2016-2017 President Evangeline Allen Handover Address

Mr. Master of Ceremonies, Sargeant of Arms, Past President Wilbur, Immediate Past President, Dr. Sharon Cordner, Guest Speaker, Mr. Darwin Telemaque & Mrs. Telemaque,  Past Presidents of the Rotary Club of Antigua, President Jessica Challenger of the Rotaract Club of Antigua, Outgoing and Incoming Board of Directors, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wendell Robinson, Leader of the United Progressive Party, Mr. Harold Lovell, Fellow Rotarians, specially invited guests,  ladies and gentlemen, good evening. 

I reflect on April 1993, an extremely shy and sheltered young lady, when I decided to take up an offer made by a dear friend of mine, Arah-Ann Brazier to join a particular Service Club.  Three months later, I surprised myself.  I could actually stand before a group of people and talk.  I learned many skills including parliamentary procedures, project planning and execution and  effective public speaking to name a few.  The time came to move on and then came Rotary.  Being the person that I am, I enjoy serving humanity and wasted no time to become fully involved.  I served at various levels within the club and tonight I feel honored and humbled and deeply moved as I stand before you with dedication and resoluteness to be your 44^TH leader AND 5^TH Female President to captain the ship for the next 12 months.   Thank you Rotary Club of Antigua for affording me this opportunity.    

I would also like to thank my specially invited guests and my family for their support by being her tonight.  Also my boss, Mr. Geoffrey Simmons.  A special thank you to my friend Lucy, who came all the way from the Bronx to celebrate with me tonight.

According to John Germ, Rotary International President 2016-2017, he said next year we are not going to call ourselves first or best or world or any other kind of class.  We are just going to be a team:  Team Rotary.  

 SO, TEAM ROTARY HERE WE COME! 

I would also like to thank the members of my team for their demonstration of ‘Service Above Self’. My Vice President,  Ato Kentish.  Dojhn thank you for releasing for the next 12 months.  My Treasurer, Joanna Spencer.  My Secretary, Adekunle Osoba.  They say when it’s nice you do it twice, and thank you PRO Nicole for agreeing to replicate the journey.   My Programs Chair, Dr. Vanetta Rodgers and my Training Officer, Past President Paul Ryan.  The four Directors are, PP Philip Harris-Membership,  PP Denise Armstrong, -Rotary Foundation, Rtn. Amaya Athill- New Generations and President Elect-Eric Joseph-Service Projects.   My ever energetic Sargeant at Arms, PP Wilbur Harrigan will certainly keep you on your feet.

My crystal ball sees pure energy, enthusiasm, passion and knowledge in this DREAM TEAM.  As we go forward, we intend to build on what exists, stay focused and be the agents for positive change.  

So look out for THE DREAM TEAM - Team Rotary! 

To my specially invited guests and others, I pose this question to you. 

What is Rotary? Have you ever struggled with an answer to that question? On the other hand, how do you describe an organization that is so many things to so many different people?  

Well, we are 1.2 million neighbors, friends, and community leaders who come together to create positive and lasting change in our communities and the world around us. 

Our differing occupations, cultures, and countries give us a unique perspective. Our shared passion for service helps us accomplish the remarkable. 

Our distinct point of view and approach gives us unique advantages: 

We've been making history and bringing our world closer together for over 111 years. Since forming in 1905, we've taken on some of the world's toughest challenges, the biggest of all, the eradication of Polio, and we are this close. 

John Germ, Rotary International President for 2016-2017 in his Theme address, quote “I believe everyone recognizes opportunity to serve rotary for what it truly is; not a small opportunity, but a great one; an opportunity of a lifetime to change the world for the better, forever through Rotary’s service to humanity” 

Planning is therefore going to be essential in order to realize our goals and objectives and so as we prepare to board the ship, we look forward to maximum participation and total involvement.  Our 2016-2017 motto for the Club is “Teamwork through Positive Attitudes”.  This will be encouraged at all times throughout the year.   
 

Strategically, at home, Rotary Club of Antigua by Serving Humanity.will promote Rotary International  6^th Area of Focus –Basic Education and Literacy. 

President Philip caught the vision back in 2013 when he lead the Club in the construction of the Pigotts Primary School Library.  Having caught the vision, we will live the dream. 

No skill is more crucial to the future of a child, or to a democratic and prosperous society than literacy.  Literacy is the single most significant skill needed to function effectively in school and in the workplace.  And so with this in mind, we intend to reward students in Grades 1, 2 and 3 on a monthly basis from 3 Schools in Zone 1 by offering lucrative prizes to the Student of the Month from each grade. 

 

The student of the month will be chosen based on qualities such as character, leadership and academics. The student of the month must be a diligent student, completing his/her assignments on time, showing strong effort to learn the subjects. 

The student of the month too must be able to demonstrate excellent behavior inside and outside the classroom, is well mannered, and respectful to both peers and teachers. He or she must display excellent citizenship by aligning him/herself with the Rotary affirmation/standards. Lastly, the student of the month must show exemplar character through his/her compassion, honesty, trustworthiness, responsibility, optimism, and loyalty in creating a positive school environment.  

There will also be a BOOK-IN-A-BAG COMPETITION for GRADES 4-5 to stimulate competition in terms of reading and communicating, and there will also be a Book Reading Competition. 

 In case you are wondering what “Book-in-a-Bag” is……  

Students will be given a selection of books to read. Designated response activities will be assigned for completion after reading.  

The reading will be set out in categories of attainment in terms of number of books read and the responses given. (that’s it in a nutshell) 

We will seek to equip a few early childhood centers around the island. 

We will also attempt to explore the possibility of an Adult Literacy Assistance Program. 

In the words of Irina Bokova, ‘Literacy is much more than an educational priority – it is the ultimate  investment in the future and the first step towards all the new forms of literacy required in the twenty-first century.  We wish to see a century where every child is able to read and to use this skill to gain autonomy’. 

The Rotary Club of Antigua sees the youths as the future leaders of our Country.  The success of any country therefore hangs on the education and training given to the child leading to their  future career path.   

Career exploration is important and will help the student to develop a clearer view of  himself/herself.   

Recognizing the importance of  choosing the right career, Rotary Club of Antigua will seek to engage the services of Choices whereby we will offer over 100 students the Career Key.  This is a simple self-assessment test that will help them to find the right career path, and an essential tool to help the student identify his/her interests, skills, values, aptitudes and personality. 

Continuing with the 2016-17 Rotary International Theme-Rotary Serving Humanity”, we will maintain our monthly Meals on Wheels Program.   This program has been around for the past 28 years whereby Club members meet the last Saturday in every month and package 100 food packages which are subsequently  distributed to persons with little or no financial means all around the island.   

The Sewing Machine Project, currently in the communities of Freetowm, New Winthorpes, Pigotts and Liberta will be extended next year to include another community. I must add our thank you to the Belle Vue Breakfast Club and Kirkland Downtown for partnering with us over the years on this particular project.    We will also continue with the Medical Assistance Project and the annual Children Christmas Party executed both in Antigua and Barbuda where we bring Christmas cheer to 500 children plus teachers. 

These projects would not have been possible without the support of Corporate partners, supporters of the Club’s fundraising activities and patrons of our major fundraiser ‘Rotary Colours Fete.’ 

This year, signals our 9^th year of  Colors which will be held at Barnacle Point on July 16, 2016 under the theme: ’Colors in Africa’.  Tickets are available from any member of the Club, Dr. Cordner’s Office in Gambles Medical Center, Flow and the office of Thomas John & Co. on Factory Road,and I look forward to seeing you there.

It is from your support of projects such as these that Rotary Club of Antigua is able to assist the less fortunate in your community.  Do continue to support. 

For 2016-2017, Rotary Club of Antigua will not re-invent the wheel but  will expand the wheel by creating an even greater impact with the reintroduction of the Computers for the World Project and for the first time, the Club will undertake an Easter Fair, a project whereby we will attract over 150 children across the island. These children will be greeted by  Rotary’s Easter Bunny and each child will be presented with an Easter Basket after they would have hunted for their Easter eggs.   

The Club will also address Rotary International 2^nd and 3^rd area of focus-, Disease Prevention and Treatment and Water and Sanitation through a simulcast in December of this year and March 2017 respectively.

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

The Rotary Foundation is also the charitable arm of Rotary.  It transforms your gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. This year the Rotary Foundation celebrates its 100^th  Anniversary.

It is important to know that Rotary, through the Foundation has contributed over US$1 billion and countless volunteer hours to immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries,  

 As a result of the unique partnership with UNICEF, the World Health Organization and Prevention, polio cases worldwide have decreased by 99%.  Over 5million cases of paralysis and deaths from polio have been averted.  Polio is now only found in two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Polio would be only the second human disease ever to be eradicated, and we are this close. 

At our recently held District Conference in Barbados, Our District Governor, Roger Bose urged us to continue the fight towards the eradication of Polio by raising funds.  In light of this, an action plan has been established by the Board to assist in its eradication and this year in recognition of the centennial activities, a joint effort between Rotary Club of Antigua Sundown and Rotary Club of Antigua will be executed during the DG’s visit. 

Like good leaders, good members are made, not born. In any organization, its good members are its greatest asset. Each good member of the Club will be made to feel that way.  Presidential awards will therefore be given throughout the year.  Rtn. Renee, you will not want to miss a meeting.  You could be the first awardee.

for Punctuality, Helpfulness, Regularity, New Initiatives, Recognition, Originality, Dedication and Commitment etc.      

 The destiny of the Rotary Club of Antigua is in our hands.  Success therefore in our Club will depend largely upon our sustained willingness to work hard and long as ‘perspiration always rules over inspiration’. 

In the words of Martin Luther King, I quote: if you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward’. 

And so, as we are about to embark on the premise,

I therefore challenge all our members to rise to the occasion to serve with pride and dignity and look forward to your commitment and unwavering support.  Together, we can achieve anything for which we are willing to pay the price. 

I encourage you to become involved, participate fully as we live our theme this year ‘Teamwork through Positive Attitudes while Serving Humanity.  

I THANK YOU.