Interact Club is everywhere
PUTNAM — Winter doesn’t slow the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club.
Jan 25, June Ferraro and Sofia Thurber, co-presidents of the Interact Club, gave a beautiful speech at the MLK luncheon at the Living Faith United Methodist church in Putnam. They spoke about how Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream is still relevant today. They explained how the Rotary’s 4 way test and MLK’s dream blend together perfectly (speech follows at the end of the story on Wed. night on our website and on our FB page).
Feb. 1, the Interact Club assisted the Quinebaug Valley Rotaract Club with its Trivia Night fund-raiser. Interact Club members helped with check in, sold raffle tickets, served dinner and were table runners. The Rotaract Club made $7,100 toward its scholarship fund.
Feb. 8, Interactors carved a huge block of ice at the Putnam Fire & Ice event in hopes of receiving donations for their International project, The Heifer Fund. The club’s goal is to purchase some animals through the Heifer Fund for families in underdeveloped countries to serve as a sustainable food source.
The Interact Club meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday at the Putnam Library from September through May. For more information contact Rotarian Roberta Rocchetti at 860-933-8603 or
The Speech:
“In the Interact Club the Rotary’s Four Way Test partially reiterates what MLK professed in this portion of the speech, “I still have a dream, a dream deeply rooted in the American dream - one day this nation will rise up and live up to its creed, We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal. I have a dream...”
The Four-Way Test is a set of guidelines created by the Rotary Club to help members make good, ethical decisions. It asks four simple questions:
1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Within each of these four questions, Martin Luther King Jr’s. actions echo what these questions profess.
Is it the truth? MLK stood for truth in all things, particularly when it came to exposing the realities of racial injustice. He fought for truth in society’s recognition of human rights and dignity for all people, regardless of race.
Is it fair to all concerned? MLK’s core message was one of fairness, seeking justice for African Americans and all marginalized groups. His advocacy for civil rights was rooted in the belief that everyone deserves equal rights and opportunities, regardless of background.
Will it build goodwill and better friendships? MLK believed in nonviolence and sought to build bridges between communities through mutual respect and understanding. His peaceful demonstrations and calls for love over hate aimed to strengthen relationships and build a more harmonious society.
Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Dr. King envisioned a world where the actions taken would benefit everyone, not just certain groups. His dream was of a society where freedom, justice, and equality could be enjoyed by all people.
These four questions are designed to help to make sure that the members of this organization make decisions that are fair, ethical, and beneficial to all involved. The test emphasizes honesty, fairness, and a commitment to building strong, positive relationships, and it is widely used within the organization to promote integrity and service. It’s often seen as a reflection of the values of Rotary in both personal and professional conduct. The quality and equity of the work we do is reflected in the four way test.”
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captions:
At Trivia Night, from left: Calleigh Levesque, Dylan Axtell, Kaelyn Tremblay, Gianna Brinson, Pavanny Phav, Isabell McGlynn, Sam Hachigian
From left: Calleigh Levesque, Roberta Rocchetti, Dylan Axtell, Pavanny Phav, June Ferraro at Fire & Ice.