February Newsletter

Feburary Message Hello everyone!

As the new year begins, we are excited to see what will happen this year. This Newsletter will include a recap of January events, Spotlights, important reminders, and a brand new RYLA Recap!

If you know anyone or any club who you believe deserves a spotlight, feel free to email Brianna Carbajal (briannacarbajal.25@gmail.com) the Newsletter Coordinator, so they can be included in a future Newsletter. This also applies to projects and events. Thank you for reading!

Best Wishes, Newsletter Team

District Project Hi everyone! If you haven’t heard, we have a new international project! We are raising funds to provide preventative medicine to children suffering from schistosomiasis, a disease that previously did not have a pediatric cure. But now, with Rotarian global scientist Jim Mulry’s aid, a dose has been developed and manufactured, coming out to the low cost of $2 per dose. We are hoping that every Interact can contribute in some way, shape or form. Mr. Mulry “has been invited to address the members, and to answer their questions, at the association’s next quarterly meeting on February 1, 2025. A booth for the project in the International House of Friendship at the Rotary International Convention in Calgary is being secured...[and] Interactors will be needed to help man that booth at the RI Convention.”. Interactors will also get the chance to serve on a board dedicated to managing the funds that come in to support this cause.

Please start brainstorming fundraiser ideas, and consider collaborating with each other!

January Events Pack a box, elementary school events, food bank - Bolsa Grande Interact We’re doing the Mutt Run with the Signal Hill Rotary and we’re currently looking for volunteers to help us!

- Jordan Interact

This January we participated in the Radiant Futures clothing drive and had Bread of Angels which is a local food bank that takes place every Saturday. Our club usually does this event but the kitchen was closed for over a year so this is our first time this school year!

- Brea-Olinda Interact

January Events

We worked with Radiant Futures, a domestic violence shelter for a North Area clothing drive. Fullerton Union Interact donated over 800+ clothing pieces as of January 27, 2025. We also had an iceskating event that 24 people attended.

- Fullerton Union Interact

We had 2nd semester club rush and got some more sign-ups, spread the word about RYLA and created cards for L.A. fire victims.

- Aliso Niguel Interact

Monthly meeting, about 10 people in attendance and we contributed to the clothing drive and informed people on how to sign up for RYLA. - El Dorado Interact

RYLA Recap RYLA week is the time of year I look forward to the most. I can't wait to return to my RYLA family as a junior counselor in my third year going to camp. I gained confidence in my leadership skills, built lifelong connections, and had so much fun!

- Bella Kim, Los Alamitos HS, Team Peach (camper and TB/JC)

RYLA was an absolutely incredible experience and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to build my leadership skills, meet other campers from District 5320, and learn more about myself. I'll never forget the wonderful people I was surrounded by - especially my teammates. Navy Dragons for the win!!

- Nikki Leon, El Dorado HS, Navy Dragons (camper)

I loved many things about my RRRYLA experience but my most memorable memory was the Labyrinth: “A maze where you can never be lost”. I loved the opportunity to walk the maze, and to feel more grounded and connected with nature.

- AnonIII

Spotlight Someone important that we’d like to spotlight this February is Samantha Yokote, president of Esperanza HS Interact. Samantha cites her motivation to pursue her membership in Interact as she “found it to be really fulfilling” and overall, a much more interesting club in comparison to others. One particular event that enhances her enjoyment is the annual Ronald McDonald House service project, where Interactors and Rotarians come together to cook meals for families of hospitalized children on Thanksgiving week. She recalls getting to meet some of the families, and feeling a deep sense of service and fulfillment in getting to contribute to her community. Samantha’s love of service continues outside Interact; as the president of her school’s CSF chapter, she notes her establishment of weekly AVID tutoring as one of her proudest achievements, and hopes that her successors will strive to continue providing this service. As the year progresses, she hopes to continue making cards for Yorba Linda seniors and hospitalized children as a way to uplift them during difficult times, and establish new projects, like the Ronald McDonald House. When asked if she had any closing remarks, Samantha stated, “When it comes to Interact, it may feel like another service club. But really, it’s the most important, because it gives me and others the opportunity to contribute to projects outside of school, outside of our normal realm of life”.

Spotlight This February, we are proud to feature Vanessa Farias in one of our Newsletter Spotlights. Vanessa is a junior and serves as the Vice President in San Juan Hills Interact, after previously holding the position of Activities Coordinator. She joined Interact because she saw the opportunity it afforded her to not only give back to her community, but contribute to a community of her own, one centered around leadership and service. Her favorite project, the annual Thanksgiving food drive, reflects not only her passion for service, but her dedication to uplifting others and bolstering their

own skills. As she fondly recalled, “multiple students helped out…talking to people as they went into the grocery store, explaining to them what the food drive was about…I was happy because it really helped them get out of their comfort zone”. Her love for community is similarly reflected in another of her favorite events, the Rose Parade float decorating. Not only did they get the chance to work on our district’s float, but they got to make “more good memories and develop deeper connections”. As she looks towards the future of her club, Vanessa hopes to continue building a community of service, particularly by involving freshmen more and more into school and club activities, since “they are our future”.

Interact District Positions Opening Hello everyone, the applications for Interact District 5320 Council are open. Here is the QR code to apply!

(P.S. For anyone looking to apply for District/Assistant Governor, please get your application in ASAP as we are aiming to have those two positions filled by March 15th)

Collaborations Tien Nguyen tienthomas897@gmail.com Bolsa Grande HS Central Ricardo Resendiz resendizrichyrich@gmail.com Jordan HS West If you are interested in collaborating with another club, please reach out and let us know! We’ll be happy to advertise for you :)

Reminders Monthly Zoom Meeting The next one is February 4th at 7:00 PM If you wish to attend join the Remind (@d5320) If you have any questions, you can email Vi at apoorvi3113@gmail.com RYLA - Applications are now open! Go to ryla5320.org to register; the 2025 camp dates are April 6th-13th! If you have any questions, reach out to your former TB/JC, Facilitator, or local Rotary Club for assistance!

Additionally, please keep sending RYLA Recaps in; we can only feature a few at a time but we would love to get more responses!

Mental Health Walk - Our District-wide Mental Health walks will be held in May (3rd or 10th). There will be at least one walk per area, overseen by the local Rotary clubs. If your Interact is interested in participating, please reach out to your Assistant Governor (or contact Vi for assistance).

Scholarships - SENIORS! This is a fantastic time to start asking your local Rotary or high school counselor about Rotary-related scholarships! Make sure to apply ASAP!

Thank You Follow Us On Instagram: interact.district5320 Website: https://www.interactdistrict5320.org/