Reflections on Interact club days


The forthcoming inauguration of the Interact club  co-sponsored by Rotary eclub One has triggered a spate of memories from my own tryst with the Interact club in the late 80s in suburban Mumbai.

I am thinking of the new horizons that are going to open up for the participants of this club and how it is going to shape their lives in so many ways, small and big. I remember waiting for Saturday mid morning meetings of the club and the plans we would make for upcoming events - Teacher's Day, Drawing competitions, Carrom competitions, visiting the installation ceremony at the local Rotary club, meeting the new members of the local Rotaract club, annual picnic, visits to other schools and being part of service projects to keep the town clean, help the elderly with their chores and others. The amazing idea of service above self began to firmly take root. 

A small group of us also visited the Annual Interact Jamboree in town where we met Interact club members from many different schools and exchanged information about the activities our club was involved in. I remember being particularly intrigued by the International Service activities that the teams from other schools shared, about twinning with Interact clubs from other countries and organizing exhibitions in their school to show case the different cultural aspects of that country. A such gatherings one learns so much from all the informal interactions too and my biggest lessons were minimizing food wastage and learning to interact with strangers comfortably. Global challenges and solutions began to seep in over interactions with our local Rotaract and Rotary clubs.

As a Treasurer of our Club, I had my first taste at maintaining accounts, preparing budgets for events, visiting the bank to deposit cheques all on my won and often arguing persuasively for an increase in the event budgets. These and other opportunities to interact with stake holders at all levels helped in improving communication skills, building confidence, taking initiative and working collaboratively with the rest of the team. Among my certificates are the hard earned ones from my Interact club.

I am sure the new Interactors in all the Interact clubs will cherish their time they have together and grow rich in experiences and skills. And that they will always think back fondly about their own clubs as they forge their paths of service and peace in the global village.


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