Ipswich is the largest standing club at the school, with roughly 70 members regularly attending each meeting. Although Jenny states that it can be a lot of work to maintain high attendance and keep people engaged, the many dedicated members can fill endless roles for the countless Interact projects. Interact Clubs are expected to organize at least two projects every year: one that helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding. At Ipswich, the projects they organize far exceed that expectation, ranging from blood drives to holiday festivals to polar plunges.
The most widely known project organized by Ipswich Interact is the annual “Jingle Bell Walk.” This spirited event includes a parade with Santa to the town hall, where children are met with endless holiday games and activities. Attending this event is a cherished memory for many who were raised in Ipswich, which, according to Jenny, is part of what makes it so special. She states that for many people, volunteering through Interact is a “full circle moment,” and that “it is very special to be able to help organize it after you’ve grown up.” This event takes months of preparation, and the club even has its own committee to help organize it. The result is a spectacular event, with significant proceeds that go to a charity of the committee’s choosing. This year, the check went to Ipswich’s Partners in Development.
As for the future of Ipswich’s Interact chapter, Jenny plans to incorporate more fundraisers to help ensure the club’s future and get as many members involved as possible, hopefully inspiring younger members to take on larger roles in later years. When asked about his wishes for the future of Interact, advisor Keith hopes “it continues to be an incredibly strong club, and that students in leadership roles remember fondly the things they accomplished.” He also hopes that those leaders will take the lessons they learned in accomplishing so much and apply them to their future careers. If you are a high school student looking to make a meaningful impact in your school and community, Interact Club offers an incredible opportunity to develop skills, build lasting connections, and contribute to something greater than yourself.
