Staff report

The Salisbury High School Interact Club members and officers were installed at the Salisbury Rotary Club Hut on Feb. 5.

The Interact Club is modeled after the Rotary Club. Rotary District Governor Kevin Kendrick attended the event and installed 15 members, officers and advisors.  Salisbury High School guidance counselor, Milton Griffith is a club advisor alongside Rotarian Traci Williams.

Each new member received a certificate. District Governor Kendrick described the opportunities that students will have for community service and leadership.

He also shared the Rotary Four Way Test, “of all the things we think, say or do, 1. Is it the Truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4. Is it beneficial to all concerned?”

Kendrick said, “All Rotarians and Interactors repeat the Four-way test at every meeting.  Repeating the Four-way test keeps us on track and focused on service above self.”

New members include Hez Krider, Landon Joyner, Lucy Jones, Thomas Davis, Dayami Acevedo, NyGel Elliott, Nolt Lescoe, Anna Kate Goodman, Jackson Sparger, Cayden Bender, Xaniyah Price and Marlee Speir.

Officers are President Meredith Williams, Vice President Abdul Eliwa, Secretary Megan Nguyen, and Treasurer Sam Goodman.

Six new members of the Interact Club signed up to volunteer at Bounty and Soul in Black Mountain. The members and advisors packed produce boxes that will be distributed to families across Swannanoa, Black Mountain and South Asheville.  This area is still in recovery mode since Hurricane Helene. Before the hurricane, Bounty and Soul would spend $8,000 a week on nutritious food. Since the Hurricane, their weekly budget has increased to $20,000. They were serving 11,400+ folks per month and now are serving over 27,000 folks per month with food boxes. Volunteers from Rotary District 7680 drive to Black Mountain twice per month to assist in packing produce boxes.

The Interact Club is looking forward to also volunteering in Boone with the Hunger and Health Coalition, as well as partnering with the Salisbury Rotary Club in service opportunities in the upcoming spring and summer.

The Seminar for Tomorrow’s Leaders (SFTL) offered in July at Gardner Webb University will welcome High School Students from Rowan County who are interested in leadership training and practice.  Rotary District 7680 holds SFTL each summer and hosts over 100 students from the fourteen Counties of District 7680. The Salisbury Rotary Club will sponsor four students who wish to attend The Seminar for Tomorrow’s Leaders.

The Salisbury High School Interact Club welcomes new members. If students are interested in joining, contact one of the officers, members, or Milton Griffith in the guidance office.