~James Ferris turns the reigns over to new President Jeffrey "Dr. Soc" Sochrin, MP Sarah Wescot-Williams installed as Secretary~
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Rotary Club of Sint Maarten kicked off its new Rotary year on Saturday, June 10th with an evening of fun at Topper's Restaurant in Cole Bay with attendees from St. Maarten, St. Martin, Anguilla, the US Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands all in attendance.
The evening was hosted by Master of Ceremonies, "Mr. Pizza", John Caputo of Domino's Pizza, St. Maarten. Mr. Caputo is a long-standing Rotarian and two-time Past President of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten. Outgoing President James C. Ferris addressed those in attendance by recognizing the outgoing Board Members and the challenges facing service clubs around the world. He said, "Together, the Rotary Club of St. Maarten moves forward, from strength to strength". Mr. Ferris has served the Rotary Club of St. Maarten three times as President, in addition to serving the Club and Rotary District 7020 in Youth Leadership roles. He is also a Past Assistant Governor for Rotary District 7020.
Past President Deepak "Danny" Ramchandani came to the podium to introduce two new Honorary Rotarians, Pierre and Micheline DeCelles, which is the highest membership honor the Club can give. Mr. and Mrs. DeCelles have both served Rotary and Rotary District 7020 since 1995. Mr. DeCelles has held every office in the Club and Mrs. DeCelles has been a constant fixture at every event and project done by the Rotary Club of St. Maarten. The Oath of Honorary Membership was administered by incoming Assistant Governor Elisia Lake.
Outgoing President James C. Ferris then administered the Oath of Office to incoming President Jeffrey "Dr. Soc" Sochrin and placed the Presidential Collar around his neck along with the symbolic passing of the gavel. Newly installed President Sochrin administered the Oath of Office and introduced his new Board Members including Secretary Sarah Wescot-Williams, Immediate Past President James C. Ferris, Deepak "Danny" Ramchandani, Vice President/Club Service Kishore Idnani, Rotary Foundation Chair Stephen Thompson, and Public Image Chair Melanie Daboul.
Sochrin then had the privilege of installing a new member of this Club, Marc Groeneveld. Mr. Groeneveld is an insurance professional and a previous member of the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten. He is the Branch Manager of Atlas Risk Solutions in Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
Sochrin, in his address to the Club, went on to say, “We have been asked by our District Governor and the Rotary International President Create Hope in the World. This new Rotary year will require fellowship and work. It will require that every member of our Club come together for a simple purpose, not just to Imagine Rotary, but rather to Create Hope in the World, to create hope for our Club. It is only when we come together when we work together, when we embody the principles of the 4 Way Test, can we make sure the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten is secure for at least another 51 years".
For more information about the Rotary Club of St. Maarten, please contact the Rotary Club of St. Maarten Press Officer at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the website www.rotarysxm.org.
