Meeting Agenda          Jan. 14th, 2009

Officers:
President- Autefeh Fotovat-Ahmadi
Vice President- Lindsay Banes
Secretary- Hannah Hewes
Treasurer- Jenny Ding
Public Relations- Kelly VanDeBoe
Senior Reps.- Keara Farrelly, Florda Priftanji, Shiang-Ting Yeh
Junior Reps.- Jada Goodwin, Jane Horakova, Kelsey Ploppert
Sophomore Reps.- Alexis Cantwell, Justin Chou, Alex Stephanou
Freshman Reps.- Ryan Flanigan, Max Seiler, Leighann Robinson
Faculty Moderators - Mrs. Fahnestock, Mrs. Gambone, Mrs. McCool

Welcome to new members that are attending this meeting tonight.  Thank you for joining.

What is Interact?
Interact is a combination service and social club for young people, ages 14 to 18.  Each of the over 11,600 Interact Clubs around the world are sponsored by a Rotary Club that provides guidance and inspiration.  But the youth clubs are self-governing and self supporting, giving Interactors a chance to develop a range of leadership skills while learning the value of good teamwork.  Interact stands for International Action.  International because Interact clubs exist in over 131 countries and geographical areas. Action because Interactors are doers; young people who want to solve problems, improve the quality of life, and make new friends in their community and throughout the world.

The Rotary Clubs of Newtown Square and Broomall sponsor our MNHS Interact Club. These clubs have welcomed our officers to their meetings, treating them to a complimentary dinner.  The clubs have also sponsored our members at leadership conferences.  In addition, the Rotary Club of Newtown Square has provided us with our podium, gavel, gong, and banner. The Newtown Square Rotary donated the turkeys for our Thanksgiving basket project this past 2008.  Both Rotaries have purchased daffodils to support our sale in March to benefit the American Cancer Society. In 2005, the Newtown Square Rotary honored us with a Distinguished Club Service Award plaque. In 2007, the Broomall Rotary established a Rotary Interact Scholarship.We thank the Newtown Square and Broomall Rotary Clubs for their continued support.

Membership:
Standard Interact Club Constitution: In order to be considered a member in good standing, the Constitution states that members should attend at least 60% of the meetings.  MNHS Interact officers encourage you to attend meetings and participate in projects.  A combination of meetings and/or projects should add up to your participation in a minimum of 6.

Always-important reminders:
Officers for next year: Any junior interested in being an officer next year must have participated in at least 6 projects this year and attended meetings and chaired a committee.

Old Business:

Elections of Class Reps:  Thank you to the many members who ran in this election.You are all important to Interact regardless of your position.  There is no ‘I’ in team. But there is a Team in the ‘I’ for Interact. We are a team and we need all of you to continue to make Interact the successful community service club for which it is known.

Dues/Donation:  There will no longer be Interact dues. If you would like to make a donation, there will be a container available at meetings. The donations will be used to support our community service projects as needed.

Important notice:  When you sign up for events and activities, please print your name carefully and all other information that is requested.  We can’t decipher sloppy printing.  If you fail to write your homeroom, we will not be able to get in touch with you.

Important Reminders:

1. Please do not talk during the Interact meeting if someone else is speaking at the podium.
2. If you sign-up for an event, please keep your commitment.
3. Read the agenda; it is put together carefully so all members are properly informed.

Homework Helpers at Kidstop:  Tuesdays from 4:15 to 5:15
Co-Chairs are:  Colleen Biehl, Jane Horakova, Devin McNany.
This needs to be organized for the upcoming Tuesdays.
Thank you to the following girls who have volunteered regularly:  Brittany Crabtree,
Jenny Ding, Jane Horakova, Rebecca Lin, and Colleen McInaw.  If any one else has been volunteering, let us know.  More volunteers are always welcome.

Child Care at Worrall during parent conferences:  Thank you to the parents at Worrall for their donations to our Interact Club.  We were given $ 36.00 to deposit in out treasury for our service club needs.

‘Adopt a Family’ for the holiday:  Thank you to Chairpersons, Gary Leming and Florda Priftanji for getting reminders to members who collected at lunches.  We thank all students who donated at lunches and to the many teachers who participated in this project: Mrs. Bartlewicz, Dr. Bollinger, Mrs. Burgess, Mrs. Fahnestock, Mrs. Gallagher, Mrs. Gambone, Mrs. Gervasi, Mrs. Gill, Miss Graham, Mrs. Lanshe, Miss Mooney, and Mrs. Lauria-Wark.  The family that Interact adopted was very appreciative of our support.  That is the ‘Reason for the Season’
The students who collected at lunches will be listed in the February agenda.
Center Foundation in Media 3 Activities:  See letter on last page.

#1.  Babysitting: Jan. 31st, March 21st, May 16th.  Sat. – 9:30 to 11:30
        Spend time playing with children while their mothers attend meetings in adjoining rooms.
        Only 3 to 4 volunteers needed for each session. 
        Thank you to Cassandra Lehman and Gary Leming for volunteering in December.
        Thank you very much for keeping your commitment and giving of your free time.
       
#2.  Wrap gifts for children: Thank you to Autefeh Fotovat-Ahmadi, Alexis Cantwell, Dan Chung, Brittany Crabtree, Gary Leming, Kaitlyn Levy, Collen McInaw and Alex Stephanou for wrapping gifts on your personal time at a very busy time of year. One name has been omitted from this list.  Please see us and tell us who you are.
Our apologies for this omission.

#3.  ‘Holiday from the Heart Party’:  Thank you to Brittany Crabtree, Cassandra Lehman, Gary Leming, Katlyn Levy, and Colleen McInaw for helping with the party activities.

Band-Aids Should be Fun Not Boring !!!!!: Thank you all the members who collected and donated boxes of band-aids.  Interact collected 34 boxes of band-aids to donate to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to support the ‘Give a Kid a Choice in their Care.’ Thank you to Mrs. Baker, our high school nurse, for delivering our band-aids to CHOP.

Singing holiday songs at Fair Acres Geriatric Center:
This as always was a very rewarding activity. To hear the residents sing along and to see their smiles reminded us of the ‘Reason for the Season’.  Thank you to the following Interact members who took their personal time on that busy Friday before Christmas and Hanukkah and sang with the residents:  Lexie Abel, Paul Alberici, Sean Carpenter, Claudia Cho,
Reba Daniel, Luke Helker, Lisa Kim, Gina Lee, Gary Leming, Elisabeth, McNeill,
Irene Parastatidis, Florda Priftanji, Leighann Robinson, Max Seiler, Gregory Stulpin,
and Nikki Zand.

Scholarship opportunity for seniors:  The Broomall Rotary offers scholarships in the spring. One of the scholarships is earmarked for an active Interact member.  We are very fortunate and very appreciative of the generosity of the Broomall Rotary. Please listen to the morning announcements later in the year as well as an announcement in a later Interact Agenda.

New Business:
Make A Resolution To Volunteer In 2009
With the arrival of the New Year, many people will make resolutions such as:
dieting, exercising more, watching less TV, joining a book club, etc.
Nonprofit organizations hope that more people volunteer in 2009.
A volunteer is – a person who gives the most valuable gift of all, the gift of time.
Why don’t you consider making your New Year’s resolution to get involved in Interact more and bring a new member to the Feb. Interact meeting?

Recognition to one of our Interact members: Max Seiler adopted a family for Christmas from the City Team Ministries in Chester.  He made a difference in the lives of those seeking help.  Congrats Max for reaching out.

If anyone else has offered their time or talents to anyone, please let us know and we will
recognize you as well.

Read Across America Book Drive:  To celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday and the importance of reading, our high school has had a book drive for many years.  The books are collected, organized and donated to Cole Manor Elementary School in Norristown, PA.

This year, we are making it an Interact project.  Volunteers are needed to Chair this event.

Flyer Committee: 4 Co-Chairs are needed.  Sign-up tonight.

Collection Committee:  8 Co-Chairs are needed as well as Class Reps. Sign-up tonight

All members of Interact are encouraged to collect books and bring them into your homerooms.

The homeroom with the most donated books will win a free breakfast.

The collection will begin February 3rd through February 20th.

American Cancer Society – Daffodil Sales – Sales will start at our Feb. 3rd Interact meeting.
Sign-ups will be available at that meeting for committees.  Every Interact member is asked to sell daffodils.

Calendar of upcoming projects:
January -              Tuesdays - Homework Helpers at Kid Stop
January 31st -       Babysitting at the Center Foundation in Media
February 3-20      ‘Read Across America’ Book Drive
February  -           Daffodil Sales for the American Cancer Society
March -                Delivery of Daffodils
May 10 -              Susan G. Komen ‘Race for The Cure’, Philadelphia

Next meeting date:  Tuesday, Feb. 3rd, 7:00 p.m. – cafeteria