November Message
So much has already taken place this school year and we are excited to see what will happen next. This Newsletter will include a recap of events that occurred in October as well as Interact District Spotlights. 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
Interact Recap
West
Seal Beach Fishing Derby, Club
Rush, McGaugh Elementary carnival, thank you cards to teachers, Sockstober - Los Alamitos HS
The long-term project Operation
Christmas (annual) - Jordan HS
South
Special Olympics Lazy River race & STEAM
showcase - Capo Valley HS
DWELL Festival - San Juan Hills HS
San Juan Creek Cleanup
- Capo Valley Christian HS
Family hunger walk, family workhouse events, and the Dana Point Halloween Spooktacular - Dana Hills HS
North
Decorated paper bags/cards for Meals on Wheels, volunteered at Long Beach marathon and Trunk or Treat - Fullerton Union HS
Coastal Clean-up Day (Brea-Olinda HS) and clean up at Oak Canyon - El Dorado HS
Volunteering at soup kitchen, and the Raymond Elementary School "Fall Carnival"
- Sunny Hills HS
Making seasonal cards for Bayshire Yorba Linda
senior citizens (5 yrs) - Esperanza HS
Annual Pancake Breakfast with Rotary at the Heritage Day event, Annual Trunk or Treat by the Placentia Library - Valencia HS
Central
Had Hydrocephalus walk with 14 Interactors and a handful of Rotarians - Santa Ana HS
The Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve Cleanup for Service Clubs Month - Corona del
Mar HS
Participated in VAHSA's food packing, Sunnyside Trunk or Treat, and a fall faire and pumpkin patch service
- Bolsa Grande HS
District Training
Rotary District 5320 held its first District Training on October 19th, with over 30 Interact clubs represented! District Governor Apoorvi Singh and Lane Calvert opened the meeting with a brief introduction of themselves and the other Rotarian representatives assembled in the room. Then, guest speaker LaVal Brewer spoke at length about the true meaning and significance of community. Afterward, Advisory Council member Laila Naji was invited to speak on Rotaract (the college version of Interact). Then, Governor Singh and her assistant governors reviewed some strategies and aspects to consider in order to retain members or when planning interactive events, with stimulating and collaborative brainstorming activities interspersed. And finally, several Interacts were recognized in their contributions to the September Coastal Clean-Up Day, receiving a certificate of recognition for their clubs.
Ideas for Upcoming Projects
I feel like different clubs could come together and do volunteering events during November at food drives/banks to give back and help families in need for the holidays.
- Ben Strauss, president of Dana Hills HS
Food drives, donating to food
Giving out thank-you banks, or even working a food bank is an amazing idea for the holiday season.
post cards to teachers and staff, or members of your local community.
- Madison Siemsen, president of Brea-Olinda HS
- Ricardo Resendiz, president of Jordan HS
Interactive events! Events where volunteers can INTERACT with the intended audience (senior luncheon is a great example because the volunteers are serving 200 seniors that might not have somewhere to go for Thanksgiving)
- Laia Owens, president of Capo Valley HS
November Interact Events
West
Operation Christmas - Jordan HS
Thank you holiday cards to teachers, admin, first responders and volunteering at the Weaver
Elementary carnival
- Los Alamitos HS
South
Thanksgiving senior luncheon
- Capo Valley HS + Dana Hills HS
Thanksgiving Food Drive
- San Juan Hills HS
Thanksgiving for Camp Pendleton
- Capo Valley Christian HS
North
Volunteering at the Ronald
McDonald House - El Dorado HS
Food drive - Brea-Olinda HS
Meal of Love (McDonalds)
- Esperanza HS
Tamale Fest with Rotary (annual), polio fundraiser - Placentia Int.
Central
Dino Dash, PJ distributing event
- Foothill HS
Potential toy drive - Santa Ana HS
Work with the toy drive again and do Pack-A-Box
- Bolsa Grande HS
*Sign-up links at end of newsletter.
San Juan Hills Interact Event
On October 19th San Juan Hills Interact volunteered at the Ecology Center. The president of the club Guadalupe provided us with a summary of the event. He said, “At the DWELL Festival, we focused on the family zone, a lively area for attendees of all ages. The festival celebrated Jewish culture by sharing its rich traditions and daily life with the community. Throughout the day, we moved between various interactive stations with different activities for families and children. One station offered face painting, where participants could choose colorful designs. Another popular activity was coloring, which allowed families to relax and express their creativity together. We also had a bracelet-making station, where children could create bracelets using various beads and materials while learning about symbols and meanings in Jewish culture”.
Interact Spotlight
For this Newsletter, one individual who deserves to be spotlighted is Mike Darnold. Mike has been part of Rotary, specifically of San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club, for 45 years. Mike has enjoyed and developed as a person from his experience working with young people. Some projects that have had a long-lasting impact on him include RYLA, building hospitals through international projects, and starting a Rotary Club. One piece of advice that Mike would give to a prospective Interactor is to look at Interact as a window for the future. Interact provides an opportunity to explore new horizons, allowing individuals to step outside constraints. Darnold notes that “When you open the door to Rotary, you ’ re starting to get a peek into the world of opportunities”.
For this potlighted is Lava 08 and is currentl e feels that he has mwork in various projects, such as his extensive work with the YMCA. Laval hopes to establish projects that increase engagement in the community. One piece of advice that Laval has for prospective Interactors is “If you have belonging and bonding within the club, the energy and the success has a greater ability to be higher”.
Interact Spotlight
For this Newsletter, the Interactor who deserves the spotlight is Summer Perry. Summer is a senior and the president of her high school’s Interact club. She was inspired to join Interact and become part of a club that fostered community and did community service. Her favorite event that she has participated in is the annual Back Bay Cleanup. Summer co-led a care package event for homeless shelters during her sophomore year. Summer hopes to leave a lasting legacy as president and hopes for the club to continue thriving. She is already building up a board for the next school year.
Hi everyone! If you did not know RYLA applications are now open. You can find the application and more information on the RYLA 5320 website. https://ryla5320.org/ RYLA will take place next spring online (April 6-9) and in-person (April 11-13, 2025. Applications are due on March 1st.
December Sneak-Peek
Holiday giving drive, Seal Beach parade, Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run
- Los Alamitos HS
Card making, elderly home visits, and gingerbread house judging - Foothill HS
Probably a toy drive or holiday card making - Brea-Olinda HS
Jingle Bell RunRuby Drive - Sunny Hills HS
Rose Parade float decorating (annual) - Placentia Interact
Boys and Girls Club Present Wrapping and Rose Parade Float Decorating
- San Juan Hills HS
Working with the Atlantis play center around the holidays - Bolsa Grande HS
Operation Holiday Homework - Capo Valley Christian HS
Additional beach cleanups, homework with the Boys and Girls club, and family workhouse events - Dana Hills HS
Esperanza HS - all upcoming events * waiver is required for Meal of Love
If you would like to be involved with an event presented in this newsletter, please contact your Assistant Governor for president contact info (refer to August Newsletter or interact.district5320 on Instagram) or reach out to our Newsletter Coordinator (briannacarbajal.25@gmail.com) or our Newsletter Surveyor (Holly Kim, strawberryroses17@gmail.com).
Bolsa Grande HS - Food Bank
Bolsa Grande HS - Atlantis Play Center