On the 2nd of July, a cross section of members from Anguilla’s Junior Optimists Clubs and their chaperones departed for New Orleans, Louisiana USA to participate in the Junior Optimist Octagon International (JOOI)) 23rd Annual Convention. The Anguillian Delegation consisted of Tiandra Carty, Keja Carty, Ayinde Hodge, Steven Connor, Omar Hodge, Jerisha Hughes, Avon Carty and Gina Brooks President and Secretary of the Optimist Club of Anguilla, JOOI Advisors Teachers Emma Ferguson and Juline Hughes and parent Althea Hodge.
The JOOI Convention facilitated numerous workshops, such as How to run a meeting, 10 Keys to being a Better Speaker, Leadership with a Kick, A Twist, A Turn, and A Reward, French classes for English JOOI Members, and Dress for Success. The JOOI Club leaders Tiandra Carty (Kids for the Future JOOI Club, Campus B), Omar Hodge (Best End JOOI Club, Morris Vanterpool Primary), Jerisha Hughes (Super Stars JOOI Club, Adrian T Hazell Primary) participated in the voting process to elect the new JOOI International Board of Directors for 2015-2016. The elected board takes office on 1st October. The young people sat through many campaign speeches and candidate questioning sessions.
Anguilla’s JOOI representatives participated in a book bag project through the Save the Children Project. Out of the book bag project 650 book bags of school supplies will be sent to less fortunate Children. The members of the Optimist Club of Anguilla (Avon Carty, Juline Hughes, and Gina Brooks) assisted in a painting project of Classrooms at the Project Hope Centre which is a rehabilitation centre with programmes focused on working with challenged young Adults through the promotion of life skills and a continuing education programme which includes a culinary programme with an attached practice kitchen and the famed Café Hope. Two of our greatest highlights of the convention took place on Talent Show night. Each club represented is asked to contribute and item. We are so proud JOOI Members Tiandra who performed an original poem titled Anguilla, My Little Island and Keja Carty sang ” Footprints” getting a standing ovation from the group of over 150 persons (adults and youth).
The Anguillian delegation also hosted JOOI Caribbean District Governor – Elect Ashley Gayle from Jamaica. The JOOI members and advisors had a great time exploring New Orleans and experiencing the 23rd annual JOOI Convention while making new friends from North America, French Canada and the Caribbean. The 24th Annual JOOI Convention will be held in Quebec, Canada in July, 2016. It is hoped that Anguilla will be represented by a delegation of 30 or more representatives. A hearty thank you to the parents, Optimists junior and senior and the Anguillian community for your support in assisting in bringing out the best in Anguilla’s children.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
