After imagining the future of Rotary, the Rotary Club of Portsmouth entered a new Rotary year at its investiture service committing to the new theme, ‘Create Hope in the World’ among members, partners, and friends.
The event was held on Sunday, June 25 at Keepin’ It Real in Toucarie.
The Club President, Mc Marara Joseph, encouraged attendees to heed that Rotary International President-elect R. Gordon R. McInally has called for Rotary to create hope in the world by working for peace and mental well-being.
In reflecting on the past year, gratitude was expressed to outgoing President Kenneth O’Brien for his support in securing funding through the Republic Bank Power to Make A Difference (PMAD) Programme at Republic Bank (EC) Ltd for the second cohort of the Beekeeping project which will be implemented in September. This builds on the former project successfully implemented, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Bracebridge and facilitated by ISRAAID Dominica, to enhance the livelihoods through beekeeping in Dominica. President Kenneth also had the vision to implement a tree-planting project and the Club successfully received funding from a district grant for this project.
President McMarara highlighted the action-oriented goals for the upcoming years to include the installation of playgrounds in all the primary schools in the north of Dominica. This goal is in line with District 7030’s vision to decrease childhood obesity. He concluded by seeking the support of friends, family, and community members to join the Club’s actions to create hope in the lives of the people of Dominica as he is looking forward to leading the Rotary Club of Portsmouth to implement impactful community projects within the Portsmouth area in partnership and collaboration with Corporate Sponsors and civic-minded individuals within and outside of Dominica.
The other Board of Directors installed at the Investiture were:
- Vice-President – Marianne Wijnands
- Immediate Past President – Kenneth O’Brien
- Secretary – Sari Rolle
- Treasurer – Marieke van Asten
- Membership Chair – Marianne Wijnands
- Foundation Chair – Anne Winn
- Fundraising Chair – Sammy Wyke
- Project Chair – Lise van de Kamp
- Public Relations Chair – Lizra Fabien
Dr. Genora Joseph, featured speaker at the Investiture Ceremony encouraged all attendees that despite the harsh reality of the world in which we live, hope is desperately needed and brought about by action. In motivating all to action on the theme for the new Rotary year, Dr. Joseph further encouraged all to create hope by being exemplary, sharing talents, caring for and helping others, aligning ourselves with truth and light, and by having hope ourselves. In ending, she powerfully shared, “If you believe in your organization and its mission, if you lend your energy and efforts to its causes in the firm belief that you are improving the lives of people and enhancing communities, then your own hope will replenish that well from which hope springs eternal.”
The members concluded with the four-way test with the focus to create hope in the world: “Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”
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