For more than a few years, the Rotary Club of Farragut has been working and hoping to start and sponsor an Interact Club at Hardin Valley Academy (HVA). Now, it’s a reality. Finally!
HVA principal Sallee Reynolds has three faculty members who are excited about being the sponsors for the new club. Those teachers are Jane Sarphie, Lizzie Woodyatt and Lesa Baker.
Three Farragut Rotarians will work with the club as mentors – Alex Barnwell, Megan Belcher and Marci Stiles.
“Here’s hoping that HVA Interact Club is the best ever,” Reynolds said.
Interact clubs are student Rotary clubs that offer an opportunity for students ages 12-18 to make a real difference while having fun. Every Interact club carries out two service projects a year: one that helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding.
The Interact club works with Farragut Rotary, District 6780 and Rotary International to gets its charter. It elects its own officers and decides when it will meet. The club sets its agenda and runs itself.
The HVA Interact members will:
- Connect with community leaders
- Develop leadership skills
- Make international connections
- Discover more opportunities to connect with Rotary, including Rotaract, Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA), and Rotary Youth Exchange
The first meeting with the HVA sponsors is Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at the school. Meeting with us will be Farragut Rotary past president Dale Read, who several years ago helped start and charter the Interact Club at Farragut High. That club is now inactive.
This is exciting news for Farragut Rotary and Hardin Valley Academy!
A few News & Notes:
- Free Flu Shot Saturday is drawing really close — Oct. 13. Farragut Rotary member Mark Bialik will coordinate the flu shot site at Farragut High School. The doors will open at 7 a.m., and we are usually gone by 1 p.m. at the very latest.
- Farragut Rotarian Yvonne Key is the development coordinator at KARM and she has a major fund-raising event coming on Tuesday, Oct. 30. “HOPE Rising” begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Tennessee Theater and the main attraction is the voice of country singer Emily Ann Roberts, who was a finalist on “The Voice.” KARM is providing theater-style snacks and a beverage and gourmet cookies. Doors open at 6 p.m. Premier VIP tickets are $100 each. General admission tickets are $50 each. Info here.
- Farragut Rotary’s 18th annual Wine Tasting & Hors d’ouvres is quickly coming together, and there will be a really fun new twist to it this year. Yes, there will be the popular silent auction. But this year Jason Deal with JDs Auction will auction off five surprise items in public bidding. This wine tasting fundraising event will be on Friday, Nov. 9, at SouthEast Bank in Farragut’s Renaissance Center from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person. If you would like to buy tickets, email event coordinator Megan Belcher at barbie2127@hotmail.com and let her know.