New President, Shameica Hodge (seated) with new board
On Saturday, June 22nd, members of the Rotary Club of Anguilla, and their guests, met at Roy’s Bayside Grill in Sandy Ground to conduct a special ceremony to install a new Assistant District Governor and a new Board that will serve for the period 2020 to 2021.
The events got underway at 5:30 p.m. with Master of Ceremonies, Secretary-Elect Chevonne Dasouza, greeting the gathering and inviting longstanding senior member, Rev. Menes Hodge, to offer the Prayer of Invocation. The National Song was then sung and a most exuberant introduction and welcome in the spirit of Rotary were given by Rotarian, Dr. Kareema Matthews.
Mr Seymour Hodge
She exclaimed with glee: “We are all able to be together outside today, so we are all supposed to be enthusiastic and happy. It’s been another year.
“We are delighted that you are able to celebrate with us moving into this new Rotary Year. At this event, we look back on the last year with gratitude for the persons that were willing to hold the fort and lead the charge — and we now look forward with gratitude to the persons who are willing to take up the mantle and continue to take the charge.
“I can’t believe it’s been a year since we last did this. With the current pandemic, and all the shutdowns, and all the worldwide ‘black lives matter’ protests, we are still here doing what we do best — service above self. We welcome you all to the annual Board Installation ceremony.”
Mr. Seymour Hodge made a toast to Rotary International, after which outgoing Assistant District Governor (ADG), Ms. Marcellia Henry, installed him, via video link, as the new incoming Assistant District Governor (ADG). In her installation address, Ms. Henry referred to a message from the District Governor, Charles Sealy II. The message read in part: “This is a special time, when in the face of uncertainty and concern, you have been chosen and charged to bring hope and help. As we conduct the changing of the guard ceremony, let me recognize the leaders and members of the current year for your steadfastness and commitment to the service.”
Then, turning her attention to the newly installed ADG, Mrs. Henry said: “Mr. Seymour Hodge has been instrumental to the Club for many years. He has been a President f or three terms, and beyond that Seymour continues to be a sounding board, an advisor, an encourager and a motivator for the Rotary Club of Anguilla. As the outgoing Assistant District Governor, it gives me great joy to pass on the mantle to Seymour Hodge who I know will do a dynamic job of leading the new President and Secretary of 2020-2021.”
The ADG badge was pinned on Seymour by Rev. Menes Hodge who briefly commented: “I am honoured today to be pinning Seymour. By virtue of my being the only chartered member of the Club, being with Rotary for 42 years, I have no intention to leave until I go to the cemetery.”
In response, Seymour Hodge addressed to the gathering: “Allow me to say a big thank you to one and all for a wonderful Rotary Year 2019-2020. It is with a sense of pride and humility that I look back on the past year’s achievements which our Club has attained. In part, through our virtual meetings, we have indeed lived out this past Rotary Year’s theme: ‘Rotary Connects the World’. We should all now embrace each other and work for ‘Rotary Opens Opportunities’ as this is the theme for the New Year, 2020-2021.”
In making reference to Rotary’s goals, Mr. Hodge said: “Rotary International President, Mark Daniel Maloney, wants us to achieve our goals that we have set for our Club this year, and surely we can. Let us, as one family, endeavour to go forward this Rotary Year as we continue to serve our families, our fellow-Rotarians and our community by promoting this Year’s theme: ‘Rotary Opens Opportunities’.”
Mr. Hodge is now the Assistant District Governor for Anguilla, St. Maarten/St. Martin and St. Barthelemy for the period 2020 to 2023.
His first official act as Assistant District Governor was the handing over of a cheque from the Rotary Club of Anguilla to the Health Authority of Anguilla. In making this noble gesture, he noted: “It was lately brought to our attention that there were monies available to assist countries in this COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Right away, the Board members applied for a grant to assist the Government of Anguilla’s Health Sector. Today, I am happy to announce that the Rotary Foundation is making a contribution of US$5,000 to the Health Authority of Anguilla.”
The cheque was gratefully received, on behalf of the Health Authority, by Minister of Health, Mr. Evan McNiel Rogers and HAA’s CEO, Mrs. Maeza Demis-Adams.
The outgoing President of the Rotary Club of Anguilla, Ms. Jeritza Samuel, welcomed new members to the Club in the persons of Devern Fleming, Mrs. Amber Fleming, Mr. Alister Richardson, and Ms. Jasmin Connor.
Jeritza then handed over the reins to the incoming President of the Club, Ms. Shameica Hodge. In accepting the baton, Ms. Hodge noted: “It is a distinct honour and pleasure to have been entrusted with the responsibility of the Presidency of the Rotary Club of Anguilla for the year 2020-2021.
“Our Club is filled with a diverse group of persons from varied backgrounds and vocations who, together, offer a wealth of knowledge and experience which will enable us to achieve our goals. I count it a privilege that these esteemed individuals have placed their trust in me, and are willing to support and guide me during the course of the year ahead.”
The new Board of the Club was then inducted by incoming President, Shameica Hodge, and the ADG, Seymour Hodge. Its members include: Amber Fleming, Ludvig Simonsen, Carolyn Richardson-Hodge, Dervern Fleming, Robert Steel, Valarie Zaharia, Jeritza Samuel, Karl Woodley, Shameica Hodge, Jacquie Ruan and Linda Goddard.
The Vote of Thanks was given by Carolyn Richardson-Hodge, after which a raffle of attractive prizes was conducted by Dr. Kareema Matthews.
The Rotary Club of Anguilla meets on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. at Roy’s Bayside Grill in Sandy Ground. Information about the Club can be obtained by contacting rotaryclubanguilla@gmail.com.
- Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan
