Interact/Rotaract
INTERACT AND ROTARACT
SPONSORSHIP AND CO-SPONSORSHIP
Through Interact and Rotaract, Rotary clubs invest in young leaders. Rotarians guide, support, and work alongside young people as they build leadership skills, serve their communities, and increase international understanding. Each Interact and Rotaract club must have at least one sponsor Rotary club. Recent Rotary International Board decisions allow up to three Rotary clubs to partner as co-sponsors. Sponsorship must be within the same district.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF SPONSORSHIP AND CO-SPONSORSHIP
Whether you’re an independent sponsor or a co-sponsor, your responsibilities are the same. When you co-sponsor, you share responsibilities for guidance, mentorship, and support across two or more clubs. As co-sponsoring Rotary clubs, you determine how to share your responsibilities in a way that works best in your local community, for your specific Interact or Rotaract club, and for your individual Rotary clubs.
For both Interact and Rotaract, the sponsoring Rotary clubs:
- Guide and counsel the club
- Invite club members to attend Rotary meetings
- Include club members in service projects
- Assign Rotary members as mentors
- Ask to participate in meetings and service projects
- Connect club members with Rotary’s other programs for young leaders
- Ensure full cooperation with school and university policies for school-based clubs
Interact clubs require a greater level of oversight from their sponsor clubs.
Rotary members attend meetings and oversee the financial records of Interact clubs. Most importantly, Rotary members provide a safe environment for Interactors. Interact members are legal minors, and Interact may be their first service club experience. For that reason, Rotarians must:
- Follow Rotary’s youth protection policies as outlined in the Rotary Code of Policies
- Screen all adults with significant unsupervised contact with Interactors (e.g. chaperones)
- Ensure adult supervision for meetings, activities, and service projects
- Follow local guidelines for youth participation in online activities, such as e-meetings
- Develop a crisis management plan for inherently risky activities, such as using power tools, transporting heavy materials, or participating in outdoor service projects
- Follow Rotary’s youth travel policies for travel outside the local community
Rotaract clubs benefit when Rotarians maintain an active role as partners in service:
- Provide professional or vocational mentorship for Rotaractors
- Pay for Rotaract officers to attend district trainings or advanced RYLA programs
- Promote multidistrict and international opportunities such as regional Rotaract conferences the Rotaract Preconvention
- Collaborate on local and international service projects
BENEFITS OF CO-SPONSORSHIP
When Rotary clubs partner to co-sponsor Rotaract and Interact clubs, they increase the number of Rotaract and Interact supporters, strengthen their community collaboration, and share responsibility for youth service. By working together as co-sponsors, Rotarians expand their network beyond their own club and build new friendships.
HOW TO BECOME A CO-SPONSOR FOR AN EXISTING CLUB
- Check your listing of club-sponsored organizations on Rotary.org to find out what Interact and Rotaract clubs are active in your area.
- Contact the sponsor Rotary clubs to ask if you can join them as a co-sponsor. Find out what support they need for the club. Exchange ideas about working together. Offer examples of how your club would add value as a co-sponsor.
- Have your current Interact or Rotaract club president, sponsor Rotary club presidents, and district governor sign your Change of Sponsorship form. Rotary will not process the change of sponsorship without the required signatures.
- Submit your completed Change of Sponsorship form to interact@rotary.org or rotaract@rotary.org.
HOW TO BECOME A CO-SPONSOR FOR A NEW CLUB
Want to establish a new Interact or Rotaract club, but not sure you can do it alone? Reach out to other Rotary clubs in your district to explore partnering as co-sponsors. Work together to submit the Interact or Rotaract club certification forms for your new club. You can also access club constitutions, bylaws, and other detailed policy information for Interact and Rotaract. Questions? Email interact@rotary.org or rotaract@rotary.org.