Annie Edwards is the new president of the Rotary Club of Dominica for the period 2015-2016.
She replaces former president, Marie-Jose Edwards.
Edwards was elected at the club’s 41st Annual Investiture Ceremony and Dinner held at the Fort Young Hotel on Saturday.
In her address to the ceremony, Edwards thanked her fellow Rotarians for their support for and confidence in her to lead the organization during the coming year.
“You have trained me in the Rotary ideals of civil responsibility and service above self,” she said. “And over the years my understanding and appreciation of these values has strengthened.”
She added, “with your support and the grace of God we will continue to make a significant difference in the life of Dominicans.”
Edwards, who has been a member of the Rotary Club for four years, said she is “equally motivated” as she was when she joined.
According to the new president, Rotary promotes fellowship among its members, most of whom are professionals with very busy lives.
“Fellowship is our number one priority,” Edwards stated.
Additionally she indicated that, “In addition to fellowship Rotarians, who number over one million worldwide, perform the extraordinary service of doing good in the world.”
She pointed out that the Club’s strategy for achieving this objective is by developing and implementing humanitarian projects which fall under Rotary International’s five core areas of focus.
These she said are; “Peace and conflict resolutions, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic development and community development and water and sanitation.”
At present Edwards revealed that the Rotary principal goal is the eradication of Polio worldwide and “we are very close to accomplishing this task.”
She further revealed that this year Rotary International has identified the Rotary Foundation as an area to be enhanced.
“This is the charitable arm of Rotary which enables Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace,” she explained.
She stated that children with disabilities as well as youth development are among priority areas for the newly elected executive of the Club of Dominica
She vowed that the Rotary Club of Dominica will continue to facilitate and support existing signature projects, such as the VOSH eye care and the Hearing Mission.
“We will continue to support youth development and mentoring as a key area of intervention,” Edwards noted.“In addition to our annual secondary school quiz competition, we will embark on new initiatives which will impact many more young lives.”
She added, “We will work more collaboratively with the Rotaract and Interact clubs to strengthen their capacities to implement their own projects and we will seek to enhance our own image as the leading service club in Dominica by telling our story more effectively to the world.”
She called on corporate citizens to team up with the Rotary Club to promote more quality service to our country.
At the ceremony, businessmen Malcolm Stephen and Joseph E. Nassief received the Paul Harris Fellow Award/Pin.
This award goes to persons who have given US$1,000 in one or several contributions to the Rotary Foundation.
Special awards/pins were also given to Club Services Committee Chair- Marvlyn Birmingham who was recognized for her outstanding service to the club and Dominica, Treasurer- Lima Jervier was named the Most Outstanding Rotarian for the year 2014-2015, Rotarian Reginald Gomez Burke for perfect club attendance and active participation and organization of the club’s programmes and activities, Pearl Fontaine- Butler for highlighting the activities, programmes and goals of the Rotary Club of Dominica, Rotarians Jermaine Jean Pierre and Tamara Lowe for their efforts of actively recruiting new members and thus assisted the Club in achieving one of its goals of increasing membership to the club for 2014-2015.
The Club also recognized the contribution of International Shopping Mall Ltd to the development of the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Dominica and their support of the goals and objectives of these Clubs. A certificate of appreciation was awarded to Vanessa Prevost who represented the Management of Prevost Cinemall.
Members of the Rotary Board for the period 2015/2016 are as follows;
Assistant Governor and Club membership Committee Chair- Haynes Jacob
President – Annie Edwards
Vice President- Sammy Wyke
Club Rotary Committee Chair- Dr. Reginald Lafleur
Secretary- Jermaine Jean-Pierre
Treasurer- Lima Jervier
Sergeant of Arms- Anthony Martin
Club Services Committee Chair- Marvlyn Birmingham
Club Administration Committee Chair- Ruth Allport
Club Public Relations Committee- Pearl Fontaine
The Club also inducted three new members who are; Attorney-at-Law Jo-Anne Commodore, Public Relations Specialist in the Ministry of Education, Dionne Durand and Director at Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, Craig Nesty.
This year’s ceremony was celebrated under the theme: “Be a Gift to the World”.
See photos below from the ceremony.
Congratulations to you Pearl on your achievement! Welcome to the board.
Congratulations Mrs. Edwards.