PHILIPSBURG:--- Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise celebrated its 10 year anniversary and the successes of the nearly ended Rotary Year 2013-2014. In addition, the installation of the board members for the year 2014-2015 took place. The event was held at the Holland House Beach Hotel on Saturday, June 21, 2014 in the presence of Rotarians, their families and other guests. Also present as keynote speaker was Ombudsman Dr. Nilda J.A. Aduin, who addressed the audience on the topic: Celebrate Passion – Where individual and collective passion meet.
Outgoing President Angela Gordon thanked her fellow board members and entire membership for their enthusiasm and support during the year. She highlighted how the club was able to obtain seven awards from our District 7020 and our Zone 34, including the first ever Club of the Month. She listed the various projects and activities that were executed with the primary focus being on the youth of St. Maarten. A panel discussion on parenting for fathers, the construction of the Rotary Peace Monument that was done in collaboration with the other Rotary Club on the island, the supplying of healthy breakfasts to four schools and the donation of over 800 school bags and supplies in partnership with the business community, the chartering of an Interact Club at Sundial School, assisting in an adult literacy program with the Community Outreach Mentoring and Empowerment Centre and a charity flea market with proceeds donated to the Rotary Foundation for the continuation of polio eradication and to the White and Yellow Cross were just a few of the projects executed this Rotary year. President Gordon extended best wishes to incoming President Dr. Virginia Asin and her board for Rotary Year 2014-2015.
The new Rotary Board consists of: President Dr. Virginia Asin, Vice-President Claret Connor, Past President Angela Gordon, Secretary/President Elect Marcellia Henry, Service Director Agnes Kapoor, Treasurer Sidharth "Cookie" Bijlani, Sergeant at Arms Paula Gordon, Membership Director Okama Epke Brook, Club Administration Director Monique Alberts, Public Relations Director Kameela Piper, Rotary Foundation Director Meredith Boekhoudt, Fundraising Director Prakash "Peter" Dialani, Youth Service Director Paula Gordon and Club Disaster Chair Claret Connor.
In her speech incoming President Dr. Virginia Asin says she will strive to continue the legacy of Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise so that its initiatives can be sustained and will also continue to focus on the youth. With health being a very important topic for Dr. Asin in her capacity as a physical therapist and physician it only makes sense that she will want to focus on this topic in her Rotary year. She has already got confirmation from her fellow President-Elects to work on a joint project together that would contribute to the decrease of the burden of chronic diseases on the island. Focus will also be on the club in the areas of board simplification, portfolio allocation and risk management, membership engagement and retention, membership growth and fundraising. In keeping with this year's Rotary theme "Light Up Rotary", Dr. Asin is using "Celebrate Passion" as the theme to guide her, as the passion to make our community better is the best way to "Light Up Rotary".
Awards were also presented to Meredith Boekhoudt for Rotarian of the Year and Janine Vos received the Rising Star Award. Dr. Nilda Aduin and Marcellia Henry were both awarded Paul Harris Fellowships. It is one of the most prestigious awards in Rotary and thereby named after the founder of Rotary. The Fellowship was established in his honor in 1957 to expressed appreciation for a contribution to the humanitarian and educational programs of the Rotary Foundation.
Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise would like to thank all Rotarians involved in the organization of the Change of Board Ceremony, all of their sponsors, Keynote Speaker Dr. Nilda Aduin, MC Michael Ferrier, Cassilda Van der Neut for her invocation, Level 3 Band, DJ Storming Norman, Holland House Management & Staff.
The club meets at Air Lekkerbek Restaurant every Tuesday mornings at 7:00am for fellowship and breakfast. For more information on the club visit us at sxmsunrise.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., we are also on Facebook: Rotary Club of Saint Martin Sunrise.
