Many clubs in our district are participants in Rotary’s youth and young adult programs such as Interact, Rotaract, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), The Four Way Speech Contest and Rotary Youth Exchange.  Youth service recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, involvement in community and international service projects, and exchange programs that enrich and foster world peace and cultural understanding. The RI Strategic Plan encourages clubs to balance their activities in all five Avenues of Service, and regarding the New Generations Avenue of Service, it acknowledges the exceptional work that Rotarians do to support youth programs.
 
Thank you to Bob Oborn (RC of Stow-Munroe Falls) for contributing to this article and for organizing a Youth Service project during our 2016 District Conference and working with over 60 Interact and Rotaract students who sorted over 6,000 books.  Books were donated by district high school and college Clubs and district Rotary clubs to fill bookcases destined for community centers and battered women's shelters.  Lowes in Brimfield donated the wood. Julie Brandle (RC of Akron), owner of Metis Construction, cut the wood into the patterns and Kent Elastomer built the bookcases.  Interact clubs from Woodbridge High School, West Geauga High School, James A Garfield High School, Twinsburg and Stow-Munroe Falls High school painted them and worked with the Rotaract Club of Kent State University and Mayfield High School Interact to sort books and fill the cases. The remaining books were donated to the United Way to replenish books in bookcases they have at various locations.
 
We hope this is the first of many District Service Projects by our great Interact and Rotaract clubs within the district.  We hope to double the amount of clubs participating next year and hope to see everyone on November 5th at Interaction 2016 being hosted by West Geauga High School. More details to follow. Rotary Rocks and so do the district Interact and Rotaract clubs!  Thanks again to Bob for contributing this information for our news article!!
 
 
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