New Providence Club inducts first two women!
The Rotary Club of New Providence broke its 19 year tradition of being an all male club by inducting three new members, two of which were the first women into the Club. This took place August 14th 2007. As quoted by President Michael Fowler, “everything comes in due time and we are thrilled to have these ladies and Mr. Fernander join our Rotary Family”.
The Rotary Club intends to grow its membership by a net of plus 4 by year end. I am confident that with the addition of new younger members and the diversity, the identity of the club will attract a lot more as it is the only evening club in Nassau and the traffic during the day is making attendance very challenging.
Haiti and Pure Water for the World
There are a number of initiatives to bring water to many countries through the use of the Rotary Foundation. Our District in particular is of great interest because the need for clean water is so obvious in Haiti. As a result we have formed the Haiti Task Force headed by PADG Guy Theadore and made up of the ADG’s from Haiti, Nessim Izmery, Caleb Lucien, Robert Leger, and Yves Martial who’s function is to vet the projects to see that they are what the communities a need and to be sure that the designated Rotary Club is aware of the project and able to cope with it. We have reviewed a number of programs to date.
One of the projects that we will be meeting about in Ft. Lauderdale is a project with Pure Water for the World. A synopsis of it is as follows: The most effective point of water supply and or treatment is the point closest to the point of consumption. Pure Water For the World provide an inexpensive bio-sand filter which makes the water approximately 98% pure and safe to drink. It can be installed at or very near the point of consumption, ie in homes.
The program calls for making this available in mass quantities to eliminate the problem in entire communities. The feeling is, clean water, equals better health, less hunger which then equals more time for school and better concentration so a better education and therefore a more productive and independent self sustaining life.
The idea is to do this at a level which far outreaches the ability of Clubs to do this Club to Club. The idea is to make it a District / Zone or Zone / RI initiative. I will keep you advised of the developments, but it does have the potential to be a worlwide program started in 7020.
The Bahamas Commissioner of Police becomes a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow
The Rotary Club of New Providence broke its 19 year tradition of being an all male club by inducting three new members, two of which were the first women into the Club. This took place August 14th 2007. As quoted by President Michael Fowler, “everything comes in due time and we are thrilled to have these ladies and Mr. Fernander join our Rotary Family”.
The Rotary Club intends to grow its membership by a net of plus 4 by year end. I am confident that with the addition of new younger members and the diversity, the identity of the club will attract a lot more as it is the only evening club in Nassau and the traffic during the day is making attendance very challenging.
Haiti and Pure Water for the World
There are a number of initiatives to bring water to many countries through the use of the Rotary Foundation. Our District in particular is of great interest because the need for clean water is so obvious in Haiti. As a result we have formed the Haiti Task Force headed by PADG Guy Theadore and made up of the ADG’s from Haiti, Nessim Izmery, Caleb Lucien, Robert Leger, and Yves Martial who’s function is to vet the projects to see that they are what the communities a need and to be sure that the designated Rotary Club is aware of the project and able to cope with it. We have reviewed a number of programs to date.
One of the projects that we will be meeting about in Ft. Lauderdale is a project with Pure Water for the World. A synopsis of it is as follows: The most effective point of water supply and or treatment is the point closest to the point of consumption. Pure Water For the World provide an inexpensive bio-sand filter which makes the water approximately 98% pure and safe to drink. It can be installed at or very near the point of consumption, ie in homes.
The program calls for making this available in mass quantities to eliminate the problem in entire communities. The feeling is, clean water, equals better health, less hunger which then equals more time for school and better concentration so a better education and therefore a more productive and independent self sustaining life.
The idea is to do this at a level which far outreaches the ability of Clubs to do this Club to Club. The idea is to make it a District / Zone or Zone / RI initiative. I will keep you advised of the developments, but it does have the potential to be a worlwide program started in 7020.
The Bahamas Commissioner of Police becomes a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow
The clubs of Nassau Bahamas and Abaco got together to present the Commissioner of Police a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. This honor was bestowed on him at the new Police Headquarters Conference Center last week. RID Barry Rassin and I had the privilege of presenting the Award and Pin.
A quote from ADG Felix Stubbs who Chaired the event.
“I want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you for your outstanding support of the PHF presentation to Commissioner of Police Paul Farquharson. By every measure, the event was a success and hopefully the media and press will help us raise our visibility in the community. Last night's event, however, was only a ceremony. Now the real work begins and we must be ready to step up to the plate to assist the Police by helping to make our community a better place to live. I know we can go because we are Rotarians and as RID Barry said " nothing is impossible for us Rotarians".
Training moves to the Forefront in Cayman
Here is a note I got from Michael S. Levitt, Secretary of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise:
“On behalf of President Rosie , I am pleased to inform you that at our Board meeting last week, we approved a Training Budget for 2007-8 of $16,000 made up as follows:
For our Rotaract Club : 2 Training days - $3,000 (We already conducted the 1st Training Day two weeks ago). For our Club: One Club Forum/Training Day (see below - note 1) - $2,000 (set for 8 September) RLI training (see below - note 2) - $5,000 PETS (see below - note 3) - $6,000 Notes:
We have also scheduled a Leadership Dinner for September, which will be partly funded by the Club.
We will sponsor any 10 members' attendance to RLI up to 50% of their total expenses with a cap of CI$500 each. So far, we have already had 6 members take up this offer: PE Woody will be attending in Weston; with Vice Chairman Winston, Directors Hazel, Maree & Deborah and Rotarian Raquel coming to Montego Bay. Rosie and I have decided to cover our own expenses: I will be doing Discussion Leader in Weston, but will also be attending in Montego Bay for the Fellowship, while Rosie will be in Montego Bay for Part 3. It is certainly our intention to get our offer to the members fully subscribed and if it is over-subscribed, we will go back to the Board for more Budget.
The expenses of the incoming President, Secretary and Treasurer to attend PETS in Bahamas will be covered by the Club.
Hurricane Dean
As you all know Hurricane Dean moved through our district causing havoc and some damage yesterday. I wanted to share the Magic of Rotary with you so you can appreciate the Family and friends that we have in Rotary, On August 18th a Conference Call was set up between all the District Governors in the Zones 33 and 34. That covers the area from West Virginia in the north to Surinam on the northern coast of South America to the South.
The conference call was to unite and to ready the group of District Governors to provide the assistance needed should Hurricane Dean hit the countries and territories in our District 7020 or to the south of us in District 7030. This was done. In a 1 hour phone call we had a Zone 33 & 34 wide Disaster Relief Team in place and a fund in place to provide the help we needed.
We have conference twice since then and I now await input from the Assistant Governors in the affected areas to let me know what is needed so we can begin the relief effort. We do not face challenges on our own Rotarians we are not alone and clearly our Rotary Friends in Zones 33 and 34 are caring and committed to helping us. I will update you as soon as there are further developments with respect to what the needs are and what assistance has been provided.
District Conference gets support from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
District Conference Chair Frank McGwier and I met with the Deputy Prime Minister to develop a plan to ensure a simplified process for Rotarians needing Visas for the May 2008 Conference in Nassau. The Minister who is a Rotarian in the East Nassau Club was very helpful and offered his full support for the event.
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