A large number of persons attended the Anguilla Rotary Club Handover Luncheon held at Zemi Beach Club at Shoal Bay. Many Rotarians from St Martin and St Maarten joined the Anguillian members, and past members and friends, for the event.
Genefa Fedee was President of the Club for the past two years and on Saturday 1st July handed over the presidency to Jacquie Ruan. During the proceedings, Fedee was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of her work during two years as president. Former President Harris Richardson, who presented the award, described her as committed and hard-working and she took on the blood bank project which was successfully launched this year.
Fedee said she was very humbled and honoured in accepting the Fellowship. She said it was wonderful to be part of a team that had so much energy and productivity, and she thanked everyone for their support. She concluded her remarks by wishing the new President and Board, as well as the District, all the best for the coming year.
Assistant District Governor Marcellia Henry, from St Martin, inducted the new President Jacquie Ruan who said she was honoured to take up the challenge of the presidency and expressed the hope that she can live up to the members’ expectations. She said that she has a reliable team on the Board and announced that she had received a donation of US$40,000 that will be used to renovate WISE (Workshop Initiative for Support in Education). Future plans for the Club also include a playground centre for the Blowing Point pre-school, a gazebo at Island Harbour and improvements to Stoney Ground School.
At the event, the Assistant District Governor also welcomed a new member to the Club, Ivan Connor, and presented him with his badge, telling him of his duties and responsibilities as a member. The new Board includes President Jacquie Ruan, Immediate Past President Genefa Fedee, President Elect Carolyn Richardson, Secretary Ricky Rouphine, Treasurer Carolyn Richardson, Sergeant-at-Arms Walter Bayer and Senior Adviser Seymour Hodge.
After the lunch toasts were made, to Her Majesty the Queen, to Anguilla and to Rotary International, Alex Fedee presented a laptop computer to Chief Education Officer Rhonda Connor on behalf of his company and family. Connor expressed thanks for the donations that he has been giving for several years now.
Attending the Handover Lunch from St Maarten/St Martin were Marcellia Henry, Assistant District Governor, Louis Weever, past Governor; Sally Jasmine, President St Martin Nord; Katherine Minguet, President International Commission; and some 15 members from Rotary Club Sunrise, Rotary Club Mid Isle, Rotary Club of St Maarten, and Rotary Club of St Martin Nord. Attending from Anguilla were Parliamentary Secretary Cardigan Connor, Chief Education Officer Rhonda Connor, and President of the Soroptimist Club, Anita Brooks, along with other dignitaries.