On March 23rd, members of both the Miami High Interact Club and Rotary Club of Miami met in the school library to strengthen the connection between the two organizations. Food was served, speeches were given, and each person left having learned something. Twenty-five Interact members and 25 Rotarians attended, including Rotary Club of Miami President Phil Seipp.  

What is Rotary? 

According to their website, Rotary International is an organization where “people from all continents and cultures come together to exchange ideas, and form friendships and professional connections while making a difference in their backyards and around the world.”   

However, to some Interact members it is more than that.  Current advisor Mr. Randy Jimenez states, “Rotary is an opportunity for people of all walks of life to unite under the common idea of doing good for others.”

Additionally, past President Mingli Yactayo sees it as an organization “that focuses on giving back to the community and volunteering.” 

Rotary’s main motto is “Service above self.” The club began in Illinois around 113 years ago, founded by Paul Harris. Since then, Rotary has expanded to over 200 countries and has been a prime leader in numerous humanitarian services, specifically the eradication of polio. The Rotary Club of Miami’s recent service projects have revolved around serving lunch to almost 500 homeless people at the Chapman facility and helping establish clean water in Haiti.  

Interact and Rotary Together 

Many Interact members see Rotarians as role models. Senior Armando Torres states that he looks at Rotarians and sees himself as one in future. Additionally, luncheons like the one hosted at Miami High give Rotary members a chance to connect with the youth and see their perspectives on today’s problems.  

What Happened 

Rotary Chair-Club Service Director Diane Landsberg brought in food along with different prizes for a raffle that took place. Members from both clubs lined up hungrily to eat before it started. The 2017-2018 Interact officers were introduced, and everybody had a chance to meet before the speeches were given.  

Past Vice President Alexa Melgar mentioned the services that Miami High’s Interact did this year, ranging from volunteering at marathons to providing food for the families of the Ronald McDonald House.  

Past Treasurer Lucia Galeano then told of the impact Interact had on her and mentioned that Rotary does more than sponsor the club. She said, “We are a family of many ages and we all have one common goal: to help those who need it.”  

The luncheon ended with members from both clubs asking questions of each other. When everything was cleaned up, everyone gathered in front of the school for a group picture. Before leaving, the Rotarians did a collection and then made a $104.00 charitable donation to Miami High’s Interact. 

The Interact Perspective 

The Rotary luncheon is an event that most Interact members look forward to each year. Only the most active are invited, along with the current and future officers. Sophomore Jose Loradelossantos enjoyed speaking to the older members and “found their stories entertaining and educational on life.”  

Senior Manuel Castillo said that it was nice to share his point of view with Rotarians who care about what happens in the community. Finally, current president Melissa Magalhaes acknowledged that it was nice to know that “Rotarians care about us and are here to help with whatever is needed.”