PHILIPSBURG:---It took more than a year in the making but Little Leagues Player Development now have a Rotary EarlyAct Club. EarlyAct is a service club for elementary students from ages 5 to 13. EarlyAct provides young students the opportunity for gaining increased awareness and knowledge of their community and the world. EarlyAct Player Development is a community-based club and is the third EarlyAct Club on Sint Maarten.
After Hurricane Irma, a lot of children in the community joined Player Development. A lot of things were donated to this group which they shared with the people in the nearby shelter and within their communities. Due to their initiative more and more groups started to contribute to the group which also included Rotary Clubs from Canada as well as from SXM, they were soon supplying and still do to those in need with food, clothes, household items etc., which they do with a big smile on their faces. They are an inspiring group of youngsters.
The Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle inspired by this group started the process of forming an EarlyAct Club. This was finally realized when they held their first meeting on November 17th, 2018. So excited were the children that their board arrived an hour early to set up for their first meeting. The board is President Emma Croes, vice President Omar Bansingh, 2nd Vice President Malik Richardson, Corresponding secretary Rajik Violenes and Treasurer Jalen James. As this is a service club, they had to discuss what projects they could do. They have already been collecting pop tops for wheelchairs and have to date been able to donate 19 wheelchairs to St. Maarten. They are currently looking for someone in need for number 20. For the club, the project internet is on the table. For their International Project, they want to help Conductor Steven R. Torborg rebuild a steam engine for his Long Island Train Museum. The club needs to raise USD 15,000. Thus far they have raised USD 3,000.00.
The children felt like a million dollars when the Rotary District Governor Patrick Adizua visited to welcome their EarlyAct Club into the Rotary Family. Each child received a Rotary EarlyAct pin. The Governor "pinned president" Ms. Emma! Mid Isle President Denise Antrobus and Rotarian Femke Jensen the Earlyact advisors presented the club with their very own bell and gavel. The EarlAactors presented DG Patrick with a framed picture of ‘Engine 35’. The EarlyAct Club will meet every second and fourth Saturday of the month.
The Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle meets Tuesdays at 7 pm at Pineapple Pete in Simpson Bay. For more information please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit our facebook page Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle.
