THE Rotaract Club of Saipan conducted a weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of Saipan on Tuesday, Aug. 29, as part of a “take over” event at the Crowne Plaza Resort.
During the meeting, Rotaract Club of Saipan President Richard Baleares talked about the history of Rotaract and the Interact Club of Saipan.
Rotaract and Interact are youth organizations affiliated with the Rotary Club.
Baleares said the Interact Club is the youth service organization for students between the ages of 12 and 18.
On Saipan, the Interact Club was first started at Marianas High School in 2014. Similar clubs were later organized at Kagman High School, Saipan International School and Saipan Southern High School.
Interact aims to help members “take action, build international understanding, and make new friends around the world,” Baleares said.
He added that all current members of the Rotaract Club, which is for young adults, began their journey as Interact Club members.
He said Rotaract is a place to “exchange ideas” and “develop leadership and professional skills.”
At Rotaract, Baleares said they have spent the last few years focusing on community service events.
Their projects included hosting Santa’s work-shack toy drive in 2020, a CW food drive in 2021, the Chalan Kanoa village cleanup in 2021, and the CNMI Youth Leadership Month activities in 2022.
In addition, Baleares said Rotaract has adopted a bus shelter in Kagman, which it maintains in partnership with the office of Rep. TJ Manglona.
Rotaract projects coming up this year include the international coastal cleanup and tree planting activities in Marpi, Baleares said.
