Bodmin College Interact Group 

In conjunction with Bodmin & Lostwithiel Rotary Clubs

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Latest News:

3rd March 2012: Interact at Rotary District Conference, St. Ives, Cornwall

The club was well represented at the opening session of the conference on Friday 2nd March. Entitled Rotary Meets Youth It was opened by Colin Benney, District Chairman of New Generations and the first presentation was by Bodmin and Lostwithiel Interact Club. We were represented by two members of the club Joel Corbett, who spoke about what we had been doing in the past year and by Jenna Grimwade who spoke about the future programme and the fun side of Interact. I gave a brief history of Interact and spoke about the advantages to students, Rotary Clubs and Schools. The programme was well received and I received several enquiries from Rotarians about forming clubs. The final presentation of the session was given by our own assistant governor Martin Taylor, who gave an interesting talk on the Flashpoint Centre in Bodmin.

I was very surprised to be presented with the Neville Hargreave Memorial Trophy by District Governor Maxine Stoyel. It is awarded for service to youth in the District. Neville Hargreave was the first District Governor of 1290, 1989-1990.

Photo shows Joel Corbett, myself and Jenna Grimwade at the District Conference.

Report by Rtn. Paul Harrison

24th Nov. 2011:

General News Release: Compiled by Ken Sharp District 1290 Pro:

Rotarians inaugurate first Interact Club in Cornwall   -  VVV Scroll Down for photos VVV

BODMIN and LOSTWITHIEL INTERACT CLUB 

On Wednesday 23^rd November nine students from Bodmin College were the guests of about 60 Rotarians from Rotary Clubs of Bodmin and Lostwithiel to celebrate the formation of their Interact Club; the first in Cornwall, and also the first Interact club south of Bristol.

Interact clubs are sponsored by Rotary Clubs and are open to 12 to 18 year olds. The purpose of the club is to develop leadership skills and self-confidence through teamwork. They agree to undertake one local and one international project per year, build respect for the rights of others, develop personal integrity and advance international understanding.

The celebration was held at the Westberry Hotel, Bodmin.   In addition to the nine members of the Interact club, two members of staff who act as advisors, Sarah Walton and Polly Day, together with Headteacher, Brett Elliot also attended the celebration.

To rapturous applause Rotary District Governor, Mrs Maxine Stoyle presented the certificate of inauguration to Miss Cassie Brewer, the President of the club and each member of the club was presented with an Interact Badge.

The nine members then gave a presentation to the assembled Rotarians, informing them of the projects that they had been involved with, including raising approximately £400 for Cancer research, visiting local nursing homes and entertaining the residents, litter picking in conjunction with Rotarians and involvement with Rotary's Polio Plus project. They also outlined future activities including sending a fire engine to Kenya and loading with books for a slum school in Nairobi, also a fund raising programme in the College to raise funds for further projects.

Rotarian Paul Harrison commented, "we hear so much about the misdeeds of youngsters today, but this collection of young people is something that the local community should be very proud of. They are a credit to their families, their college and to Bodmin and Lostwithiel Rotary Clubs".

The Interact Club has taken a year to achieve formal recognition and during that time the Club has already undertaken a number of projects.  In October 2010 members of Bodmin & Lostwithiel Rotary Clubs gave a presentation to Year 9 students at Bodmin College and as a result of that presentation the first meeting was held at lunchtime at the College. With the enthusiasm and support of Sarah Walton, the global citizenship co-ordinator at the college, the students showed the necessary commitment  and interest to continue to meet. Each Interact Club undertakes to work on at least two community service projects per year, one local and the other International.

And now other schools in Cornwall are showing renewed interest in Interact. At a meeting on Monday 3rd October, hosted by Truro's Richard Lander School, the nine young people from Bodmin College Interact Club gave an animated talk in a crowded lecture hall on what Interact has meant for them. Kate Lancaster, 17, one of the Bodmin group, said: "It was brilliant to be able to share with others exactly what it is that we do –Interact  benefits us and the community immensely."

Interact stands for International Action and is the junior arm of Rotary and comprises 12 to 18 year olds in its membership. The first club was established in 1962 and worldwide there are now over 12,300 clubs in 133 different countries, with over 290,000 members.

Members learn a great deal about service and leadership skills, but also get a great deal of enjoyment form working together.

Rtn. Ken Sharp - Dist.1290 Pro.

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Report by Paul Harrison:

BODMIN and LOSTWITHIEL INTERACT CLUB - VV Photos scroll down VV

Wednesday 23rd Nov. 2011 - Inaugural Meeting - Presentation of Charter

About 50 Rotarians from Bodmin and Lostwithiel gathered together for a meal to celebrate the formation of the first Interact Club in Cornwall and the first Interact club south of Bristol. Interact clubs are sponsored by Rotary Clubs and are open to 12 to 18 year olds. The purpose of the club is to develop leadership skills and self-confidence through teamwork. They agree to undertake one local and one international project per year, build respect for the rights of others, develop personal integrity and advance international understanding.

Nine members of the club from Bodmin College were invited to the celebration along with two members of staff who act as advisors, Sarah Walton and Polly Day and the Headteacher, Brett Elliot.

The Rotary District Governor, Mrs Maxine Stoyle presented the certificate of inauguration to Miss Cassie Brewer, the President of the club and each member of the club was presented with an Interact Badge.

The nine members then gave a presentation to the assembled  Rotarians, informing them of the projects that they had been involved with, including raising approximately £400 for Cancer research, visiting local nursing homes and entertaining the residents, litter picking in conjunction with Rotarians and involvement with Rotary's Polio Plus project. They also outlined future activities including sending a fire engine to Kenya and loading with books for a slum school in Nairobi, also a fund raising programme in the College to raise funds for further projects.

We hear so much about the misdeeds of youngsters today, but this collection of young people is something that the local community should be very proud of. They are a credit to their families, their college and to Bodmin and Lostwithiel Rotary Clubs.

Paul Harrison.

Photo above: DG Rtn. Maxine Stoyle, Miss Cassie Brewer (Interact President)

Photo above: Rtn. Neil Hugo, Miss Holly Yeo, DG Rtn. Maxine Stoyle, Miss Cassie Brewer (President), Rtn Paul Harrison.

Photo above: ADG's - Rtn. Martin Taylor, Rtn. Ross Jerome.

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Monday Oct 3rd 2011 - Meeting at Richard Lander School, Truro.

Organised by Bodmin/Lostwithiel Rotary Mentors & Interact Members.

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Photo: Group & Mentors from Bodmin & Lostwithiel proudly wearing their new tee shirts.

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Report on Meeting - Bodmin College Interact Group > We have not had an Interact club in our district until last year, when Bodmin and Lostwithiel Rotary clubs got together to start one in Bodmin Community College. In a nutshell, Interact is for youngsters aged 12 to 18, they have to meet twice a month at least, Rotarians should be present at their meetings (held during the day in school time), and they have to undertake at least two projects a year (one in the local community and one overseas). 

It has been such a success at Bodmin, the word has spread, and a number of other schools in Cornwall have become interested in starting their own clubs. A meeting to talk about it was held at Richard Lander School, Truro on 3^rd Oct 2011 and the nine Interactors from Bodmin, gave a very good presentation. They fielded multiple questions about what they did, how much they enjoyed it and how it has already given an extra dimension to their lives.

There was a lot of support at the meeting, many local schools and Rotary Clubs were represented. It would be great if from this very enthusiastic meeting two or three new Interact clubs could get started. This will depend on there being at least a couple of Rotarians from the local club having the interest, drive and enthusiasm to get things started and to have the commitment to turn up at the meetings. The Rotarians from Bodmin and Lostwithiel, who were present, said they did not find this commitment onerous because they were motivated by the enthusiasm of the students themselves. In addition, there needs to be a couple of teachers from the school who will give the same kind of support to the project.

The Interact Group at Bodmin College have now been working together for approx. 18 months and soon hope to hold their inaugural meeting.  This will put them alongside the only other Interact Club in the SW at Bath.

For information on starting an INTERACT CLUB contact Rtn. Paul Harrison, Bodmin Club or  Rtn. Neil Hugo, Lostwithiel Club - Please use the contact form at top of page.

Wm

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OLD NEWS:

Sept. 2011 Application made for inaugural meeting and club status.

July 2011 - Interest in forming an Interact Club in Truro, stimulated by the progress in Bodmin - Bodmin Group & Organisers asked to do presentation at Truro College.

July 2011 - Group to raise sponsorship and take part in "Race for Life" supporting Cancer Research - Report + Photos to follow. Group raised approx. £300 and took part in the Wadebridge event.

June 2011 -    We are at present organising a recruitment presentation by the present members to persuade new members to join from the lower year group at the college. They are going to do the presentation themselves. During the year they organised a cake sale which raised about £80 and they have given £10 to each tutor group in order to run a competition to raise the most money for charity. Hopefully this exercise will raise more interest in Interact. I intend now to submit our application to District and get the group recognised by RI.

March 2011 -   Group meetings continue and are currently keen on entering the "Saints Way Walk in May and raise sponsorship for the Childrens Hospice.

The Crocuses planted by the group at the College have bloomed and were very impressive.

The group is now almost ready to register as an Interact Club, 12 are very committed and all main officers have been identified, the inaugaration is very close !  Bodmin Rotary President has invited members of the group to visit our club one Wednesday soon.

Promotion will now start to take place to encourage next years group to join.

Jan. 2011 - Latest - Group still very active and members are being singled out to take office and officially register as a club.  -  Watch this space !

Bodmin Interact Club - Latest News Bulletin - 26th Oct 2010 - pdf file

A Bodmin / Lostwithiel INTERACT CLUB ? - Good Progress.

The possibility of an Interact Club with students from Bodmin College is being considered, jointly with the Rotary Clubs of Bodmin and Lostwithiel.  

Wed. 29th Sept.  Meeting formed a keen nucleus of college students as a basis for a club. An Inaugural meeting will hopefully follow soon.

What is "Interact" scroll down....

Tues. 12th Oct 2010 - Future Interactors more Crocus Planting - Bodmin College grounds  ( Also Lostwithiel Town at a later date)

Sat. 2nd Oct 2010 - Interact Club first project - Crocus planting at Eden Project.

On Saturday 2nd October 13 keen members of a future Bodmin & Lostwithiel Interact club went to the Eden Project in order to plant crocuses for the Rotary Thanks for Life Project. ( See photos below ) This was their first outing as the Interact Club and were accompanied by faculty advisor Sarah Walton, and Rotarians Paul Harrison, Neil Hugo, Clive Littleton and Nick Warrick. They were given free entry into the project and after a short talk about Polio Plus, they each planted about 30 bulbs in pots, which will eventually put out in the gardens to flower in February. After the planting they were then allowed to benefit from the whole of the Eden Project and had an enjoyable afternoon. Our thanks should be given especially to Sarah Walton, who drove the minibus and was responsible for the legal aspects of taking the youngsters out. Thank you so much. Their next project includes planting crocuses in the College grounds and at selected sites in Lostwithiel.

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Report by Rtn. Paul Harrison, Bodmin

Wed. 29th Sept. 2010 - First Meeting to consider the formation of a club.

Tues 24th Aug. 2010  - Meeting of Rotary & College representitives was held - College very  keen - Info. to be displayed at college and a presentation to be arranged for Sept. - Ideas for initial projects needed.

The students listened with great interest and Nick Warrick performed as if he had been a teacher all his life.

We have also planned for the Interacters to plant 2000 bulbs in Lostwithiel and a further 1000 in the College grounds.

Crocus Planting - Sat. 2nd Oct. 2010 - First Project - EDEN Project - Mini Buses from school - Bulb planting. (This being part of the Rotary Awareness & Polio Eradication Project)

Other Crocus Planting - Sat. 2nd Oct. 2010 - Bulb planting in Bodmin town will be carried out by Bodmin Rotarians & Local Scouts.

If you are interested - need more information - please use the contact form above.

Further progress reports will follow....

Rtn. Paul Harrison - Chairman

WHAT IS INTERACT ?

Interact is a service and social club for young people ages 12-18. Interact Clubs can be created within a school or any other youth organisation where they can provide many of the national curriculum requirements for the development of citizenship among our young people.

Each club is sponsored by a Rotary club, which guides the Interactors in developing local and international service projects whilst the interactors run the club, elect officers and keep the books.

Interact derives its name from the words "international" and action," reflecting the nature of an organization that exists in 110 countries around the world.

With almost 200,000 members and more than 8,600 clubs worldwide, Interact provides a powerful force of youthful enthusiasm and energetic service.

Interact clubs are self-governing and self supporting, offering many opportunities for members to develop valuable leadership and teamwork skills. Clubs are encouraged to carry out local service projects that benefit the community or the school, such as sponsored swims and walks, bulb planting, collecting food for the elderly and helping at Rotary events and countless others. Interactors also develop that extends their understanding of the world and promotes goodwill.

Citizenship All in all, Interact is an excellent vehicle for a young person to demonstrate commitment to good citizenship and international understanding. In addition the rewards gained from helping others through service, Interactors have the opportunity to:

″ travel to other countries via Rotary's Youth Exchange programmes

″ participate in other Rotary activities such as Youth Speaks, Young Chef and Young Musician

″ broaden their horizons by getting to know the variety of people they serve - the elderly, children with disabilities and many others throughout the community

″ develop a strong work ethic and sense of individual responsibility by organising projects to improve the environment, eradicate polio, promote drug awareness, and address other community problems

″ learn more about other cultures by communicating and working with Interactors abroad.

Interact is a great way to meet people and make new friends. Interactors organise discos, sporting events, raffles, non uniform days and other activities as a way to raise funds and have fun at the same time. Working together on car washes, bag packing, or environmental campaigns, club members get to know each other better and build many lasting friendships.

wm Bodmin