Women in Anguilla are continuing to take leadership roles in the island’s public and private sectors.
The latest person is Ms. Jeritza Samuel who has taken over as President of the Rotary Club of Anguilla and serves as Technical Services Coordinator with the Anguilla Electricity Company. Her Rotarian predecessor, Mrs. Carolyn Richardson-Hodge, passed on the leadership mantle to her at a Change of Board Lunch – of the joint Rotary Clubs of Anguilla, St. Martin/St. Maarten (District 7020) – at the Anguilla Great House on Saturday, July 6.
In her acceptance speech, Ms. Samuel thanked the outgoing Rotary President and her Board for their leadership. “It has been a phenomenal year with great achievements along the way,” she said. “Thank you for leading this leg of the journey so far.”
President Samuel continued: “Over the year, Rotary has changed and is still changing from being an all men’s club, to having female presidents…Clubs are now looking to be younger, more vibrant and more versatile; but one must remember where you started in order to properly chart the course forward.
“For this upcoming year, as Rotary continues to connect the world, and as we continue to serve humanity and secure our future, I look forward to us bridging the gap between what was and what now is, between seasoned Rotarians and our new members, between Rotary and our partners and sponsored clubs. This year we look forward to completing our Rotary family with the re-formation of the Rotaract Club.
“As the baton of leadership is now being passed to me, I say a special thank you to the persons who have agreed to serve as members of the Board and for the continued support of the overall Club. Thank you for eagerly accepting the call to go on this journey with me. I look forward to a fun, energetic and service-filled year.
“To the community and the Rotary partners which have rendered unwavering support to the Rotary Club thus far, I look forward to your continued cooperation.”
The installation of President Jeritza Samuel, and her Board, was performed by visiting Assistant District Governor, Marcellia Henry, on behalf of the Rotary District Governor, Rotarian Mrs. Delma Maduro.
Meanwhile, in her handover Speech, Mrs. Richardson-Hodge, the former Rotarian President, listed a number of the accomplishments of the Rotary Club under her leadership. These included a gazebo at the Vivien Vanterpool Primary School; equipment for the ICT Lab at Campus B; the ordering of an elevator for physically-challenged students at Campus B; and a service van – with wheel chair access at the back – for the DOVE Centre at the Alwyn Alison Richardson Primary School.
Mrs. Richardson-Hodge, a long-serving member of the Anguilla Public Service, presently holding the post of Internal Auditor in the Customs Department, continued:
“I was thrilled to take up the challenge of President for the Rotary Year 2018-2019 because I knew within my heart I would make it. But that could not have been possible without the tremendous and unwavering support of my Board, and the entire membership of the Rotary Club of Anguilla. I want to place that on record and to publicly thank each of you for your support in helping me to steer the Rotary Club of Anguilla in the right direction.”
During the change of Board meeting, two new Paul Harris Fellows were announced. It is the highest or one of the highest awards given to members for their service to the Rotary Club and the community. The new awardees, joining other previously awarded persons in Anguilla, are: Mrs. Carolyn Richardson-Hodge; and Shelley Thomas, a United States national who has been visiting and residing in Anguilla for a number of years.
Among the persons at the Rotary Club’s meeting were a number of schoolchildren holding memberships in the Early Act, Interact and Rotaract Clubs. Drawn mainly from the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, the students have been drafted under the Rotary Club’s initiative – “Empowering our Young Generation”.
