Rotaract Club of Roseau welcomes new year, new executive

In celebration of the start of a new fiscal year which runs from July 1st to June 30th, the Rotaract Club of Roseau, a non-profit community service organization, welcomed its new executive at its 30th Annual Investiture and Awards Ceremony.

The ceremony was held at the Fort Young Hotel on July 4th 2015 under the theme ‘Are you ROTA-Ready? Y.E.S. – Youth, Excellence, Service-Driven’.

President Ezra Peter will head the organization this year. In her incoming remarks, she told the gathering that she is now “living her Rotary dream”, being inducted as president of the club as it recognized its 30th Anniversary Milestone.

She pledged to fulfill the role of President with the cooperation of all members and urged all to make a difference and to be the difference in the world. She reminded members that in order to keep putting Service Above Self, they must reflect on the virtues instilled by the 4-way test and why they joined Rotaract. She plans to increase the value of the membership by molding quality Rotaractors instead of gaining quantity.

She hopes to see the rebuilding of the Rotary-Rotaract and Interact-Rotaract bonds in the New Year; a sentiment echoed by new Rotary President Annie Edwards who spoke at the Ceremony. President Ezra also hopes to assist members in overcoming the challenge of personal conflict which can exist in the club. She asked of all present to “Be a Gift To The World” as instructed in the Rotary International theme, and to never sell themselves short.

The other members who will serve for 2015-2016 include:

-Vice President, Finance Director – Dane Hypolite
-Immediate Past President, Secretary, Public Relations Officer – Shanda Carbon
-Treasurer, Assistant Rotaract District Representative – Kamisha Casimir
-Assistant Sec./Treas., Professional Development Director – Kashauna Mason
-Community Service Director – Leona Jeremiah
-Club Service Director – Jennae Nelson
-International Service Director – Shanourra Xavier
-Sergeant At Arms, Support Assistant Rotaract District Representative – Vernice Thomas

Immediate Past Rotaract President, Shanda Carbon, in her final remarks noted that the year was a successful one and reminded Rotaractors to keep on working as a team who is determined to achieve success.

She outlined the club’s achievements over the 2014-2015 period including the successful staging of the 2015 Carnival Princess Show, a project which won the district award for Most Outstanding Finance Project and the recognition of one other project, the Seeds of Success Leadership Program which was recognized on the district level.

The featured speaker at the event Mr. Steve Jospeh addressed the gathering with profound words. He noted that one person can change the world, since Rotary International was founded by one man in the name of Paul Harris; and this organization is 110 years old to date, continuing to make huge impacts in the lives of many.
He reminded all that Rotaract, a Rotary Club Partner in Service, is not an elite club though there are goals set and rules which must be followed. He encouraged members to dig deep to give more in all that they do since the organization will only be remembered and known to the world by what it achieves.

During the evening, two new Rotaractors – Desma Patrick and Lynsia Frank were welcomed to the club.

Awards for the 2014-15 year were distributed as follows:

-Rotaractor(s) of the Year: Ezra Peter, Shanda Carbon
-Rotaract Spirit Award: Kamisha Casimir
-Most Outstanding Director: Vernice Thomas, Community Service Director
-Most Outstanding Prospective Member: Desma Patrick
-Most Outstanding Committee: Community Service Committee
-Most Outstanding Project: Seeds of Success Leadership Program – Professional Development Committee
-President’s Award Recipient: Ezra Peter
-President’s Special Recognition Award: Dane Hypolite, Vanessa Seraphine, Bianca Payne
-Most Improved Rotarctor(s) : Kamisha Casimir, Vernice Thomas
-Perfect Attendance Award : Ezra Peter
-Outstanding Committee Special Recognition : 2015 Princess Show Committee
-Honorary Choice Award: Dane Hypolite

The Investiture and Awards Ceremony was attended by Rotarians, Rotaractors, friends and the 2015 Carnival Princess Miss Lytleen Julien.