Philipsburg:--- The Rotary clubs on both sides of the island has organized a musical concert to be held on Saturday November 13 at the Westin Resort. The concert entitled the Music Magic will feature a musical extravaganza with pianist Danny White and other local artists such as Connis Vanterpool, and the vocal Dread.
Rotarians Fred van der Peijl, Louis Wever, Sally Jasmine, John Berglund and Kishore Idnani told reporters on Wednesday at a press conference that the four rotary clubs have come together to work on projects to benefit the youths on both sides of the island. They said the projects they are currently trying to finance are the building and furnishing of a kitchen for the Belvedere Community Center and providing computers for the computer lab at the Lycee Polyvalent School. The clubs that are involved in the fundraising are the Rotary Club St Maarten Sunrise, Rotary Club St Maarten Mid Isle, Rotary Club St Martin, and the Rotary Club St Martin North.
President of the Rotary St Maarten Mid Isle said this is the first time the rotary clubs on the island have come together to work on projects that would benefit the youths on both sides of the island. He said while everyone will be celebrating St Maarten/St Martin Day the Rotary Clubs have decided to bring themselves together to work in the interest of the island's youth to show there is unity on St. Maarten/St Martin.
Kishore Idnani said while the Rotary is a worldwide organization with 1.2 million Rotarians while there are four clubs on the island. The fundraising event he said is a joint venture that will benefit children across the border. The aim he said is to show that all the clubs are one as a well as the people on the island are one. Sally Jasmine of the St. Martin North said the musical concert is an exceptional event especially for the French side of the island. Jasmine said the aim to keep the youths busy and to make sure the students attending the Lycee would get the necessary tools to complete their education at that learning institution. The Rotarian said her mission is to help the afternoon school program which takes place on Wednesday's and weekends. Youths today are tomorrow's adults and it is necessary to make sure these future adults are fully equipped. Jasmine said while everyone is speaking about the youths, the Rotary is busy working to provide for the youths and the community in general.
Coordinator of the show John Berglund said Danny Wright is a highly regarded pianist who has sold over 4 million copies of his CDs while he was named by the Billboard Magazine as one of America's top ten. He said Wright has agreed to come to St. Maarten to donate his time for the fundraising geared at helping the island's youths. Already Wright is working closely with two of the island's local artists Connis Vanterpool and Rabbi also on the program is a special guest whose name would only be released on the night of the concert. That evening there would also be a silent bidding for special items such as the island most expensive bottle of perfume with a half karat diamond inside the bottle. The items on bid can be used for Christmas gift items.
The trio will be playing on the morning of November 13th at the Belair community center strictly for rotaract children free of cost while the fundraising will be held in the evening at the Westin Resort.
Tickets are sold at $50.00 per ticket tables are also sold at $1000.00. Also on sale are autographed CDs from the artists.
Listen to the interview below: (select Rotary Club)