Rotary Club of St Vincent installs new board

THE ROTARY Club of St. Vincent celebrated the end of another Rotary year and the installation of a new Board with a cocktail reception at the Sunset Shores hotel on July 1,2021.

The club is a chartered member of Rotary International, an international service organisation whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill in the world, a release states.

President of the outgoing Board, Annette Mark, addressing the intimate gathering, highlighted some of the Club’s projects which were brought to fruition despite the challenges faced by the Covid-19 pandemic and the eruption of La Soufrière Volcano.

Among these were: the Young Employees Socialisation programme, the Back to School supplies project, the donation of COVID-19 care packages to the private sector, providing hot lunches to approximately 200 homeless persons, the donation of over 14,000 disposable masks to the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, the donation of wheelchairs through partnership with District 6960 Florida and the Wheelchair Foundation, a collaboration with the Salvation Army Children’s Home and Friends, where the children were treated to a ‘fun day’ at a local beach for some downtime and fun in the sun; the children also received routine dental checkups.

Throughout the months of April to June the Rotarians worked tirelessly in the packaging and distribution of relief supplies (food, water, clothing) to families who were affected by the volcanic eruptions, particularly those evacuees in private shelters.

The new Rotary year commenced on July 1, 2021, under the theme “Serve to Change Lives”.

The new President is Janelle Allen, Director; the CEO of Millennial Advantage HR Solutions.

Janelle is supported by the immediate past president Annette Mark; Vice President, Mikasha Ramsaran; Treasurer, Dawnette Constance; Secretary Felicia Cumberbatch; Sargeant-At-Arms, Joe Sheridan and president elect, Daniel Campbell.

Directors who will serve on the Board for the new Rotary year are: Kirk DaSilva – Youth Service Reuben John -Vocational Service Sherry Ann Evans – International Service Francois Truchot Community Service Earl Tash – Club Service Committee chairs for the new Rotary year are: Michker Edwards Public Image Joe Sheridan – Service Projects Annette Mark -Membership Brian Glasgow – Rotary Foundation Shandel Ramkumar Club Administration.

The focus for this Rotary year would include the fight against childhood obesity; the empowerment of girls and women; the growing of the membership of the organisation with focus on being more inclusive thus creating diversity. The latter is regarded as a milestone achievement for the club which started out as an elite club comprising only males.

Currently, the president, vice president, secretary, immediate past president, and assistant District Governor are all females.

The Club brought the curtains down on the 2020-2021 year with the induction of its newest members, Dr. Alisa Alvis, and Raja Alexander; and the Rotary Satellite Club of St Vincent – Bequia with the club members; Franklyn Boucher, Anthony (Larry) Compton, Zoe Cordice, Lucille Cozier, Peter Edward, Clayton Ollivierre, Wayne Peters, Eardley Simmons, Kasai Simmons.

The Rotary Club St. Vincent will celebrate its 50th year of existence in August 2021.