INTERACT

Submitted by: Dave Long
 
Helping those in need around their community & the world.
The Interact Club of Detroit Lakes is a service club made up of High School students, freshmen through seniors, whose motto matches the Rotary motto:  Service Above Self
 
Activities:
When first asked, several of the Detroit Lakes (DL) Interact Club members didn’t seem to think they did very much.  Maybe they were being humble, or maybe they just didn’t realize how much of an impact they can have on their community.  Once we started listing the activities members have been involved with, it became clear that they have many opportunities to serve, and also to learn. The DL Interact Club helps out with a lot of the area Rotary Club events that happen during the school year: 
 
  • Salvation Army bell ringing
  • Highway clean up, multiple times per year
  • Food Pantry fundraising and volunteering
  • Poles and Holes, ice-fishing fundraiser
  • Roses for Rotary, fundraiser  
  • Spaghetti Dinner and Meatball Dinner community events
  • Other Humanitarian and Community Projects
  • A special effort was made this year to create awareness for and promote the community’s Helipad fundraising initiative, utilizing social media.
They also do some events through outside organizations:  Buy Christmas gifts with Keyclub for Lakes Crisis Center Families, Help at Elementary school carnival, serve for events at Becker County Museum, Candles and Carols, and help with the Community Halloween Party. 
Each year, members are challenged to research and decide on a local organization to donate to.   Shown below is a photo of a donation to the local Humane Society.  The group votes on the recipient and they work with the DL Breakfast Club Rose sale to generate funding.
 
 
       Isaac, Connor, and Jacob present Interact donation check to Humane Society
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
An Opportunity for Leadership Development:
The DL High School Interact Club has grown dramatically in the last several years.  Much of that growth is due to the Students seizing the opportunity to lead by example.   The current leadership team including Jacob Hanson (President), Isaac Eggebratten (VP), Connor Froke (Treasurer), and several others have strived to expand the club to an incredible 50 members (in a school of 850 total students).  The club has worked very closely with Karla Cummings, School Counselor and Interact Club Advisor.   They also have the advantage of working with two Rotary clubs in the community – the DL Breakfast Club and the DL Noon Club. 
Isaac’s most memorable takeaway from his nearly 4 years in Interact, is how the group was able to sustain significant growth through steady leadership.
 
     
 
 
    2017-18 Interact Club members
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RYLA is an event that is much discussed and student-promoted at club meetings.  Interactors have heard great stories from past camp attendees, about just how monumental the RYLA experience is for students.  RYLA activities are celebrated at the Interact meeting, when the super-excited students return from the camp.  And so, it is no coincidence that many of the RYLA participants from Detroit Lakes have also been part of Interact. 
 
The club set a lofty goal this year:  to have at least 4 members participate in every Rotary Club Event for each of the 2 local clubs.  According to Isaac, they are well on target to achieve this objective.  
 
Several Interact Students gained hands on experience in September and October working side by side with Rotary members on a District Grant funded activity co-sponsored by the DL Noon and DL Breakfast clubs. By volunteering for the Early Childhood and Family Education (ECFE) Outdoor Learning Project, the Interact students learned to dig holes, work with cement, use a level, operate a screw gun, and ‘safely’ excavate control wires, as they constructed numerous learning pods for grade-school student activities (ref photos below).
Interactors Anna & Madison
learn valuable life skills while
constructing outdoor classroom pods
 
 
 
ECFE - Sitting Down on the job,
constructing “Art Wall”   
Anna and Jessica
 
 
 
Meetings:
DLHS Interact meets once a month during “Laker Time”.  They often meet in either the choir room or multi-media center to assure there is sufficient space for all students and guests. Meetings are run by the students, and typically include:  sharing information on projects and activities, discussion on participation needed for upcoming events, a speaker or guest presentation, and most importantly, donuts for all!    Social Media and Apps help interactors stay on track and provide reminders on scheduled activities. 
Interact members are encouraged to attend Rotary club meetings throughout the year, as their schedules permit.  A few of the student leaders have been to multiple meetings, and are able to converse with Rotarians, and learn more about community needs/programs and volunteer opportunities.  The students are also invited to share their experiences with club members.   
In May of each year, the club has a Changing of the Guard/awards ceremony, where the club president or other officers review all the things the club did for the year.  The advisor hands out lapel pins to the officers, participation awards, and special certificates to those who may have gone above and beyond.
For additional information about the DL Interact club, contact Harrietta Kalberer (Breakfast club)  or Amy Stearns (Noon club), or David Long, President  - DL Noon Rotary (long@arvig.net).
Submitted by:  David Long, with help from HarriettaK, KarlaC, and Jessica Burhans