Interact Club

The Interact Club is Rotary International's service club for young people ages 14-18. Newbury Park High School Interact Club is sponsored by Newbury Park Rotary Club, which provides support and guidance, but the Newbury Park High School Interact Club is self-governing and elf-supporting. Our students are dedicated to giving "service above self" to many different community groups as well as to international charities. For participating in activities, these students receive community service credits, but more importantly, they learn the true joy of giving back to a community which has been so generous to all of us. On the last Monday of each month, the Newbury Park Rotary Club provides pizza for the entire Interact Club.

The Club also has several team building events throughout the year. Such as bowling, laser tag or a picnic at the beach. The club will invite local Interact Clubs to participate in these events. This gives them the opportunity to socialize with like minded people from our area.

Each year the Club is involved with a very diverse range of international, national and community projects and charitable organizations. The projects range from Toys for Tots, collecting school supplies for Armenian orphans, feeding the homeless in our community, building houses with Habitat for Humanity, Conejo Valley Relay for Life to fight cancer, Gift Boxes for People in the Armed Services (we packed and sent over 30 boxes!), Mia's Children, Caroling for Cans to support a local food bank, My Stuff Bag Foundation which provides comfort and a message of hope to abused and neglected children entering the crisis and foster care system in Ventura County, Nothing but Nets is a grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. This is just a sampling of how involved the NPHS Interact Club is international, nationally and locally.

There are more than 95 members of Newbury Park High School Interact Club in the 2007-2008 school year. It is by far the largest club at Newbury Park High School. To be a member of this club you must attend Newbury Park High School, be an active participant in the Interact meetings and projects. After participating in your first project you will receive a t-shirt with the club logo on it and after participating three projects you will receive an Interact lapel pin.

Rotary International District 5240 sponsors a leadership camp in the spring, called RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards). Students in Interact (Juniors) are encouraged to apply for this excellent opportunity to learn and have fun.

The Club meets every Monday at the beginning of lunch in Room D3.

Interact Club Pledge

THE 4-WAY TEST OF THINGS WE THINK, SAY OR DO

1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build good will and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

The Objectives of the Interact Club

• To recognize and develop constructive leadership and personal integrity.
• To encourage and foster the advancement of understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship.
• To encourage and practice thoughtfulness of and helpfulness to others.
• To create an awareness of the importance of home and family.
• To build respect for the rights of others based on recognition of the worth of each individual.
• To developed an understanding of the value of hard work, leadership skills and a network of friendships.
• To emphasize acceptance of individual responsibility as the basis of personal success, community improvement, and group achievement.
• To recognize the dignity and value of all useful occupations as opportunities to serve society.
• To develop leaders for a better future.
• To provide opportunities for gaining increased knowledge and understanding of community, national and world affairs.
• To open avenues of personal and group action leading to the advancement of international understanding and goodwill toward all peoples.

2008-2009 Interact Board of Directors
President: Hedy Chen
Vice President: Alex Sookikian
Secretary: Alina Grigorian
Treasurer: Mira Patel
Publicity: Erika Chason
Member at Large(Sophomore):Nina Sobierajski
Member at Large(Freshman): Sanjay Siddhanti

NPHS Faculty Adviser to Interact
Ms. Reed ( areed@conejo.k12.ca.us )

Newbury Park Rotary Club Liaisons
Joe Joyce ( Joe@JoeandTim.com ) 805-338-2223
Matt Kirks ( matt@thekirksgroup.net ) 805-498-6040

Interact Rely for Life 2008 Team Captains:
Naveen Balan
Hedy Chen
Eileen Henderson