March 21 2007

Last Meeting
March 21, 2007

Reporter – Kevin Adams

President Molly called the meeting to order and Dr. Lynn Campbell brought the invocation. John Hanson, our new Sergeant at Arms, introduced our guests: Bill Zeigler from the Chapin Club and a smattering of Interact members. He also informed us that our YTD CART Fund contributions were “Not real good.” Let’s see what we can do to help the cause. Lyman Whitehead then shared some health and happiness.

Saturday, 04/28/07, is our Adopt-A-Highway clean-up day and Irmo’s clean-up day. More details to follow. April 18 will be our scholarship presentation day with participation from the DJJ’s Interact Club and their efforts towards an International Day.

Our own Kelly Payne was our guest speaker this morning. She brought a very informative discussion regarding a program called “Alive at 25." The Dutch Fork High School Interact Club has spearheaded this project in the school which is a 4-hour driver’s awareness class presented by the National Safety Council (our own Joel Collins is on their national Board). The program teaches teens good decision making skills like saying “Slow down” or “Please stop and let me out of the car.” and driving skills such as how to handle a hydroplaning car. It also highlights the high correlation between fatal teen driving accidents and alcohol/drug use. Last year, three DFHS students lost their lives in auto accidents: Grant Gallagher, Francis Nyguen and Megan Preston. Alcohol or drugs played a part in all three accidents. The Interact Club has already been getting involved and promoted a pledge not drink and drive. To date, some 300 DFHS students have made such a pledge. A handprint from each student who made that pledge is featured on a mural in the school.

Jim Taylor, the principal at DFHS, appeared before Scott Andersen, District 5's Superintendent, and requested this course be mandated in order for students to acquire a parking pass on campus. It is expected other schools in the District will follow DFHS’s lead. Considering there are only 500 parking passes, 620 seniors and 580 juniors, these parking passes are in high demand. Mr. Taylor was also instrumental in basing the delivery of the parking passes to those with the highest grade point averages.




On April 21 (Saturday) from 11:00-1:00, there will be a media blitz at DFHS promoting 10 class sessions coming up in May. DFHS Cheerleaders, band, ROTC, various clubs on campus and the Interact Club plan to participate in the event. Some local businesses have provided scholarships for these training classes but more assistance is being sought.
Four states in the US require students to complete this course in order to get a driver’s license. Colorado is one of those states. After the meeting, Kelly said Colorado estimates that there has been a 96% reduction in the fatality rate among the course participants. An effort is being made in SC to make the course a requirement here. So far, there has been support from a number of state politicians and other public officials to adopt such a requirement.