Mid Jersey Cape Rotary Starts Interact Charter in Middle Township High School

COURT HOUSE – Feb. 2 was a red-letter special day for select students of Middle Township High School and the Mid Jersey Cape Rotary chapter of Rotary International. On that day over a ceremonial commemoration and lunch Francey Burke, Interact Club Rotary advisor, celebrated the charter of the MTHS Interact Club.
“Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people 12-18 and was formally inaugurated in 1962. The first Interact Club to receive its official charter was sponsored by the Melbourne Club in Melbourne, Fla.,” explained Burke.
Rotary is a well-known organization of business and professional leaders who have united worldwide to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build peace and goodwill in the world, according to its mission description.
There are over 1.2 million Rotarians from virtually every country in the world who organize a variety of educational and cultural exchanges as well as support humanitarian causes that positively influence their local communities as well as global efforts.
Kicking off the event, Ulysses James, Rotary 7640 district governor, said “Our new motto is ‘Serving humanity’ and this Interact Club is a great indication of that.” Addressing students, James said, “You’ll be amazed how far you can go with Rotary, I’ve been on a bus in India for two weeks giving children oral polio vaccines and another time I was in Ethiopia where I was treated as family by fellow Rotarians because that’s what Rotary is, family.”
Melanie Druziako, Rotary 7640 district youth services director, said to the Interact inductees, “You are uniting with over 385,000 young people in 165 countries and geographic areas in nearly 17,000 Interact clubs around the world. Along with commitment to community and international service, Interactors strive to develop leadership skills and international understanding that will benefit you throughout your lives.”
During the ceremony, Interact MTHS Interact Club faculty advisor Colleen Dillon and student leadership led by President Sam Bright pledged to follow the same “Four-Way Test” that Rotarians also follow. Those are principles that they support and guide their actions.
These principles are: Is it the TRUTH?; Is it FAIR to all concerned?; Will it build GOODWILL and better friendships?; Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”
Megan Thomson, Interact vice-president, mentioned a couple of future projects MTHS Interact Club will initiate and support. They include gathering “gently used” textbooks and children’s books to send to schools in need.
Brayden Carr, Interact treasurer, said, “Another project will create a ‘chain of thanks’ that Interact members will organize to honor service members with gift packages and regular emails.”
Joining the students were some local officials including President Dennis Roberts, Middle Townsip Board of Education; Middle Township Mayor Michael Clark; Superintendent David Salvo, Middle Township School District; and Principal Frank Riggitano.
Representing the First Legislative District was Assemblyman Bruce Land (D-1st). “This is the best part of my job as an assemblyman; we truly are investing in our future when students join excellent service organizations such as Interact. I’ve heard that this Rotary chapter is one of the most active of the 51 clubs in all of the six South Jersey counties and today’s event is a clear indication of why you have this great reputation.”
At the ceremony’s conclusion students received a pin commemorating the event and signed the Interact charter.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.