The Rotary Club of St. Vincent celebrated the end of another Rotary year and the installation of a new Rotary Board with a cocktail reception at the Grenadine House last Saturday, June 27.

President Annette Mark

President of the outgoing Board, Reuben John, in addressing the intimate gathering, highlighted some of the Club’s projects which were brought to fruition, in spite of challenges faced by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among these were the Young Employees Socialisation programme in August 2019, the donation of a stove to the Catholic community in the wake of the 2020 fire at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Home, the donation of over 2000 masks to private and public sector entities in May 2020, and the start of a Wheelchair Donation and At-Risk Boys Mentorship projects which are to be completed in 2021.

The new Rotary year commenced on July 1, 2020 under the theme “Rotary Opens Opportunities”. The new President is Annette Mark, Executive Director of Invest SVG, who is ably supported by Immediate Past President Reuben John, Partner at BDO SVG, Vice President Alicia Kirby, Treasurer Brian Glasgow, Manager of KPMG SVG, Secretary Daniel Campbell, Civil Engineer and Consultant, Sargeant-At-Arms Joe Sheridan of The Insurance Brokers, and President Elect Janelle Allen, HR & Education Consultant.

Other Directors who will serve on the Board for the new Rotary year include Sir Errol Allen, Dawnette Calliste, Sherry-Ann Evans, Earl Tash, and Francois Truchot.

President Annette anticipates a year with a positive difference, and is looking forward to incorporating many dynamic initiatives in the life and service of the Club especially as we navigate our way through the changing face of our new normal as a society.

Apart from the drive to increase visibility and shared understanding of Rotary in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and strengthen the Club’s membership, will be the focus on creating and identifying opportunities to impact lives through the use of technology especially amid this COVID-19 pandemic.

The Club brought the curtains down on the 2019-2020 year with the induction of its newest member Kirk DaSilva, son of Past President Kirk DaSilva Sr. This year promises to be an exciting one filled with opportunities for growth, service and impact throughout the Vincentian community. (Prepared by Rotarian Janelle Allen, Director for Public Image.)