DHS Interact Club holds first inductions

Demopolis High School officially has a new Interact Club approximately five years after the last such group disbanded.

“Rotary Club has wanted to do that ever since it disbanded about five years ago. We really started talking about it in the early part of our last year’s Rotary year. We had the idea that we would start working toward establishing Interact again. It just so happened that it was just a little bit of a process with a lot of different things going on,” Demopolis Rotary Club member and former Rotary president Chris Petrey said. “This year we were able to go ahead and have some interest meetings. We were hoping for eight or 10 students to get in and be the charter members of the new Interact Club of Demopolis High School. We were very fortunate we had 18.”

Parents and members of the Demopolis Rotary Club gathered in the classroom at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital Tuesday evening to witness the induction of the 18 charter members of the organization.

“We wanted to build leadership skills and personal integrity, help them to get more involved in the community and realize that community service is a great thing. Demonstrating respect for others and understanding the value of responsibility and hard work,” Petrey said of the goal of the Demopolis Rotary Club in helping to launch Interact. “We want them to have those skills necessary to join the workforce and the rest of the world and be productive.”

While Rotary members will still be available to assist Interact, the 18 members of the group officially took ownership of the club Tuesday. Demopolis High School principal and Rotary member Leon Clark said he hopes the students involved will use their Interact opportunities to work with those around them.

“One of the biggest things is learning to work with your community. Rotary is a community-based organization that works with different groups,” Clark said.

Interact will function under the observation of faculty sponsor Rachel Etheridge, who said she was eager to be a part of the effort.

“I believe in the cause of the Rotarians and the good community and international service that they provide, so when Mr. Clark asked for a volunteer, I volunteered to help with it. I’m just a faculty representative because the kids are their own, self-governing body,” Etheridge, who bestowed each inductee with an Interact pin as part of the ceremony, said. “I would like to see them learn the importance of community service and what it means to put someone else’s needs above their own and learn how fulfilling it is to help other people.”

The charter members of the Demopolis High School Interact Club include Sutton Aiken, Logan Boone, Asia Chancelor, Kayla Cochran, Taylor Cooper, Logan Etheridge, Paige Gandy, Morgan Godwin, Phillip Godwin, DeAndria Hicks, Elisha Merriweather, Bailey Petrey, Alicia Pickens, Jacqueline Renfroe, Emily Riffe, Jamiyiah Smith, Reid-Claire Stein and LaTimberly Washington.

The club also announced its officer Tuesday. Bailey Petrey is the club’s first president. LaTimberly Washington will serve as vice president while Paige Gandy acts as secretary and Sutton Aiken serves as treasurer.