Rotary Board 2018-2019.
Head table at the dinner – Amanda Weever, Louis Weever, Marcellia Henry, Victor Banks, Perin Bradley and Jacquie Ruan.
ANGUILLA--On Friday, June 29, Anguilla’s Rotary Club held its Hand Over dinner at the Italia Restaurant, CuisinArt Golf Club, to celebrate its fortieth anniversary and the official installation of the incoming 2018-2019 President Carolyn Richardson-Hodge and her new board members.
Menes Hodge, a founding member of the club, gave a brief overview of the club’s history. Outgoing board secretary Ricky Rouphine took a few minutes to sum up the club’s activities during the past year. He said, “What a year it was for the Rotary Club in Anguilla. Our year started on July 1, 2017, and we anticipated doing one or two projects, but that all changed with Hurricane Irma.” He applauded outgoing President Jacquie Ruan for her communicative skills and ability to describe to the world Anguilla’s devastation caused by Irma.
Donations received by the club included US $137,000 worth of goods distributed to Anguillians. All primary and pre-school pupils received a ham and a turkey for their Christmas dinner during a Rotary-sponsored Christmas fair. Additionally, roof replacement for one of the oldest churches on the island was made possible by a donation specified for the roof repair. The UK Rotary Club donated funds to purchase an elevator for the temporary high school building to enable special-need students’ access to the second floor classrooms.
Outgoing President Ruan welcomed all guests, and said, “It was ‘we’ effort. Rotarians throughout the Caribbean stood up after being badly damaged and took the challenge. We did our voluntary work, our humanitarian service, and put things back together.” During the evening’s events, Ruan paid special tribute to persons who were instrumental in facilitating the club’s post-Irma humanitarian work: Sheila Haskins of Tropical Shipping was acknowledged for her generous and untiring accommodation of Irma relief freight deliveries to Anguilla, and Maxine Herbert Duggins of Best Buy Supermarkets for her assistance in the procurement coordination of food and supplies paid for by donations.
Ruan then introduced acting District Governor Marcellia Henry and incoming 2018 President Richardson-Hodge for the official pinning ceremony. At the end of the pinning ceremony, Richardson-Hodge congratulated the immediate past president and her board for its successful year. She said, “Following the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, all members of the club stood up to render service above self to those affected by the hurricane.” She said that she was honoured and humbled to be elected president for 2018, and with the help and support of her board members and fellow club members, she would do her best to embrace the opportunities and face all challenges. All new board members and directors were also introduced.
Attending the function from St. Maarten were Past Assistant District Governor Louis Weever and his wife, Valda Woodley-Hazel, president of Sunrise Rotary, and David and Denise Antrobus, past and current president of Mid-isle Rotary. From Anguilla were Deputy Governor Perin Bradley, Chief Minister Victor Banks and Ministerial Assistant Evalie Bradley as well as many family members and friends.
