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Interact video
contest winners |
![Video contest winner]()
Congratulations to the winners of the 2011 Interact video contest! The Interact Club of Episcopal School
of Knoxville, D6780 (Tennessee, USA) earned the grand prize for its entry, "Change 4 Change," which tells a dramatic story about the fight against
polio. The video will be featured on the RI website and social media, and the club will receive an engraved plaque and a signed letter from RI
President Kalyan Banerjee. Read the full story, including
interviews with the Interact club president and faculty advisors at the school. You
can hear directly from the Interactors who created the grand-prize-winning video during a Facebook chat on Tuesday, 7 February from
12:30 to 13:00 Chicago time. (Check your local time.)
Interactors and faculty advisors from The Episcopal School of Knoxville will share their experiences completing their service project and capturing it
on video. You can join the conversation about how to engage students in polio eradication efforts by visiting the Interact Facebook page at the
appointed time. We also congratulate three clubs that were selected as finalists: the
Interact Club of Alexandria Sporting, Egypt, D2450, for "How We Change the World," the Interact Club
of Raffles Institution, Philippines, D3310, for "The Cambodian Experience," and the Interact
Club of Webb School of Knoxville, USA, D6780, for " Webb School Interact Video Contest 2011."
Thanks to all the clubs, representing 11 countries and four continents, that submitted videos for the 2011
contest. Watch the winning entries and all of the other video submissions on the Interact video contest channel on YouTube.
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Five
ideas for World Understanding Month in February |
During World Understanding Month in February, Rotary and its New
Generations are encouraged to reach across borders and cultures in the name of service and fellowship. Rotary also celebrates its
anniversary on 23 February, marking a special achievement toward the building of peace and goodwill around the world.
How will your Interact club, Rotaract club, or RYLA program celebrate World Understanding Month and
Rotary’s anniversary? Consider these ideas:
- Host an international festival to increase your school’s or community’s awareness of different
cultures.
- Communicate with an Interact or Rotaract club in another country.
- Plan an event on 23 February to raise awareness of international issues in
Rotary’s six areas of focus.
- Support an international project listed in RI’s ProjectLINK database.
- Ask a Rotary Youth Exchange student to speak to your club or participate in your local RYLA event.
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Nominate your
Outstanding Rotaract Project today |
You still have time to submit your nomination for the RI Recognition of
Outstanding Rotaract Project awards. Each year, RI recognizes six regional winners and one international winner for their excellent
community or international service efforts. The winning clubs receive plaques and the opportunity to present their projects at the Rotaract
Preconvention Meeting. Entry forms are due to RI by 1 February and
are available for download on the RI website. Read about the projects that were recognized last year.
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Three ways to
bring New Generations participants into Rotary |
The January issue of Rotary Leader asks the question, "What would our
clubs look like if we invited every former Rotaractor, Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar, and Rotary Youth Exchange student to join
Rotary?" Read three tips for Rotary clubs on reaching out
to New Generations program participants in your community. |
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New Rotaract
promotional card now available |
![Rotaract
promotional card]() It's easier than ever to share Rotaract
with someone new. Whether you are a Rotaractor looking to recruit members or a Rotarian looking to start a new Rotaract club, the new
Rotaract promotional card offers a bold way to show young people how they can help others, develop leadership skills, and make new friends
by being a part of Rotaract. Each card includes a space to add your Rotaract club's contact information.
Order your Rotaract promotional card
on shop.rotary.org. Cards are US$0.20 each, but for a limited time, you can buy fifty cards for only $5. |
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Overheard on social media |
Social media helps New Generations participants share advice, make
connections, and tell their stories. Here are a few messages we've seen recently on RI social media:
- "I am Rotary Liaison to our Interact Club at Avon High
School, Avon, IN...District 6560. Our Interact kids want to connect and exchange with Interact Clubs outside the US. We are hoping to build
a contact list so that we can reach out with letters, pictures, etc. in Feb. 2012...Rotary's World Peace and Understanding month."
– Pam Lyons on Facebook (Like Interact on
Facebook.)
- "hey, @OU_Rotaract, @sarahbramlett and i are speaking at a rotary
meeting today. highlight of Christmas break for sure. #aspiringrotarians" - @rebekah_rae on Twitter (Follow @Rotaract on Twitter.)
- "We had our first Interact meeting at a school for special needs adolescents -- 38 kids who have a
variety of disabilities ranging from autism to cerebral palsy to Down syndrome, etc. All of these kids have become Interactors, and we are
celebrating with a gala charter day." – Bonnie Sirower in the Official Rotary International Group on LinkedIn (Not a member of the RI
LinkedIn group? Join now.)
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Upcoming
events |
Rotaract District 2450 Midyear Conference
Dubai, UAE
23-25 February
All Rotaractors from District 2450 in the Middle East are invited to attend this meeting.
Ninth Asia
Pacific Regional Rotaract Conference (APRRC)
Bangkok, Thailand
30 April-3 May
Rotaractors
from across South Asia are invited to attend this event, which immediately precedes the Rotaract Preconvention Meeting.
![2012 Rotaract Preconvention Meeting]()
2012 Rotaract Preconvention
Meeting
Bangkok, Thailand
4-5 May
Rotaractors and Rotarians will have the opportunity to exchange
ideas, hear informative speakers, and connect with the global network of friendship, engagement, and action that is Rotaract.
European Rotaract
Convention (EUCO) 2012
Moscow
23-27 May
This annual meeting is hosted this year by Rotaractors in
District 2220 (Russia). RYLA Conference in North America sponsored by District
7620
Washington, D.C.
11-15 July
This leadership conference will bring together 18- to
30-year-olds, including Rotaractors and former Rotary Youth Exchange students, Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholars, and Rotary Peace
Fellows. |
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