PINEVILLE — In an effort to make high school students more aware of their community and its activities, the Pineville Rotary Club is looking at starting an Interact Club at Pineville High School.

Interact stands for “international action” and is designed to develop leadership skills, provides service to the community, and expands international understanding, goodwill, and peace through the world fellowship of youth ages 14 to 18, united in the ideal of service.

At its meeting Monday, Pineville Rotary Club’s guest was David McKenzie, District Chair for Interact, of Louisa, to inform members of what is expected of the Rotary Club and Interact members.

Interact Clubs should meet at the school at least twice a month, and club members are expected to attend at least 60 percent of the meetings. The club is expected to establish a Constitution and by-laws, elect officers, appoint committees, conduct official business at board meetings, and establish a program of operation that include well-organized meetings for members.

Local Rotary Club member Les Johnson will be the immediate contact person and the school will also have a faculty member.

As far as activities, the club is expected to have fundraisers that provide a service to the community and that involve all of the members. The club is expected to be financially independent by developing its own income resources with which to serve the public, both locally and internationally. A Service Committee is expected to initiate one project each year that benefits either the school or community, and an International Understanding Committee will undertake one project each ear that promotes international goodwill. The local Rotary Club and District will initially fund the project.

There are countless projects for Interact members such as soliciting contributions of books and magazines for the local Salvation Army, provide a party for residents of an elder care center with entertainment, support a local food bank, cut firewood for seniors and international projects can include collecting and dismantling bicycles for a donation to a third world country. The list is only limited by the imagination.

There are countless ways Interact members can raise funds, such as selling raffle tickets for prizes, selling hot dogs and assisting with golf tournaments.

Interact is a club to help high school members to become involved in bettering their community and when going to college there are Rotaract Clubs with similar objectives, to help people in the community and internationally. Then after college there is the Rotary Club, to keep people on track helping people, locally and worldwide.

C.J. Harte is a Correspondent for the Daily News. He can be reached via e-mail at charte@middlesborodailynews.com.

(Photo above: Pineville Rotary Club members heard from David McKenzie on how to get a local Interact Club started in high school. Interact trains teens how to help others in the community and internationally. Pictured are, left to right, Les Johnson, Rotary Club member and school contact; David McKenzie, District Chair for Interact; and James Gragg, Pineville Rotary Club President.)