One of the goals of the Monticello Rotary Club is to continue to build our organization for the future. That means introducing the Rotary concept to a younger audience and engaging them in a way that will lead toward recruiting the next generation of Rotarians.

Although we currently have initiatives that are reaching out into Millienial and Gen X demographics, we wanted to make sure we captured the interest of even younger generations by expanding engagement with our local high school.

As a result of this thinking, in September 2012, Chris Kruse, a past president of The Monticello Rotary, and Tara Rosh, at Monticello High School, approached students to determine their interest in forming an Interact Club, Rotary International’s model for Rotary in High Schools. An Interact Club was formed with more than 40 student members initially. The Interact organizational infrastructure was put into place, and officers began and continue to attend many Monticello Rotary meetings.

Since the club’s founding, several local and international projects have been initiated by The Monticello High School Interact Club. These student-led projects have included (1) “Walk for Literacy”, benefiting the Cambodian Library project, (2) an international project which provided diapers and bandages for Hospitals in Guatemala (News article and pictures attached), and, most recently, (3) a “Senior” Prom event with students hosting a prom, complete with make-up sessions, and hair-do’s for the ladies for residents of St. Benedicts Senior Assisted Living Community.

Most gratifying is that participation in these projects has not been limited to the 40 some members. Up to 70 students have participated in some of the projects, indicating strong support for this new organization that goes beyond its members and suggests potential for real growth of this Interact Club to which our Monticello Rotary is committed.