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History of Rotary in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
A Part of
District 7030
A Part of Our History of Rotary in
Central America and the Caribbean
Rotary Club of Bequia
Almost fifteen
years ago, Past District Governor Earle Johnson officially
presented the charter that made the Rotary Club of Bequia a
member of Rotary International.
Today, we can reflect on some of the events that preceded that memorable occasion: the hard work
by our parent club, The Rotary Club of St. Vincent, to get us started; their members' weekly trip by boat to share
fellowship and guide us.
Our initial classification setbacks which were
finally sorted; the early retirement of members who didn't quite
grasp the concept of Rotary and the efforts of the committed to
encourage others.
We have proven the skeptics wrong - those who
thought that this was another club that would fold within a year
like so many others before.
They, however, reckoned without the
dedication and commitment of a group of men and their equally
committed ladies whose only goal was to serve their community.
This was the birth of Rotary in Bequia, not just another club.
Our achievements over the
years speak for themselves and they continue to make a great
impact on our community. Rotary in Bequia is a household name.
The public and business sectors have supported us because they
understand and appreciate the work that we continue to do.
Rotary is action. Rotary is what we know best. Rotary is what we
enjoy.
Our commitment is to serve, improve and enhance the
quality of people's lives in the Bequia community and in the
world. The joy that one feels helping the disabled or a sick
person to get proper medical care, or donating equipment to our
schools or hospital, cannot adequately be described with words.
The fellowship we share whether at meetings, going to the homes
of every Rotarian, on a beach picnic or cricket fields is always
in the true Rotary Spirit.
Progress
Since the Charter, the Rotary Club of Bequia has had several meeting places: The Old Fig Tree
Restaurant, Le Petit Jardin Restaurant, back to The Old Fig Tree
and finally our own home "The Rotary Skills Training Centre".
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Although we are a small Club of only 13 -15 members,
we never think small. We have carried out huge
projects to successful conclusions. We have honoured
four persons as Paul Harris Fellows - two members of
the public and two Rotarians. Our Interact Club was
chartered in 1992, Rotaract in 1997 and we launched
our Rotary Community Corp in 2001.
We are officially
twinned with the Rotary Club of Coburg in Canada and
San Juan in Trinidad, and enjoy a close and
productive working relationship with numerous other
clubs both regionally and internationally. With all
of their help and support, and with the invaluable
assistance of shipping companies, airlines and
customs brokers, we have executed numerous projects
for the Bequia community. |
PROJECTS
The Bequia Hospital is our
primary ongoing project, and to date, with the generosity of
other clubs, over EC$850,000 worth of supplies and equipment has
been donated by the Rotary Club to that institution. We Bequia
Rotarians have also personally built the outpatients toilets. We
take a "hands on" approach to all our projects.
Our Annual Christmas Party for
the Aged, plus our Children's Santa Claus Party are both in
their thirteenth year. Our most ambitious project has been the
establishment of our Day Care and Skills Training Centers. In
1997 the Trustees of the former Lower Bay School signed a
99-year peppercorn lease and gave access to their property,
which had been abandoned for over five years. It took us exactly
two years working on weekends with our wives and friends to
completely renovate the buildings and to landscape the property.
We had monetary and material contribution from several Clubs,
local businesses and private individuals, who together made sure
the that project became a reality.
It was with great pride and
joy that, on September 11th 1999 we cut the ribbon and
officially opened our splendid new premises. Today we boast of
having one of the most welcoming properties on the island, which
is also in great demand for weddings, seminars and conferences.
At the centre we teach skills and train in a number of areas
including handicrafts, hospitality skills, electrical work,
which encourage self sufficiency and self esteem in the
participants. We have graduated a number of persons from these
classes and courses.
Our Hospitality Training
course, run during the summer months, gives successful graduates
an Excellence Certificate, which has already helped some of the
first graduates gain jobs in the Tourism and Hospitality
sector.
Our "Save Our Youth" program
was added in Rotary year 2000/2001. We are involved in the
schools in academics and all sporting activities including
football, cricket and track and field.
Last year we have also
launched our Sea Program - "Bequia Youth and The Sea", which
will teach participants basic principles of Seamanship, and
then, once they graduate in these skills, move on to Navigation.
Our aim is to save our youth from the scourge of drugs and its
related problems, and raise their own sense of achievement and
self worth. The program is already doing wonders for the
children, and we were able to send a youth team to participate
in the International Youth Regatta in Tortola in July 2002. The
program was officially launched on September 22nd 2001, with 26
boys and girls signing up to take part in the 12- week training
program. Bequians are seafarers by tradition, and through this
program we intend to better prepare those who have designs on
making their living from the sea.
PAST
PRESIDENTS
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President
Chester Peters
Sylvester Simmons
Geoffrey Wallace
Herman Belmar
Lawrence Rohoman
Lyston Williams
Clayton Ollivierre
Chester Peters
Cecil McKie
Lyston Williams
Alston Scott
Lawrence Rohoman
Sylvester Simmons
McVille John
William Lewis
Leo Peters
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Year
1988/89
1989/90
1990/91
1991/92
1992/93
1993/94
1994/95
1995/96
1996/97
1997/98
1998/99
1999/00
2000/01
2001/02
2002/03
2003/04 |
District Governor
Earl Johnson,
Dominica
Harold Davies,
Guyana
Val Mahabir,
Trinidad & Tobago
Gerald Thomas,
Antigua
Fred Lam, St. Kitts
Gerald, Petit
Martinique
Rupert Cheeks,
Trinidad & Tobago
Joe Ramkissoon,
Trinidad & Tobago
Malcolm Edwards,
Antigua
Henri Guda, Surinam
Harry Louis,
Guadeloupe
Suresh Ramlogan,
Trinidad & Tobago
Ethelbert Thompson,
Barbados
Paul Rodap,
Martinique
Leslie Harripaul,
Trinidad & Tobago
Jean-Claude
Blancaneaux, Cayenne |
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