The Cayman Islands Information Professionals (CIIP)'s annual Storyboard Competition gives students the opportunity to share their favorite books through a storyboard display. The event is similar to a science fair where the entrant's storyboards are displayed in public and entrants can dress up like characters from their chosen book when presenting their storyboard to the judges.
Rotary Sunrise members were honored to be some of the Judges for this year's Competition.
The winners had their storyboards displayed at Books & Books in Camana Bay.
The President of the Lions Club of Grand Cayman, Ewan Jacques has shared the following information with us on their new endeavor, the Lions Pantry.
The Lions Club of Grand Cayman has recently established a Food Pantry Programme to provide necessary supplies to individuals with genuine emergency needs, and in particular the most vulnerable in our society - the youth and the elderly.
Donations to the Pantry are provided by various vendor sponsors who have been extremely generous in their support of the Programme. Also, on September 19th the Club held its first Food Drive at a number of supermarkets across the island. Lions Volunteers collected items from the general public, who were also very generous in their donations. Between the vendor donations and the Food Drive we have been able to fill the Pantry with non-perishable food items, toiletries, baby supplies etc. This is a long-term project for the Club and we expect that the vendor donations and the ongoing food drives will continue to keep the Pantry stocked.
In terms of identifying persons in need, we receive references directly from the DCFS, the Churches and other service organizations. These representatives are constantly in the field and have first-hand knowledge of where the needs exist in our Community.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Pantry is not in a position to provide long-term care to any persons, but we do assist with filling short-term identified needs.
You are invited to the Rotaract Mentorship Evening! This is our monthly get together for members of Rotaract and Sunrise,
Rotarian Wendy Koll has volunteered to join us and will give a short synopsis on mindfulness, and how it impacts our lives including how its a stress reducer and how it can bring awareness to our lives. She will also do a practice session and answer any of your questions.
Bring your favourite snack and / or your beverage of choice. Traffic may be an issue so timing is 6pm for a 6:30 pm start. Please email President Christine if you are planning to attend.
Event: Rotaract Mentorship Evening
Date: Jan 12, 2016 at 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Location: 99 Nelson Quay - 4th house on the left immediately after the big empty lot
Here is an update from Director Su regarding the Literacy Committee's Adopt-a-Library project. If you would like to be on the Literacy Committee and help with these wonderful projects attend the next committee meeting which is set for Thursday, January 7th at 5:30pm at the Water Authority offices in Industrial Park (contact Su or PP Hendrik to get further directions).
Su discussed what items are needed in BTPS library with the librarian and with the Deputy Principal, Ms. Litrico. They would like a wooden big-book display unit, various laminated stickers and other stationary items. They have plenty of chairs and tables in there. They also need a beech/oak-coloured wooden bookshelf – if anyone happens to have an old one to donate or can source one for us to buy second-hand, please let me know. We discussed a budget of CI$300 for their use to buy items for the library (within our CI$500 budget for this project). Sunrise would pay this sum to the Bodden Town Primary School PTA who will reimburse the volunteer librarian for her expenditure purchasing the items they need.
BTPS library has no books that are suitable for Reception year students (4-5 yr olds). Some of these students have very low literacy skills when they start school; having some touch and feel books for very young children would be great. Rotarian Dr. Enoka Richens has very kindly donated a number of these books on behalf of her parents for us to present to BTPS library.
As you know, we are sponsoring the Home Reading Programme which will start at BTPS later this school year. The majority of the grant and Sunrise monies going towards this project will fund a good selection of levelled reading books for all years at BTPS. We also have our Buy-A-Kid-A-Book fundraiser in March 2016 (2015 photo above), so by the end of this Rotary year, we should have bought a large number of new books for BTPS library.
In accordance with Rotary International By-Laws, I now declare Assistant Governor Delma Maduro to be the official nominee for District Governor of District 7020 for the year 2018 - 2019, having received no challenge to the nomination.
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A small but dedicated group of Rotarians and friends have recorded their entry for the District Governor's song competition. Take a look at the finished product, sung to these lyrics from Rotarian Faye Lippitt!
CNBC, an American financial news channel, recently highlighted the Top 10 major charities as rated by Charity Navigator. These are charities with budgets exceeding $100 million and net assets of at least $65 million that also maintain “stellar financial management and transparency.” Take a look at that score!
Rotary's top priority is the eradication of polio, but our members take on far greater responsibilities to fight disease. They set up health camps and training facilities in undeveloped countries and in communities struggling with HIV/AIDS and malaria. They also design and build the infrastructure for doctors, nurses, governments, and partners to reach the one in six people in the world who can't afford to pay for health care.
And you need look no further than the 7 October Rotary Sun for Pat Steward's excellent summary of everything done as part of our Guaruma project to assist people with examinations, treatments, referrals and more.
Plus, here in Cayman, our End Polio Now shirts are cooler than anyone else's!
To learn more about all of the many ways Rotarians are making the world a healthier place, visit Rotary.org.
Attention: If you're thinking about attending the 2016 International Conference in Seoul, save a little money before the Early Registration Discount ends December 15.
Go to www.riconvention.org/en/seoul/register
Five Reasons to Attend
Connect with thought leaders
Hear from exceptional speakers including RI President K.R. Ravindran and other Rotary senior leaders, who will educate and inspire you.
Connect with new ideas
Get into the nuts and bolts of Rotary with breakout sessions run by your Rotary peers, Rotary International staff, and experts in project planning, grant funding, and social media.
Connect with new friends
Meet people who share your hobbies, your profession, or your humanitarian interests in the House of Friendship. Be inspired by the descriptions of service projects and expand your horizons with networking opportunities beyond your club. You will also have the opportunity to sample Korean food, learn about Korean traditions, and check out the latest technology at booths sponsored by Korean Rotarians as well as Korea’s leading corporations.
Connect with old friends
Catch up with friends you made on a Group Study Exchange, meet with a student you hosted for a Rotary Youth Exchange, or visit with Rotarians from a sister club. You never know who you may run into at the convention.
Connect with culture
Explore the impressive sites of Seoul as well as landmarks around the country on one of the many tours planned by the Host Organization Committee. Or spend time getting to know other attendees in a more intimate setting during Host Hospitality Night.
Wednesday, December 16th at 6:30pm at the home of Rotarian Berna in South South.
Spouses, guests and family members are also welcomed.
There will be much to eat and enjoy and as it's potluck style, we ask Rotarians to contribute a dish or dessert. The food list below are suggestions, and if you chose to bring from below, please let Rotarian Dawn know so we can keep a track of what is coming. Wine will be provided by the club.
Sunrise Rotarians, members of the Rotaract Club of Grand Cayman and Earlyact came out to the Cayman Islands Humane Society last Sunday morning for fellowship and dog walking. Director Ivana said there was also bath time for the puppies which everyone enjoyed!
Thank you to everyone who came out on Sunday morning especially Mrs Chow for brining the EarlyActors!
On Thursday 12th November, some of our newly inducted Rotarians and Prospective Members joined President Christine, Geoff, Stacy, Jerrel, Deirdre and Hendrik at Casa Matthews to ‘Discover The World of Rotary'. The meeting was not only an opportunity for members to enhance their knowledge of Rotary International, The Foundation and our Club but it was also an excellent fellowship evening where we got to know each other better. President Christine first took the attendees through the basics and fielded questions.
We then had a short break where engaged in some light food and wine etc. The evening was then completed with an exciting and very competitive game of Rotary Jeopardy. It is safe to say that the evening was a success particularly as major fire disaster was averted by the alertness of Director Deirdre (no other details will be forthcoming on that topic and remember apart from what was disclosed above, what happens at Casa Matthews stays at Casa Matthews). So I would like to thank everyone who made the effort to attend and in particular Hazel, Sharon, Dean, Ferlyn, Karelle, Keisha and Paul.
Rotarians, Rotaractors and Earlyactors joined together to bring entertainment to the residents at The Pines last Saturday afternoon for our annual birthday celebration event. Christmas carols were sung as Rotarians Chris and Jocelyn played songs on the piano and we all sang along to classics such as Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer and Jingle Bells among others.
The lunch for the day was catered by Champion House and consisted of Bar-B-Q chicken, rice and beans, fried plantain, steamed vegetables and fried fish with gravy. There was also a delicious vanilla sheet cake that everyone enjoyed along with homemade sugar cookies with homemade icing baked by Director Ivana, PE Dawn and VP Deirdre. Some of the residents were not able to join us downstairs, so their food was delivered to them and some Rotarians and Rotaractors took the party to them upstairs.
In all, it was a very enjoyable day. Special thanks to the event organisers and to all Rotarians, Rotaractors, Earlyactors and parents of the kids who came out to celebrate with the residents.
In April 2000, the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in Cornwall, England adopted ShelterBox as its millennium project. Little did they know that it would become the largest Rotary club project in the world, responding to disasters and conflict across the globe and providing emergency shelter to over one million people. ShelterBox has supported the Syrian relief effort for nearly four years and is working with other agencies to continue distributing relief materials. ShelterBox is also working with communities in Greece to provide aid and supplies to displaced people passing through the region.
Since ShelterBox was founded, it has responded to more than 270 disasters and humanitarian crises in almost 90 different countries, from Kenya to Nepal. ShelterBox aid is tailored to the needs of each emergency. Sometimes the aid includes a disaster relief tent, cooking utensils, mosquito nets and water purification equipment; other times, the shelter kits contain heavy-duty tarpaulins and tools.
In Syria, where a civil war has been raging since 2011, more than 6,000 people flee the country every day. As of September, more than 4.1 million people have become refugees, and 7.6 million more have been internally displaced.
"Rotary joins other international agencies in providing immediate relief to disaster survivors through our partnership with ShelterBox and mobilizing our expertise to support long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts." - Gary C.K. Huang, 2014-15 Rotary International President
The global support from the Rotary International network is the cornerstone upon which ShelterBox is built. Since ShelterBox was founded, it has grown from one club’s adopted project to Rotary International’s only Project Partner in disaster relief. To date, all ShelterBox affiliates have been set up by Rotarians or Rotaractors.
“The plight of Syria’s refugees is a litmus test for the world's compassion,” says Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko. As many as 2,000 people arrive daily on Lesbos’ northern beaches, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea off the Turkish coast. Thanks to the support and generosity of Rotary International, ShelterBox is able to deliver dignity and hope to families in need around the world.
As PP J.D. told us last week, there are so many ways to help support what Rotary does through Foundation support. Here’s a reminder of the web page that gives you some of the options to put Service Above Self.
Sponsored by Silver Wheaton, Pedal 2 the Point is a fun, 75 kilometer bike ride that stretches for the entire length of Grand Cayman, starting from the car park adjacent to the Turtle Farm and finishing at Rum Point. (Cutoff time: 5 hours)
Funds raised this year will be split equally between the Guatemala Literacy Project and LIFE (Literacy Is For Everyone). Prizes for the first male, first female and first relay team to reach Rum Point, plus a special prize draw for any person who raises over $100 in sponsorship.
A celebratory party at Rum Point will follow the event, and water taxis will take riders to the Safehaven dock. All Finishers will receive a medal, goodie bag, breakfast buffet, $2 Caybrews and free entry for door prizes.
A YouTube video link is now available to watch the final round of the Fred Speirs Memorial 24th Annual Inter-school Debate Competition. Members of the Rotary Sunrise Literacy Committee were among the many volunteers who helped make the event a success. The final debate was held July 1, 2015 at the Law Courts Building.
The moot was: “The Cayman Islands should set a date for independence from the UK, to be no later than the year 2025.” Debating in favor of the moot was St. Ignatius High School while the team from Layman Scott High School on Cayman Brac debated in opposition. The distinguished panel of judges included Dr. Linford Pierson, Mr. Roy Bodden, abd Ms. Allyson Speirs.
This month, we celebrate the Rotary Foundation. The Foundation is the engine that manages the money we give to Rotary and helps to fund many of the projects that we do across our District and the world. Over the last few years, our District has benefitted tremendously from the Foundation as we have received grant funding of five dollars for every dollar we have contributed. That alone should be motivation for us to dig even deeper into our pockets and support the work of Rotary. There is so much work that we do and still lots more to be done.
"The Rotary Foundation transforms our gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. As the charitable arm of Rotary, it taps into a global network of Rotarians who invest their time, money, and expertise into our priorities, such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Foundation Grants empower Rotarians to approach challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition with sustainable solutions that leave a lasting impact."
There is good reason to make The Rotary Foundation, our "Charity of Choice". The Rotary Foundation was started back in 1917 with less than $27.00 and today the fund has grown to over a billion dollars. The Foundation boasts great stewardship, accountability and transparency and so our contributions are maximized. If you are not yet a supporter of the Rotary Foundation, I urge you consider making a contribution. Your investment would help to make our communities better places to live and you would have made a step from Success to Significance as you demonstrate what it means to Be a Gift to the World.
The Pines Retirement Home Annual November Birthday Luncheon will be held on Saturday, November 14.
The residents celebrating their birthday in November are:
09 November – Olive Miller
13 November – Jennie Fletcher
Volunteers are still needed and are asked to arrive by 11:45am for a 12:30pm start.
This year we will be catering to 34 residents and staff, so please sign up to help make this annual event a fun and festive one for our seniors!
Our EarlyActors was especially well received by the seniors last year, and we are working on having them be in attendance again this year to entertain and join in the singing and present birthday cards to the seniors. Contact PE Dawn to sign up.
We look forward to seeing you there to help make this day special for the seniors!
Candy for breakfast? It must have been Halloween week! We heard from guest speaker Philip Rudge about the Syrian refugee crisis, presented NCVO with a check for the funds raised during the NCVO collection drive and enjoyed the fun halloween masks which made identifying Rotarians and Rotaractors a treat!
Enjoy photos below from our first mentoring social with our Rotaractors! Held at President Christine's home, the session is hoped to become a monthly series of "mentoring" evenings for Rotarians and Rotaractors. If you missed the first evening - you missed an evening of fun, fellowship and conversation about careers and life in general. All members are welcomed to attend and the next mentoring session will be announced soon!
The sargassum invasion requires extra hands and extra cooperation. That was on display this past weekend when Rotarians joined with Rotaractors from RCGC, Rotaract Blue, Lions and the Department of Tourism to clean up Spotts Beach.
Rotary Sunrise Grand Cayman is a proud sponsor of the Clifton Hunter High School Year 8 Youth Crime Prevention Day. The October 22 event was organized by YouthACT Anti-Crime Trust.
The theme of the day was “Lose Your Freedom.” The seminar area was placed in “lock-down” and a Prison Officer from the Prison system here in Cayman acted as Commander of the Day over her “prison.”
At the start of the day the students were told they were in the custody of HMP Northward Prison Officers and Officers of the Royal Cayman Islands Police, all of whom were out in force. Students were accompanied everywhere by both a police and prison officer. They were expected to obey the rules of the prison including remaining in line as they transferred between sessions, no cell-phones, being tidy and no hands in pockets lest they were concealing something illegal!
Students rotated through a series of sessions that included Guns and Offensive Weapons, The Role of a Police Officer, Sexual Trauma, Life of Drugs and Crime, Effects of Drugs and Alcohol, and Dangers of Gangs and Bullying. All of these sessions
were hands on and interactive and involved role playing that saw participants role-playing as police offices reading an offender their rights and placing them inhandcuffs and simulations to replicate the effects of alcohol on one’s ability to be rationale.
Former drug addicts, who served time in jail as well as former convicts shared their experiences including what a life in prison is like. It is hoped the experiences the young people had will help them make better choices when faced with peer pressure and other difficult choices.
Armed with rakes, shovels, gloves, garbage bags and muscle power, we worked together on what is an almost insurmountable task. At the end of a couple of hours of hard and hot work, a dent --albeit a small one-- had been made on the seaweed on the beach. Well done to all who participated!
Rotaractors and Rotarians helped ensure the National Council of Voluntary Organisations enjoyed a successful NCVO telethon in Prospect on Saturday night.
Whiskey Mist was loud, packed, fun and effective at raising more of the funds needed to wipe out polio once and for all. Rotaract organized the World’s Greatest Happy Hour last Friday, attended by several Sunrisers who enjoyed great company and the chance to win many raffle prizes.
Thank you to RGCC and Rotaract Blue for organizing Sunday’s beach cleanup in the Manse Road area of Bodden Town. The Cayman Islands has a collective 99 miles of coastline. Not all of it is seen frequently by residents and guests, but every bit of it is important and worthy of keeping pristine. President Christine
and Director Pat Steward were among those helping to clear the beach of seaweed.
The newest Rotarian in the world last Wednesday was Karelle DaCosta. We are proud to welcome her to the Sunrise family and look forward to putting her energy and community spirit to work.
Rotary Central and Rotary Sunrise will jointly be providing member judges for a new inter-school debate tournament which has been created by the debate coaches at CIS & St. Ignatius Catholic School. The tournament will take place at St. Ignatius on Tuesday 24th November from 3.30pm to 8/9pm and volunteer judges will need to be available to attend for the entire length of the tournament. There are around 10 school teams registered so far. Volunteer judges will also need to attend a short training session before the day of the tournament, and I understand that we will receive a complimentary hot meal at the tournament.
This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in debating to get involved! I am looking for 8 more judges from Sunrise - please email me ASAP if you would like to be a judge at the tournament. I am inviting our Literacy and Youth Committee members before extending the invitation to other club members.
Just to confirm, this is not part of the annual Fred Speirs Debates but Central and Sunrise are supporting this new tournament and Central is hoping to arrange an inter-school Fred Speirs Debate Training event in early 2016 in place of the regular annual debates this year. Further details on that to follow.
This Sunday at 7:30am, RCGC will be cleaning up the small beach area downtown next to the plaza that has Cabana and Casanova. The same beach where the fresh fish market is held during the day.
RCGC have been a great support for all that we have done this year, let us try and support them!
Originally scheduled for this week, the orientation will be rescheduled for a date in November.
'Discover The World of Rotary 2015' is an opportunity for all members to enhance their knowledge of Rotary International, The Rotary Foundation and of course the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise. The format will be engaging and interactive designed to promote fellowship and knowledge.
Red Badge members this is an opportunity to tick the 'Orientation" box on your list of tasks to complete prior to getting your blue badge.
The evening will be combined with a "pot luck" fellowship. This means we will ask each attendee to either bring a food item or something to drink. This way we can do the event at no charge.
Please register online and indicate in the comments box what you are bringing or email Director Stacy and let her know if you are attending and what you will be bringing.
President Christine and Rotarian Geoff look forward to welcoming you into their home for this event.
Due to reporting requirements, Rotary Sunrise members will cast votes for the 2016-17 leadership in two weeks, on November 4th. This is your opportunity to step up and serve the club as an officer or director as outlined in the chart above.
President-Elect Dawn has put forward a slate of Rotarians to serve in leadership positions, and every Rotarian also has an opportunity to nominate members. If there are more candidates than positions, there will be elections; otherwise, membership will be asked to approve the PE’s slate.
Please don’t be shy about asking questions, asking others if they are interested in serving, or offering your own services to help lead the club during PE Dawn’s year in office. PP Tony is coordinating the election and can answer any questions.
The NCVO Telethon takes place this weekend, giving everyone in Cayman an opportunity to support an organization that runs six different programs: preschool, nursery, the John Gray college scholarship grant, the Caring Cousins lunch program, the foster home and a bargain shop.
NCVO CEO, Janice Wilson told Cayman 27, "A lot of families can’t afford to send their child to preschool or nursery, but they need to work as well and that’s where we come in, that’s where we help." The non-profit organisation is hoping to raise $140,000 at this year’s telethon. “Just to put that into perspective, for our foster home for example, we receive a grant of $225,000 a year but it costs about $400,000 to run that. So we need to find the remainder,”
Rotaractors took the lead this past weekend in collecting funds at a Foster’s Food Fair for the National Council of Voluntary Organisations.
Are you ready for the WORLD'S GREATEST HAPPY HOUR to help End Polio Now?! Come out to Whiskey Mist this Friday at 5:30 pm and help support all Rotaract and Rotary clubs of Cayman!
Raffle prizes and drink specials all night! Proceeds go towards Polio Plus! $1 becomes $3 - Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches $2 to every $1 raised!
Are you a Rotaractor interested in being mentored by a Rotarian?
Are you a Sunriser interested in mentoring a Rotaractor not just in Rotary but also on a professional development level helping them reach their full potential?
If you answered YES - this event is for you.
Are you interested in helping Sunrise make a submission for the District video and song competition projects? If you answered YES, and I know you all did, this event is also for YOU.
Bring a snack or your favourite drink, and we will discuss the district projects as well as try and pair Rotarians and Rotaractors for the mentoring programme.
Oct 27, 2015 at 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM at President Christine’s house.
99 Nelson Quay - 4th house on the left immediately after the big empty lot
Whether you're a brand new Rotarian thirsting for knowledge or a more seasoned one looking to be revitalised and rejuvenated, a current, past or future club leader, or a member who's just not getting what they feel they should from Rotary... RLI is for YOU!
RLI's training leaders including the Sunshine Division Chair PDG Randy Rawiszer, will be on island over the weekend of October 17th and 18th. Don't Miss It!
From Patrick Kreitlow
As one of only a handful of Rotarians who initially signed up from RLI, please allow me to make a personal pitch for more members to sign up for this great opportunity. This kind of forum does not come to our island with great frequency. It would be extremely unfortunate if low registration leads to a cancellation or even a hesitancy to schedule future RLI sessions or get Foreign Discussion Leaders to visit us.
There is no one who cannot benefit from investing time in becoming a good leader or a better one. Clubs like Rotary work best when dedicated members are constantly seeking new ideas to make their organizations more enjoyable, efficient, engaging and focused. RLI isn’t just about Rotary. I’m sure everyone learns things that can be applied to practically any field, and I’m betting it’s a great way to recharge the personal batteries as well.
Please consider signing up today. Thank you!
Last week's meeting also included a check presentation to mark the club's annual financial commitment to LIFE. Marilyn Connolly from LIFE visited the club to extend her gratitude and encourage everyone to support LIFE's intervention programs. Then, it was time to get in the spirit of the 2nd annual Scrabble Scrum for Literacy, where Rotary and Rotaract members will provide volunteer help for LIFE's new annual fundraiser.
Clean-Up Coming, and Pines Party Planning Underway
Park Clean-Up at Cecile Crighton Park
Spotts Newlands Road - just past Spotts Beach, north to Chime Street
This Saturday morning after 7am
Please join us for this Community Service and Fellowship initiative.
As you are all aware, we will be resurfacing the basketball court at the park and prior to doing so we would like to do one last clean up.
We are joining forces with fellowship on this one, where we can relax and have some lunch after all the hard work is done. Bring out your work boots, weed-eaters, families to help etc.
Pines Retirement Home Birthday Party
Rotary Sunrise is in charge of the party for November birthdays
This year the party is scheduled to take place on 14th November. We need a volunteer to be the project lead on this great initiative. Please let JoAnne Lawson know if you would be willing to take this on.
(Photo from last Saturday's committee meeting with TWELVE participants... way to go, JoAnne!)
The board will meet next Monday, 5 October at President Christine's home.
If you have topics, ideas, suggestions or pressing community needs that you think the board should be discussing, bring them to the attention of a board member this week. Thank you!
Rotary Sunrise has always played a significant role in working to increase literacy rates and instill a love of reading in Cayman’s children. Those efforts were on display throughout September to mark Rotary Literacy Month. Here are all of the things that our club can point to with pride.
Adopted the library at Bodden Town Primary School
Distributed more than 400 dictionaries to Year 5 students
Publicized International Literacy Day with multiple media mentions
Presented LIFE with major financial support in its 4th year
Provided substantial support for the 2nd annual Scrabble Scrum
Included an educational component to the latest trip to Guaruma
Purchased new ESL-focused textbooks for immigrant students
Organized a CALS program that can be started at the men’s prison
Began plans for this year’s interscholastic debates
Began plans for this year’s Butterfly Storybook Essay competition
Continued preparations to form an Interact Club
Hosted guest speakers to discuss expanding a math literacy program
Special thanks to Literacy Director Su Mander and everyone who played a role in our Literacy Month activities.
Dear all: We have good news to share with everyone related to the our polio eradication efforts. Progress continues to be made!
On 21 September 2015, the Global Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication (GCC) officially verified the worldwide eradication of wild poliovirus type 2 (WPV2). Convening in Bali, Indonesia, on 21 September 2015, the GCC verified the eradication of this strain after reviewing formal documentation submitted by Member States. The last detected WPV2 dates to October 1999, from Aligarh, northern India.
The announcement marks a major landmark in the global efforts to eradicate all three wild poliovirus serotypes: WPV1, WPV2 and WPV3. WPV3 has not been detected globally since November 2012 (in Nigeria); the only remaining endemic WPV1 strains are now restricted to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Best regards,
Carol Pandak
Director | PolioPlus
Keep up the fight, we are almost there and don't forget to plan something like a WGM to commemorate World Polio Day (October 24th) and/or attend the Livestream event on October 23rd.
The Cayman Islands Cancer Society’s Cancer Awareness Day Health Fair was a well attended event with several hundred people passing through the doors. There were speakers from local and international medical centres on a variety of topics and booths hosted by a number of different business entities.
Over 20 Sunrise Rotarians and Rotactors supported the event by operating the station where attendees could stop by and do an online cancer risk assessment tool. Additionally Sunriser, Dr. Richens (left), assisted with basic health screening including blood pressure checks and answering questions from members of the public. Dr. Ecke (lower left) was also on hand with his equipment to provide screening for head and neck issues, including cancer.
All told there was a minimum of 40 volunteers hours from the Sunrise team towards activities associated with the event.
Guest Speaker James Whittaker on Pier Cable Car Proposal
Last week’s presentation by Green Tech CEO James Whittaker is part of a continuing conversation about whether and how to build a new cruise ship pier in George Town that creates economic growth with minimal environmental impact. Mr. Whittaker’s idea is to have the ships anchor in the harbor and bring passengers to shore through a cable car system. He outlined specifications, costs and similar systems elsewhere.
The proposal, he says, would not require the large-scale dredging of the harbor that is included in current proposals being considered by Government. Mr. Whittaker estimates his proposal's price tag at around $170 million versus what he says will be a roughly $220 million cost of the current proposal once environmental mitigation steps are included.
Director Patrick has a copy of the presentation for anyone who would like to review the material.
Dictionary Distributions Wrap Up
Literacy Month distribution of illustrated dictionaries is wrapping up at schools, and Sunrise Rotarians have had a busy couple of weeks collecting smiles in exchange for the hundreds of reference books that have been passed out to the Year 5 students. At Sir John A. Cumber Primary School in West Bay, Principal Joseph Wallace and Minister Tara Rivers are joined by Literacy Director Su Mander, President Christine Matthews and Rotarian Faye Lippitt.
Minister Rivers hands out dictionaries at Sir John A. Cumber Primary School in West Bay.
MLA Roy McTaggart hands out dictionaries at Prospect Primary School.
Rex Creighton: Real Estate Pioneer and Community Philanthropist
Mr. Rex Crighton, MBE, an Honorary Member of Rotary Sunrise, passed away Monday. He was the patriarch of a family that has been involved in Cayman Islands real estate since the early 1960s. More recent generations also associated Mr. Crighton with the family’s Christmas lights display and community generosity. His family donated the land for our park in Spotts. Mr. Crighton received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2008. A Cayman Reporter news article credits Crighton with being responsible for businesses that have sold more than 5,000 house lots worth a total of US$350 million.
After an update from Christopher Bowring on the Disaster Relief Fund, President Christine made the official check presentation to reaffirm the Rotary Sunrise commitment to ensuring that disaster recovery in the Cayman Islands is financially supported BEFORE the next crisis occurs.
VP Gina McBryan reports a large positive response to her update last week on a proposal to form a community-based Interact Club. She is asking anyone with questions or concerns to seek her out for further information that she can bring to a future board meeting as these discussions continue.
Always thankful for our visitors and guests! We appreciate Mark & Cheryl Dean-Thompson and everyone who brightens our mornings!
From Rotarian Steve Sokohl: "I have confirmed contributions of US$3,200 for my participation in the Polar Bear Plunge. My goal is to raise US$20,000. All monies raised in Cayman will be donated to Rotary Sunrise, so if you wish to support my stupidity for jumping in freezing cold water in January 2016, please feel free to do so please send me an email if you wish to support me!
If you have ordered Rotary shirts, you have received an email with the total amount of your order. Please make payment as soon as you’re able to Rotarian Alison Shirlaw. See Director Patrick if you have questions about your order. Thank you!
Remember: If you cannot serve on your assigned week, you are responsible for finding a substitute. And, if you do have a substitute, please notify Frank and Patrick so that the newsletter has the correct assignments. Thank you!
Rotary Sunrise Recognized for Its Literacy Month Gifts
Literacy Director Su Mander has been busy this past week and grateful to have help from several Sunrise Rotarians as 420 dictionaries are distributed to Year 5 students in various public schools to mark Rotary Literacy Month. PP Winston, Education Councillor, spoke at Red Bay Public School about the importance of literacy in order for every young person to achieve their personal goals.
Sunrise Rotarians are thankful to the teachers and staff who juggled busy schedules during these first few weeks of school in order to accommodate the dictionary distribution in places like Red Bay Primary School, where the children were happy to pose with their new reference books.
Several media outlets covered some aspect of Rotary Sunrise to mark Literacy Month, whether it was the Adopt-a-Library program at Bodden Town Primary School, the dictionary distribution, or the other activities the club will undertake to promote literacy such as the “Buy a Kid a Book” program, school debates, classroom reading, and the Butterfly Storybook essay competition.
Students at Edna Moyle Primary School in North Side pose with their dictionaries, distributed late last week. This week, dictionaries are being handed out in Savannah, George Town, Prospect and at Sir John A. Cumber Primary School in West Bay.
Rotarians Needed to Help with Scrabble Event in 2 Weeks
LIFE (Literacy Is For Everyone, the non-profit created by Sunrise Rotarians three years ago) is planning its second annual Scrabble Scrum fundraiser in conjunction with International Literacy Month. The fun competition will take place on Tuesday evening, 29 September, starting at 6:00pm at Abacus in Camana Bay.
The fundraiser helps support various literacy programs in select Grand Cayman schools and helps reduce reliance on Rotary Sunrise for much of LIFE’s annual budget. Rotary and Rotaract volunteers played a key role in the success of last year’s inaugural event, where teams of six players –usually employees of the teams’ sponsors—compete in a fast-paced variation of the board game. Teammates work together in a limited period to create a board filled with high-value words, incorporating bonus words and working around twists such as confiscated letter tiles! Further twists are planned this year to keep the teams on their toes.
Event organizers need your help in two areas: help recruit players by asking local business to sponsor a team for a $500 donation to LIFE, or be a volunteer who helps add up the game boards or perform other duties to make the evening go smoothly.
Director Patrick Kreitlow imported the event to LIFE after helping create it for a literacy organization in Wisconsin. See him if you can assist with volunteering or recruiting teams. We need a lot of bodies to make it work and appreciate your willingness to be part of a fun evening that benefits literacy.
Adopt-a-Library and Dictionary Distribution at Bodden Town
On Tuesday, Sunrise marked International Literacy Day and Rotary Literacy Month by "adopting" the library at Bodden Town Primary School. New books will be donated to the library during the 2015-16 school year; some of the books are designed for recreational reading, others are reference and textbooks made possible by community donations during the club's "Buy a Kid a Book" fundraiser every March.
The club will also supply beanbag chairs and other small furnishings, and volunteers will assist with organizing and scanning the library's inventory. Sunrise Rotarians are also active in reading on a regular basis to school students around Grand Cayman. The main aim of the Adopt-a-Library project is to encourage the students and teachers at BTPS to make more use of the school library and the books.
At the Adopt-a-Library event, Councillor and PP Winston Connolly joined President Christine and Literacy Director Su in presenting new dictionaries to all 38 of the school's Year 5 students. Similar gifts will be given to Year 5 students at other select schools during Literacy Month. The BTPS students then provided some entertaining and informative readings of poems and essays on literacy and other important issues to them.
Rotary Sunrise is deeply thankful to Deputy Principal Ms. Litrico and everyone on the staff of BTPS for making the Adopt-a-Library program possible, successful and fun.
More than a dozen Rotaractors were joined by a handful of Rotarians on the rocky shores and blowholes near Lovers Wall in East End on an early Saturday morning beach clean-up. It did not take long to lose count of the number of toothbrushes, bottles, bottle caps, flip flops and other debris that littered the periphery of each blowhole. Each person --on a dive boat, cruise boat, fishing boat, at a beach party, wherever-- may have considered it just one single item that they tossed or lost, but they would have thought about it differently if only they could see how many "single" items quickly amass in our sea and along our shores. Thank you to everyone who packed multiple garbage bags and made the area a little cleaner.
Another Volunteer Opportunity: Assist Future Entrepreneurs
Volunteers are now being sought for a new school year of Junior Achievement programs. JA’s mission is “to ensure that every child has a fundamental understanding of the free enterprise system by educating and inspiring young people to value free enterprise, business, and economics in order to improve the quality of their lives.”
The programs run from October to March, usually on Tuesday evenings from 6-8pm, with teams of 20-30 high school students being taught the leadership and entrepreneurial skills needed to run their own company. (The amount of volunteer time required becomes more flexible as more volunteers take part.) Rotarian David Reid says advisors also get a great education by helping the students experience “every aspect of a basic business, from start-up to liquidation and exposure to all of the disciplines such as sales, marketing, production, finance, human resources and more.
Advisor training starts soon, so contact David Reid, Gina McBryan, Ivana Faltysova or Jerrell Garner to get started on your JA experience!
At last week's meeting, guest speaker Andrea Hill told us all about the value of adding whole foods to everyone's everyday meal plan. We inducted a new Rotarian, Aimee Bush. PP Tony presented a check to Rotaract President Matthew to fulfill a pledge in return for all the help Rotaractors provided in selling tickets for the annual car raffle. Director Patrick was named as President Christine's first Rotarian of the Month. A fantastic turnout of volunteers allowed the Literacy Committee to finish putting stickers in more than 600 dictionaries in record time. And last week's Membership Month Happy Hour at Karoo included a visit from former Rotarian Glen Trenouth whose luck extended beyond winning this year's car raffle; he managed to "win" two Happy Hour raffle prizes with a single ticket! (Ask Frank how that was possible!)
Today's Guest Speakers: Mathematics in Context (MIC)
Frank Eade is the Numeracy Specialist with the CIG School System. Maggie is a 1st grade teacher here (studying to obtain her Master's Degree) and has used the MIC program with some of her students who were challenged with mathematical understanding and had great results. The MIC program is designed to help students gain a more "real world" perspective on the role of mathematics in daily life. It was developed in collaboration between the Freudenthal Institute (Netherlands) and University of Wisconsin (USA) thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation (USA). It has been tried with Year 7 students at John Gray HS and Clifton Hunter HS.
We will do things a bit differently this year when it comes to assigning weekly tasks at our meetings. Rather than filling slots week to week, we will instead fill slots months in advance, so everyone has lots of time to prepare.
Please see the spreadsheet which was mailed to you which lists the tasks of: Greeter, Raffle seller, 4 Way test leader, Grace leader, and Rotary Minute presenter. If your name is in the slot, it means you are responsible for that task for that given week.
Note that even if you will not be attending that week's meeting, you still remain responsible for that task. So, if you are listed as the Greeter but can't attend, it is your responsibility to find a replacement to be the Greeter that week.
This is all fairly simple, and should help Club leaders in planning for the year, but if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask me.
Welcome to September and Literacy Month in the Rotary calendar.
Literacy is defined as the ability to read and write and includes not just “word” skills but also mathematical skills, a fact that is sometimes overlooked. In 1985, Rotary declared basic literacy to be a pre-condition to the development of peace and basic education and literacy is one of Rotary International’s six Areas of Focus. More than half the world’s Rotary club’s address the needs of literacy in the communities they serve and our Club is no exception.
Rotary Sunrise Cayman adopted literacy as a signature project many years ago and at that time made literacy an avenue of service within the Club with its own committee and Board position. In the years since the idea was born over dinner at Casanova’s one night, Sunrise Rotarians have read to hundreds of children, CALS has been introduced in a number of different settings in Cayman as well as in Belize, hundreds of dictionaries have been distributed to children and we have given birth to a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting literacy – LIFE.
There is more to be done and we cannot become complacent. Children and adults in our community still need our help to ensure that everyone in our community can achieve a basic level of reading, writing and numerical skills. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said "Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right.” He went on to add that it is the “means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential."
This year we will continue our long established literacy programs and launch new ones which Literacy Director, Su Mander, will tell you more about throughout the month. I ask that each member support at least one literacy initiative during this
Rotary year. I thank you in advance for doing your part to lending a hand to our literacy efforts.
The Rotary Sunrise Literacy Committee will hold its next regular meeting tomorrow (Thursday), September 3rd at 5:30pm in the upstairs conference room at the Foster’s Food Fair Airport location.
Nomination Process Opened: Letter from DG Felix Stubbs
"In accordance with the Rotary International District Administration Guide and Leadership Organization for District 7020, I am requesting suggestions for nominations from Rotary Clubs for the future District Governor for 2018-2019.
"This letter must be read to the members of your club at a regular meeting and/or published in your club’s regular newsletter. Suggestions must be submitted in the form of a resolution adopted at a regular meeting of the club naming the suggested candidate. The resolution shall be certified by the club secretary. A club may suggest only one of its own members as a candidate for governor-nominee. It is recommended that this candidate has served in the position of Assistant Governor.
"Suggestions, along with a one page resume with particulars of his or her personal, business and Rotary life, and a photograph, should be sent to the Nominating Committee for consideration no later than November 1, 2015, with a copy to each committee member." (See President Christine or Director Patrick if interested in the nominating committee names and addresses.)
The Literacy Committee invite you to attend a "sticker party!" It's when Sunrise Rotarians put Sunrise stickers inside the 600 dictionaries we will be donating to the high schools for the start of the new school year.
Please let Su Mander know if you can join us tomorrow, Thursday 27th August, starting at 5.30pm at the Foster's Distribution Centre.
Please come and help us get the stickers stuck quick. There will be some wine/beer, snacks and fellowship to keep us going!
Kent Green and Tim Nicholson take part in an icebreaker activity as part of Membership Month: interviewing each other about professional achievements and personal qualities.
Our guest speaker, Zoe Conolly Basdeo, shared stories of her recent trip to India where she studied religious history and cultural aspects of the subcontinent. She also discussed the rewarding activities that took place at the recent RYLA weekend.
Our friends Andrea Bryan and Lynne Whittaker flank President Christine as they hold certificates naming them as Honorary Rotarians in light of their personal decisions to scale back from full-time membership during 2015-16.
Rotary’s new member benefits program gives Rotary members access to discounts on a variety of products and services selected with their interests in mind.
Discounts & special offers
Rotary Global Rewards offers discounts on car rentals, hotels, dining, and entertainment. More products and services from companies around the world will be added throughout the year. Check back often to see what’s new in Rotary Global Rewards.
How it works
Anyone can view the offers and discounts on Rotary Global Rewards. But onlyRotary club members who are signed in to their My Rotary accounts can redeem them. You can access and redeem rewards from your computer, smartphone, or tablet.
Create a My Rotary account now to take advantage of the new member benefits program.
Andrea Hill holds a Master of Science degree in Health & Nutrition Education from Hawthorn University. She earned her undergraduate degree in Food & Nutrition from Ryerson University.
Through a whole foods approach to diet and nutrition, Andrea empowers her clients with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed food and lifestyle decisions that best support their health goals and well-being.
Andrea offers both an office and mobile nutrition service, enabling her to meet with clients in a setting that is comfortable and convenient. She offers dietary advice and personalized meal planning solutions as well as corporate wellness programs.
Andrea enjoys sharing with others her loe of whole foods and their unique ability to nourish the body and optimize health. She is a professional member of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP).
We are proud of our members and we want our members to be proud of being a Rotarian. One way to show your pride for Rotary Sunrise is to bring a guest to our club meetings and share our club’s events and successes with friends, family and colleagues. But there is another way, as many of our members joined Rotary Sunrise for the networking opportunities why not show your Rotarian pride by adding your volunteer experience with Rotary Sunrise to your LinkedIn social networking account. If you have a professional LinkedIn account you can share the fact you are a Rotarian by adding volunteer experience to your profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile then consider setting one up today, it’s free and allows you to connect your professional connections that will likely include many Rotary members.
Be proud of your membership status, not only during Membership month but always, and show your professional network that you are Rotarian and have been for many years in different roles. Not only will your profile get more positive activity but it may also encourage one of your connections to reach out to you as a potential Sunrise member. To learn more about LinkedIn visit https://www.linkedin.com.
RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) was a huge success! The 28 young participants were so energized on their final day of the 4-day conference as they wanted to go out into the community and use the new leadership skills and friendships they created.
Over the four days, the teens learned about themselves through leadership skills, testing, games, special guest speakers, socializing, and community service work. Within the last hour of the conference, everyone had their moment to share anything they wanted to about the conference. All had positive comments to say, but a repeated message was how much they enjoyed the RYLA training over other leadership courses they have been on. Many were “encouraged” to sign up by their parents as they truly did not want to do it, but they all freely admitted they are so glad they did. They all made lasting friendships and they are eager to get involved with RYLA again next year. They are also interested in helping to start up an Interact club so they can apply their leadership within the local community and hopefully internationally.
In one word, RYLA Cayman was AMAZING! To see some of the posted photos from the conference visit the RYLA Cayman Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/rylacayman.
The Sunrise Leadership team attended the formal dinner on Saturday night at the RYLA conference. Guest speaker Rashad Jones gave an inspiring and motivating after dinner talk to the youngsters and the young at heart in attendance. Four of the attendees were presented with awards on the evening giving them an all expense paid to next year's RYLA in the US. Amongst the winners was Zoe Conolly Basdeo.
After dinner the conference registrants danced the evening away with the counsellors. Sunrise was one of the conference sponsors which was free of charge to all attendees.
Polo Shirts
Because of an overwhelming response for Navy Blue polo shirts, we are going to hold down costs and eliminate the White polo shirtoption.
The "men's" style is a traditional polo while the "women's" style has more of a v-neck layout to the buttons. If you want to change your shirt style, please let me know.
The polo shirts have a traditional embroidered Rotary logo and club name on the front. The cost for each shirt is CI$28.
T-Shirts
The t-shirts come in two designs and two colors. The “island” design will be in blue and the “handprint” design in gray. The cost for each t-shirt is CI$11.
Size Note: Many members order their t-shirts one size larger than the polo shirts as the t-shirts are used in service projects and need a little more "working space."
No payment is needed yet.
You have two options to ensure we can place a large order promptly for as many members as possible.
Option 1) Respond to an upcoming email with sizes and quantities, include your name next to the order to allow Director Patrick to copy and paste. Examples:
The Sunrise Literacy Committee has an action-packed year ahead. September marks the start of a new school year, and what better time for Rotarians the world over to celebrate and raise awareness about literacy and basic education. We will kick-off the month raising awareness about the importance of developing good literacy skills from a young age, and will celebrate International Literacy Day (8th September) with volunteer readings at local schools and dictionary-donations to Year 7 students in local schools.
It is essential to help our children develop good literacy skills whilst at school so that they can make the best of future employment and other opportunities in their adult lives. Low literacy levels drive inequality in a population and have been linked to poverty and higher levels of crime. Throughout September, we will raise awareness and encourage members of our community to get involved, perhaps by becoming a volunteer paired-reader for LIFE(Literacy is for Everyone) for the school year.
LIFE is a charitable organisation (formed by a group of Sunrise Rotarians and Chaired by PP Woody Foster) which seeks to significantly increase literacy levels in the Cayman Islands. LIFE run a number of literacy programmes in the public schools and will be holding its signature corporate fundraiser, the 2015 LIFE Scrabble Scrum on Tuesday 29th September at Abacus, Camana Bay. Corporate teams will go head to head with little more than a Scrabble board, letter tiles and their speedy word-forming skills to hand. Our MC, Rotarian Patrick Kreitlow, will throw in some new challenges and keep the teams honest. We hope to see lots of Sunrise Rotarians involved in the competition, whether participating in a corporate team or volunteering as a judge/scorer. The KPMG team were the worthy 2014 Champions – will they successfully defend their title next month?
District Governor Felix Stubbs and First Lady Carla Stubbs recently learned all about Sunrise’s literacy plans for the year during their visit, and expressed a special interest in the concept of the Scrabble Scrum competition. A number of schools in Jamaica have Scrabble groups and First Lady Carla was keen to see if a Scrabble Scrum competition would take-off there. Sunrise’s Literacy Committee hopes to assist its fellow Rotarians in Jamaica to host their first inter-school Scrabble Scrum competition this year. LIFE also hopes to host its second Inter-High School Scrabble Scrum competition in March 2016.
This year, alongside the annual District 7020 Butterfly Storybook Competition, the Buy-A-Kid-A-Book fundraiser, and the annual joint-Club Fred Speirs Interschool Debate Competition, the Rotary Sunrise Literacy Committee will be ‘adopting’ Bodden Town Primary School’s library for the year. We will assist the school with organising the library books, doing volunteer readings for the students and donating books, bean-bags and other items to improve the library environment.
It’s going to be a fun and busy year for the Sunrise Literacy Committee! All Club members are encouraged to get involved – please contact Literacy Director Su Mander for further information. You can also visit LIFE’s website www.life.org.ky for information about their literacy programmes.
Zoë Conolly Basdeo is a Year 11 student at Cayman Prep and High School. With a Montessori foundation, Zoë excels as a student and participates in several extra-curricular activities. She has especially enjoyed the Model United Nations (MUN) programme and recently attended the Yale Model Government Europe session in Budapest, Hungary. She appreciated this opportunity to tackle world problems with others who were willing to discuss and debate difficult topics.
No stranger to difficult topics, as a 7-year-old, Zoë was a community advocate to save the local Ironwood forest. At 12 years of age, under the guidance of local filmmakers, she wrote, produced and directed a public service announcement for the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre. At 13, Zoë spent a summer working with a local artist assisting with an art camp and learning the business side of being an artist, and did so again this summer. At 14, an assignment by her English teacher led her to document Cayman’s social and cultural environment and its impact on her life as a young Caymanian. This essay was the basis for her selection as a TedxSevenMileBeach speaker. Additionally, this summer she was selected to participate in a UWC short program called "Religion In India", which aimed to educate participants about the multitude of religions present in India and their impact on modern society.
Zoë is the daughter of Ms. Marilyn Conolly and Dr. Dax Basdeo, and she aspires to attain an international and multicultural education.
Rotarians, Rotaractors Unlesash Awesomeness on the Brac
Photo credits: Gina McBryan (left), Rotaract Club of Grand Cayman Facebook page (right)
This past weekend, the Rotaract Club of Grand Cayman partnered with Youth Services to help with a service project on Cayman Brac. The trip began with a celebrity basketball game on Friday evening where local players came out to play a friendly game against visiting Rotaractors. Food was available and the music was courtesy of some local high schoolers who would put some professional DJ’s to shame.
Saturday morning started off early as we all were prepared for some community service work at the local Youth Centre. The existing youth development centre needed some TLC with a fresh coat of paint. As we primed and painted the room, we fellowshipped with other youth volunteers who came over from Grand Cayman to help with the project. Past Rotaract President and past Sunrise member Victor Crumbley organized the event in partnership with our Rotaractors. We also had the opportunity to work alongside Rotary Brac President Lauriese who also shared information on some other projects we could partner with in the future.
Once the service work was done, it was time for some lunch and then some sightseeing of popular Brac spots with our very own tour guide, Rotaract President Matthew Seales. Our tour of the island included a long beach hike in the hot sun to see the bluffs, south end light house where the white butterflies are everywhere, and several caves including the historical Rebecca’s Cave. In the evening, we enjoyed a community fellowship in honour of Jamaican Independence and food was courtesy of the Rotary Brac club. In total there were 7 Rotaractors and 2 Rotarians (Paulette from Central and Gina from Sunrise) who participated in this service project and island trip. Our hope is to continue to partner and engage in fellowship with more service projects.
As this was a project organized by the Rotaract Club, come out to our joint club meeting this Wednesday to hear more about their project. #kacaw
Back in 2013, all of the Grand Cayman service clubs joined together for a common purpose: an eduction program about recycling called "Join In." This past Thursday, Past President of Kiwanis Kadi Pentney and Vice President of Rotary Sunrise Gina McBryan had the opportunity to present to a group of young students ages 13-16 who were participating in the short summer programme of UWC in East End. The UWC short program was a 4-day event to help teach our next generation of community leaders how to be responsible for a sustainable future.
The "Join In" recycling presentation was the first presentation to help kick off the programme, and the kids were presented with a bin to use over the 4 days to collect recyclables instead of tossing items in the trash. We were glad to see 2 familiar young Sunriser faces in the crowd, Anja van Genderen and Tyler Lawson.
To learn more about our joint service club initiative and how to recycle in Cayman, visit www.JoinIn.ky
During last week’s meeting, Past President J.D. Mosely-Matchett described the Rotary Leadership Institute and its upcoming programs.
RLI courses are designed for Rotarians who have the potential for future club leadership (not necessarily as club presidents) and provide them with a quality education in Rotary knowledge and the leadership skills that are so important in voluntary organizations.
RLI offers courses in three sessions. Those completing each course are eligible for the next. There are Graduate courses available to those who have completed the three-part RLI curriculum.
PART I – “THE ROTARIAN” Your introduction to the RLI experience. Emphasis is placed on providing an overview of Rotary programs and helping develop ideas that participants can take back to their Rotary Clubs.
PART II – “THE ROTARY CLUB” Focus is placed on fostering the qualities of a knowledgeable Rotarian by building on the basics learned in Part I. The day includes an individual analysis of your Rotary Club and its effectiveness.
PART III – “THE ROTARY JOURNEY” Learn about opportunities available to you and your club through RI and how to best utilize them. Understand what it means to be a Rotarian and how you can use your RLI knowledge to better serve your club.
RLI will be held in Cayman on October 3-4. Part I will be offered on Saturday from 8:00am to 3:30pm. Part II will be offered on Sunday. Part III is offered on Saturday for those who have already taken the first two classes. Each class is $95.
Registration has just closed for an RLI cruise aboard the Independence of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) from December 10-13 as it sails from Fort Lauderdale to Cozumel and back. You can contact Steve Leichner at PSL Travel (877-387-4460) if you want to see if any space is still available.
Rashad Jones has spoken to over 60,000 individuals worldwide in the past fifteen years. He’s been featured in a book entitled, “Men on a Mission: Valuing Youth Work in our Communities” authored by Professor William Marsiglio PhD., University of Florida.
Rashad always wows his audiences with his positive ‘freestyle rapping’.He has a solid reputation as a highly sought after, effective, relatable, professional and gifted youth speaker. Rashad has a wealth of knowledge in working with young people. He has worked with public and private schools, school districts, faith-based organizations, government agencies, county health departments, churches, juvenile detention facilities, non-profit organizations, service organizations, colleges, universities and community-based youth programs.
Rashad is the Founder and Director of EPIC Youth Services, LLC. which specializes in youth motivational speaking, outreach event planning, program consultation, and program development. He is passionate about working with organizations that are looking for new and effective strategies to positively impact the youth and families in their communities.Rashad brings a creative and effective approach to every project that he works on. His goal is to ignite the fuse of positive change in every young person that he meets. Many have referred to him as the best Freestyle rapper throughout the entire state of Florida. His freestyle always proves to be a great connecting tool with all of the youth audiences that he works with. He uses this skill to build effective bridges for communicating important messages and difficult topics to youth.
As you can see below, in an article from the July 7, 2010 edition of the Rotary Sun, the Happy Dollar has a storied place in Rotary history as a way to get members talking beyond their closest table mates about what’s new in their lives, their jobs and the Cayman community.
The fines levied in Rotary Clubs help each club do good things, so it’s only right that the coffers should be built up by sharing some good news. Fines can be about more than missteps, barbs and late arrivals.
So get those dollars ready a little earlier in the meeting and tell us something that’s made you happy during the past week.
Sunrise Rotarians are starting to collecting clothing and other small items that will be greatly appreciated by the families to be helped on our next Guaruma mission trip.
As reported in last year’s Rotary Sun, “Several members of the Sunrise Club visited the communities of Las Mangas and El Pital in the Pico Bonito National Park, Honduras, over the last weekend of September. Sunrise has a long standing relationship with ‘Guaruma’, a non-profit organization set up in 2002, to run after school educational programs in the area, focusing on environmental awareness for the local inhabitants.”
Past trips have included ophthalmic, medical and dental examinations and basic medical screening and treatment. Also, students have been taught photography. It serves an educational purposes, allows people to express themselves creatively, and sales of the artwork helps provide a source of income.
The Sunrise group provides their time and skills voluntarily, and the medical professionals who come along donate equipment and drugs.
The team will also distributes clothing which had been donated and collected by the club in anticipation of the trip.
Director Pat Steward is now accepting donations of used clothing for children and adults; toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss; non-prescription sunglasses and reading glasses. Dates for the next Guaruma trip should be confirmed shortly.
The November 5, 2014 Rotary Sun has more about the Rotarians who made a difference during last year’s visit.
The Rotary Club of Pune Katraj in India is putting out a call for entries in its annual Global Essay Competition. ROGEC winners receive a 5-day trip to India to visit the club as well as historical sites and see various cultural highlights.
Club President Suvarna Kutwa says the essay theme of “Peace” is designed to encourage a constructive dialogue and provide a platform so that any citizen in the world can express themselves on global issues concerning peace.
Rotary & Rotaract Share Ideas for Successful Month
Happy August!
Without a doubt … it’s summertime! It’s hot, hot, hot everywhere, and things are certainly heating up around District 7020. Clubs are still buzzing with excitement for the fresh new year, the slate of scheduled plans and activities is in full swing, and there’s clearly the desire for collaboration in service and collective success. What’s hotter than all that?
This month is Membership Extension and Promotion Month and, of course, I encourage us all to engage in efforts and activities in line with the shared goal of inviting people to join the Rotaract family and taking care of our fellow partners in service. Recruiting, retaining, and educating members helps clubs stay effective and dynamic – all essential to the continued growth and strength of Rotaract and the wider Rotary family.
One of the best ways to meet all these goals is to make club meetings, service activities, and social events interesting, fun, and worthwhile. Members will feel in touch and feel like they’re making a difference, and prospects will be drawn toward being a part of that, too.
Over the last month, we’ve seen clubs celebrate the first meetings of the new year like it was midnight on 1 January with hats, streamers, and even New Year’s resolutions. Entire areas of clubs have taken over public and private spaces to support the District’s big goal of increasing awareness about and encouraging enough blood donations to save 10,000 lives in our region. And from the beach to the boat to the bar, from the mountains to the marina to the Monday evening chill spot, members have been getting together to further develop plans for the year, unwind after service projects, and just to lyme. Without a doubt, across the District, Rotaract is making waves.
Every club has unique needs and each area has a distinctive personality, so it’s important to know what will work best to ensure that your members and prospective members have an enlightening and engaging experience with Rotaract. I encourage you to utilise the many resources available to you for tips, insights, and guidance via Rotary.org. Until you do, some quick tips for this month (and the entire year) are:
- Make prospective members feel welcome and thank them for their interest in being a part of this organisation.
- Keep members engaged and thank them for showing up to make their contributions – big and small.
- Share your activities – service and fellowship – with us and the world through your online social profiles and website. For August, please use the hashtag #RotaractD7020Pride to highlight how proud we are to be members, how we celebrate our accomplishments, and show our excitement to welcome others into the organization. Also use the usual #RotaractD7020 so we can all follow along!
And if you think for one minute that the world isn’t watching, think again. In the first four weeks of July, 95 people have registered for the annual Rotaract District Conference in my beloved Cayman Islands from 8 – 12 June 2016, and the roster of registrants includes Rotaractors from Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago! Even outside District 7020, people are loving, following and wanting to be a part of what we do. I think District Governor Felix will be delighted that we too are ready to UnleashTheAwesome7020!
I hope that your plan of activities for August will give you a solid boost in your efforts to build a continually happy, healthy, and thriving club with eager, dedicated, and vibrant members.
Yours in Rotaract Service,
Marzeta Bodden, District Rotaract Representative
RYLA is a leadership development program run by Rotary. While participants can be any age, most events focus on secondary school students, university students, or young professionals. RYLA events are typically 3–10 days long and include presentations, activities, and workshops that cover a variety of topics, including leadership fundamentals and ethics, communication skills, problem solving and conflict management, community and good citizenship and personal growth.
Its also about encouraging leadership of youth by youth.
The event in Cayman is for 15–18 year olds, and runs from August 13-16. It is organized by Rotary Central and sponsored jointly by the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of the Cayman Islands. Rotary Sunrise has donated $5000 towards the costs associated with putting on the event which is free of cost for all 36 registrants. The facilitators for the conference are experienced ones from RYLA District 6970 in
Florida, and the programme is based on the RYLA programme offered in that District.
Rotarians are invited to observe the sessions The main days of group sessions will take place on Saturday, August 15th at the UCCI auditorium and will commence at 9:00 am running through until 4:00pm and again on Sunday 16th from 9:00 until 2:00 pm at the UCCI auditorium.
Highlights of the activities will include the registrants participating in community service projects on Friday morning and the formal dinner on Saturday evening.
Rotarians are invited to attend the Saturday dinner at the George Town Yacht Club. It begins at 6:15pm, and the cost is $35 per person.
President Christine and President Sandy from Rotary Central made a recent appearance on Cayman 27's Daybreak broadcast as Cayman's Rotary Clubs made history by inducting all women presidents! The other two leaders are Lauriese Ashman who is the President of Rotary Club of Cayman Brac and Rotary Club of Grand Cayman’s is Lynda Mitchell.
President Christine called the interview was an opportunity to inspire women to come forward and be a part of Rotary and serve their community.
Members and guests are invited to a fun night out under the skies at Kaibo. Enjoy the Luna del Mar feast while socializing with fellow Rotarians and guests. Come by boat or drive out. Water taxi leaves Camana Bay at 6pm and will arrive at Kaibo around 6:45pm (round trip cost for the water taxi is $20 per person)
Kaibo feast is CI$50 per person + gratuity extra
Register yourself and your guests.
Kaibo Beach is a very special place, there are few places in this world where you can live out your desert island dreams of palm trees and white sand beaches, and still have a high class dining experience every month. With the global notoriety that the Luna Del Mar Party has gained as being one of the best beach bashes in the world, we get more than our fair share of Luna Lovers gracing our shores. Each year the scene here grows with the ever-increasing number of chill-out faithful that return, bringing their mates and spreading the vibe.
The Luna Del Mar monthly full moon dining experience is the ultimate celebratory dinner at Kaibo Beach. Dine under the stars to chill out beats, and enjoy the sky lantern display after dark.
August is Membership and Partnership Month and thus we want to announce a new game that our club will be playing for the month of August. It is called, “It’s in the BAG."
Beginning Wednesday 5th August and for each meeting or club event in August 2015, if you Bring A Guest (BAG) make sure you complete the entry form at the sign-in desk and place it in the BAG. At the end of August, one entry form will be drawn from the BAG and both the Rotarian and the Guest on that winning form will win two (2) free breakfast each at a future Rotary Sunrise meeting at GTYC.
Guidelines for It’s in the BAG:
1. One slip per guest visit. All Sunrise Rotarians with Guests are welcome to participate even if your Guest has visited multiple times in the past.
2. The entry form must be placed in the BAG before the end of the meeting/event that the Guest attended.
3. Guests attending committee meetings during the month of August not included but community and fellowship events guests are eligible.
4. There is no cash value for the prize.
5. Have fun and know that you and your Guests are welcomed and appreciated!
So Bring A Guest (BAG) and get as many entry forms into that BAG as you want! Let’s share Rotary!
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As Rotarians, we all know the four-way test, our obligation to pay our dues, attend meetings, participate in our community and club events etc. However, are you also aware that upon joining a Rotary Club one of your obligations is "sharing Rotary"?
The policies of Rotary International clearly affirms that every individual Rotarian has an obligation to share Rotary with others and to help extend Rotary through proposing qualified persons for a Rotary club membership. Statistics suggests that less than 30 percent of members of most Rotary clubs have ever made the effort to propose a new member.
The Rotary policy on club membership states, "In order for a Rotary club to be fully relevant to its community and responsive to the needs of those in the community, it is important and necessary that the club include in its membership all fully qualified prospective members located within its territory".
Only a Rotarian may propose a new member. Have you accepted your obligation to share Rotary? Do you know a customer, neighbor, client, Supplier, Executive, professional or family member who could be an excellent Rotarian or even a Rotaractor and can benefit from Rotary and would like to be involved in giving back to their community? Then it is very simple, during the month of August in particular, as it is Membership and Partnership month, I encourage you to invite that person! We all know at least one person who should belong to Rotary.
Looking forward to seeing your guests in one of our meetings!
Conflict Resolution & Four-Way Test Highlighted in District Projects
DG Felix and his wife Carla, also a Rotarian and Past President of the Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise, are beginning the term by announcing two Special Project competitions designed to make a positive impact in the Rotary community.
Says the DG’s announcement, “I ask you to transform our District from Success to Significance by using our own successes to accomplish a lasting legacy for others. Under First Lady Carla’s initiative, there are two special projects which align themselves with Rotary International Focus Areas.”
Peace and Conflict Resolution/Prevention Video Competition
An original video that shows an example of any type of conflict and promote a resolution of the conflict, or show why the conflict is bad for the community. The video may be taken by any means including a smartphone. It must be between three and five minutes long.
Four Way Test Song Competition
An original song that includes the words of the Four Way Test and identifies it as the Four Way Test. The song should give an interpretation of what the test means and/or how it can be applied in our lives. The song can be submitted in video format or in audio format along with the lyrics. Use of smartphone technology is acceptable.
Criteria for Judging
Relevance to Theme
Use of Technology
Creativity/Innovation
Incorporation of Local Culture
Community Appropriateness
Certificates will be awarded to all entrants. Trophies will be award to Country Champions in each category: Rotary Clubs, Rotary Alumni, Rotaract, Interact and EarlyAct Clubs) Trophies and money prizes will be awarded to the overall First, Second and Third-Place finishers in the District in each category. (Where a club is school-based, the money prize will be shared between the entrant and the school.)
Entrants will retain the rights to their work, but District 7020 and Rotary International will have complete rights to use and distribute all content as they deem fit. Entrants agree to take pictures and promote District 7020 and Rotary service as required.
Deadline: December 18, 2015
Entries must be reviewed and signed by the Assistant Governor before submission.
This is a placeholder if a story is needed with a reminder to pay dues. Email John and ask if he would like one, and for any new details to add to the July 1 story. Otherwise copy in most of the July 1 story.
As requested, following President Christine's two-part look of 2015-16 service priorities, the following slides from her Power Point illustrate how four key committees will be instrumental in helping Rotary Sunrise make a difference throughout the coming year.
This year we have two extraordinary events we have been asked to support: the RYLA Cayman conference for young people ages 15 – 18, and Rotaract District Conference in May. Other projects we will continue to support include EarlyAct, Rotaract Grand Cayman, School Meals (through Feed Our Future). “New” projects include the summer cooking camp from earlier this month and a Youth Crime Prevention Day in October at Clifton Hunter HS. Other possibilities include reviving a photo competition, vocational service signature project (like the Science Fair), InterAct and an etiquette project.
Rotary Sunrise will continue to support LIFE and traditional literacy projects, such as the Fred Spiers Interschool Debates, the Butterfly Story Book essay competition, the 7th Grade Dictionaries and others. New project proposals include Adopt a School Library (likely Bodden Town Primary School) with refurbishing, reorganizing and doing reading projects with students; and a revamped version of the old Bright Start program that targets young parents with materials that encourage reading to their new children. Other projects to consider include Guatemala, NCVO Reading Corner, Teacher Training and others.
Community Service leads, as always, with our annual donation to the disaster relief fund. Projects include the Health Fair (and becoming more involved so the Club can get more “bang” for our donation), the Pines Retirement Home Birthday Party and the Community Christmas parties, the Spotts Park and Beach clean-ups, the NCVO and CAYS Foundation, more hands-on projects, and donations for specific needs as they fit within goals set by RI & District 7020.
International Service priorities include grants for medical, education and community needs in Guaruma, and drinking water projects (including a new one in Mexico). Proposals include two items listed in District 7020 goals: a Birthing Kits program and a Malnutrition Prevention/Reduction program called “Project Peanut Butter.” International Service committee chair Pat Steward is research these.
This week’s newsletter is not a preview of the Wednesday morning meeting. There will not be a morning meeting this week. Instead, it is a reminder to join us on Friday evening for a special event.
New District Governor Felix Stubbs and his wife Carla will join us at Grand Old House. This is a dinner meeting for members and guests, the cost is $30 per person.
The meeting will be chaired jointly by the 3 Rotary Presidents and the 2 Rotaract Presidents. This event will count as our weekly meeting for attendance purposes.
If you have not yet registered, please go to ClubRunner and register you and your guests. If you are definitely unable to attend, please go online and decline the event.
Rotary Sunrise will be chairing the first part of the meeting. Please help ensure a strong showing from our club.
Wednesday morning meetings resume next week, July 22, at the George Town Yacht Club.
This is a gentle reminder to Director Su Mander that 100% attendance after two Club meetings is a small but appreciated achievement; however, no one is required to attempt 100% attendance as a winner of the weekly raffle! If you insist on having perpetual good luck in games of chance, the Club respectfully requests you bring back enough Powerball tickets for the rest of us during your next trip to the States!
(But yes, congratulations and thanks to everyone whose extra $5 and $10 help keep the coffers in good shape.)
Secretary Martha Connolly will provide a weekly "Rotary Minute" that reminds all of us of the good work done through our financial support of The Rotary Foundation.
Rotary's top priority is the eradication of polio, but our members take on far greater responsibilities to fight disease. They set up health camps and training facilities in undeveloped countries and in communities struggling with HIV/AIDS and malaria. They also design and build the infrastructure for doctors, nurses, governments, and partners to reach the one in six people in the world who can't afford to pay for health care.
There are a number of Rotary Action Groups which focus on health related challenges.
Alzheimer’s
Blindness prevention
Blood Donation
Dental volunteers
Diabetes
Family Health & AIDS Prevention
Health Education and Wellness
Hearing
Malaria
Multiple Sclerosis
Polio Survivors
Population growth
Disease prevention and treatment takes on many forms, from supporting studies to helping immunize people to improving drinking water and the sanitation infrastructure. The world relies on Rotary to tackle these global challenges, and to set an example for others to follow. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more.
This week's President's Message continues a series on what to expect from each area of Rotary Sunrise.
Community Service will be led by Rotarians Anthony and Joanne Lawson. This committee has a standing donation to local disaster relief making a $5,000 to the joint club disaster fund established after Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
The Committee will continue with long established projects such as supporting the Cayman Heart Fund’s Health Fair and the Pines Birthday and community Christmas parties. Support will be continued for the NCVO and CAYS Foundation facilities with more emphasis on hands-on projects. We will also continue to do “clean-up” projects at beaches and our parks, and rollout our benches at the hospital, parks and beaches to name just some of the projects planned.
Director Pat Steward is leading the charge on the International front. We are happy that the budget for this committee has been bolstered by a District Grant for the Guaruma project to cover the areas of education, health and community development. Club funds will also be used to assist this community in these three areas and a medical mission is once again planned for later this year.
Water projects will also feature once again in the plans for this year with assistance planned for projects in Cambodia, Zambia and Mexico. There are other new projects under consideration and more information will be forthcoming.
In addition to these projects, there are two district projects this year to be completed by December. The first of these is the production of a peace and conflict prevention/resolution video, and the second is a Four-Way Test Song Competition. It is hoped that Rotarians will partner with Rotactors and EarlyAct on these two projects.
Next week, plans for fundraising will be outlined.
2015-16 Preview: Community & International Service
The 2015-2016 Rotary International District 7020 logo was designed by Rotarian Joanne Smith. Joanne is a Communications, Advertising and Graphic Arts expert and is a past president of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, Nassau, The Bahamas.
In the logo, the arrow is used to show progression in the slogan Success to Significance. The arrow flows in a near-eternity symbol showing the constant flow of energy with which Rotarians pursue their objectives and goals across the District.
The yellow-gold stars represent the 10 territories that make up a sunny and golden District 7020. The stars are the same colour as the word "Success" because Rotary Clubs in District 7020 are successful. The word "Significance" is the same colour as the district emblem, a red hibiscus, because it portrays our drive to move successful clubs to clubs of significance district-wide.
In 2015-2016, Rotarians across District 7020 will strive to make Rotary service projects significant to our communities. All of the colours used reflect Rotary International's new visual identity colour palette. The black, aqua and yellow-gold are also colours of the Bahamian flag, representing the home of the sitting District Governor and the site of the 2016 District Conference. The yellow-gold also represents the brilliant sunshine of District 7020 and the golden attributes of its clubs in 10 territories where Rotary is a story of Success. The magenta is one of the most vibrant colours in the new Rotary colour palette. It represents life and how it flows through Rotarians and therefore becomes the appropriate colour to portray the word Significance. Magenta is also used in an interpretation of the red hibiscus which is our District emblem.
New District Governor Felix Stubbs will be visiting Cayman Islands Rotary Clubs next week and touring sites that show off our service in the community.
As a result, there will be no regular morning meeting next Wednesday, July 15. Instead there will be an evening function on Friday, July 17. Rotarians are invited along with spouses and special guests. This event will count toward regular attendance instead of the canceled meeting.
Details on the reception will be sent shortly by email.
Speaking of VIP guests...
Save the Date - More Info to Come
JANUARY 29, 2016
Celebrating 50 YEARS of ROTARY in CAYMAN
Guest: Rotary International President Ravi Ravindran
District Governor Visit Alters Next Week's Schedule
District Governor Felix N. Stubbs, MBE, D.H.L., is a citizen of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas with Turks and Caicos ancestry. He has been recognized in The Bahamas for his contribution to the commercial growth and economic progress of that country as well as for his involvement in community-building initiatives. Felix is a former President and General Manager of IBM Bahamas Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the IBM Corporation. He held that position for over 32 years, opting to take early retirement in 2014 so that he could devote more time to his Rotary obligations.
DG Felix is a passionate Rotarian. He is a past Assistant Governor of the Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas District 7020 (2007-2010), Disaster Relief Chair and Future Vision Area Coordinator for District 7020 and a Past President of The Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise. He began his Rotary service in 2001 as a charter member of his club.
DG Felix is married to Carla, also a Rotarian and a past president of the Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise, and has 2 adult children.
Sunrise Rotarians gathered at Ristorante Pappagallo this past Friday (June 27) to mark the Changeover that celebrates the 2014-2015 accomplishments and welcomes the 2015-2016 leadership team.
IPP Kim Remizowski thanked the Club and its supporters for making his year memorable. After reviewing the Club's achievements and challenges, he awarded special honors to several members.
Paul Harris Fellowships were awarded to several members: Treasurer John Lee, Pauline McGettigan, Uli Ecke, PP Woody Foster, Lynne Whittaker, Rotaract PP Danielle Japal, and Rotaract President Matthew Seales.
Rotarian Jerrell Garner was awarded Rookie of the Year for 2014-15.
Vice President Gina McBryan was awarded Rotarian of the Year.
PP Andrea Bryan and Rotarian Lynne Whittaker were given special recognition for their years of service, dating back as Charter Members of the Club, as each announced their retirement from Club activities for the coming year.
The ceremonies concluded with President Christine Matthews being formally inducted by Assistant Governor Eric Bush. President Christine opened with special thanks to Dr. Sook Yin for introducing her to Rotary Sunrise. She finished by sharing a special send-off given to her each morning by her husband, "Lord" Matthews, "smile, have a good day, and make someone have a better day for having met you."
Except frogs. The days will not be better for having met frogs during President Christine's term, based on phobias and funny stories shared by a small but determined band of ranidaphobes!
Frogs notwithstanding, Sunrise Rotarians were urged to embrace this year's theme to "Be a Gift to the World."
Congratulations to Glen Trenouth, the 2015 winner of the Audi Q5 grand prize in the Rotary Sunrise Car Raffle. Glen's winning ticket was drawn at the Island Living Show this past Saturday. The car, valued at $55,750, was an attractive draw for the purchase of thousands of tickets. The proceeds from ticket sales are a major source of Rotary Sunrise funds for service in the Cayman community at around the world. A representative from KPMG was on hard to oversee the drawing.
The second prize, a $3,000 security system, was won by Pavlov Rameau. And third prize, $1,000 worth of Rubis fuel, was won by Roy McTaggart.
The 2015-2015 club officers and raffle organizers wish to express their deepest gratitude to every Rotarian and volunteer who played a role in selling tickets, promoting the raffle and supporting those who worked to make our biggest annual fundraiser a success.
March Birthdays
Berna Cummins, 4-Mar
Frans Vandendries, 15-Mar
Martha Connolly, 16-Mar
Bina Mani, 21-Mar
David Watler, 27-Mar
Sunrise Club Membership Anniversaries
Chris Bowring, 15 years on 1-Mar
Ian Comins, 3 years on 2-Mar
John Lee, 2 years on 20-Mar
Faye Lippitt, 1 year on 20-Mar
Gina McBryan, 2 years on 20-Mar
Jocelyn Moss, 1 year on 20-Mar
Krishna Mani, 4 years on 31-Mar
Happy Birthday
1st January – Dawn Cummings
5th January – Anthony Cowell
5th January - Hendrik-Jan van Genderen
6th January – Tony Catalanotto
13th January – JD Mosley Matchett
14th January – Christopher Bowring
15th January – Bob Kostich
16th January - Dorothy Crumbley
19th January – Ian Comins
27th January – Krishna Mani
Rotary Anniversary
1st January – Gordon Hewitt 38 years
1st January – Alastair Paterson 31 years
3rd January – Greg Brooks 7 years
4th January – Mark Macfee 8 years
18th January – Winston Connolly 11 years
Literacy is a fundamental human right and the foundation for lifelong learning. It is crucial to social and human development and is an instrument of empowerment to improve one's health, one's income, and one's life. According to UNESCO (United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation) the number of illiterate persons in the world has fallen over the past decade, however 775 million adults (64% of whom are women) still lack basic reading and writing skills. In 2010, the global adult literacy rate was 84.1%, compared to 89.6% for youth.
December Birthdays
David Reid, Dec. 02
Jennison Nunez, Dec. 05
Wendy Koll, Dec. 07
Niko Whittaker, Dec. 09
Conor Jennings, Dec. 10
John Lee, Dec. 20
Anthony Lawson, Dec. 22
Colleen Mellott, Dec. 29
Alastair Paterson, Dec. 30
Sunrise Club Membership Anniversaries
J.D. Mosley-Matchett, 5 years, Dec. 05
Sandra Finnegan, 1 year, Dec. 7
Betsy Kelly, 1 year, Dec. 07
Niko Whittaker, 2 years, Dec. 15
Christopher Anco, 2 years, Dec. 15
Paul Drake, 8 years, Dec. 15
Pavlov Rameau, 2 years, Dec. 15
Andrew Scott, 2 years, Dec. 15
Christian Cartagena, 3 years, Dec. 16
Eddie Balderamos, 5 years, Dec. 19
Colleen Mellott, 6 years, Dec. 20
Here's the list of members performing the respective duties for this week's meeting.
Greeter: Rotarian Donald Aitken
Grace: Rotarian TBA during meeting
Four Way Test: Rotarian TBA during meeting
Raffle: Rotarian Pat Steward Sergeant's Assistant: Rotarian David Reid Sergeant: Rotarian Ian Comins
Visiting Rotarians on 4 July 2012 (as signed in): Nigel Twohey, Rotary Club of South East Nassau
Jim Rich, Rotary Club of Asheboro North Carolina
Guests of Rotarians on 4 July 2012 (as signed in): Mark McBryan - Guest of Rotarian Gina McBryan Joe Zahn - Guest of Rotarian Glen Trenouth James Melen - guest of Jonathan Adam
Here's the list of members performing the respective duties for this week's meeting:
Greeter: Rotarian Gina McBryan Grace: Rotarian TBA Four Way Test: Rotarian TBA Raffle: Rotarian Pavlov Rameau Sergeant's Assistant: Rotarian David Reid Sergeant: Rotarian Jonathan Adam
Here's the list of members performing the respective duties for this week's meeting:
Greeter: Rotarian Chris Lumsden Grace: Rotarian Kevin Butler Four Way Test: Rotarian Chris Anco Raffle: Rotarian Alan Brady Rotary Minute: No minute this week Sergeant's Assistant: Rotarian David Reid Sergeant: Rotarian Kevin Butler
Visiting Rotarians on 13 June 2012 (as signed in): Nova Hall, Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Central
Guests of Rotarians on 13 June 2012 (as signed in):
Katie Bell - Guest of Rotarian Gina McBryan
Duncan McBryan - Guest of Rotarian Gina McBryan
Cullan McBryan - Guest of Rotarian Gina McBryan
Kent Green - Guest of Director Glen Trenouth
Joe Zain - Guest of Director Glen Trenouth
Sure, we all know what fellowship (singular) means, but Rotary International means something quite special when adding an "s" to that word. In short, Rotary.org offers the following definition.
Rotary Fellowships are autonomous, international groups of Rotarians, Rotarian spouses, and Rotaractors who join together to:
•Share a common interest in worthwhile recreational activities (sports, hobbies, etc.)
•Further their vocational development through acquaintance with others of the same profession
•Make new friends around the world
•Explore new opportunities for service
•Have fun and enhance their Rotary experience
The 2011-2012 list of official Rotary Fellowships is extensive, encompassing interests ranging from Amateur Radio to Yachting. (What? No Zoologists???)
Other Rotary Fellowships include Antique Cars, Authors & Writers, Bird Watching, Bridge, Canoeing, Caravanning, Carnivals, Chess, Computer Users, Convention Goers, Cricket, Curling, Cycling, Doctors, Doll Lovers, Editors & Publishers, Environment, Esperanto, Fine Arts & Antiques, Fishing, Flying, Golf, Gourmets, Home Exchange, Internet, Italian Culture, Jazz, Latin Culture, Lawyers, License Plate Collecting, Literacy Providers, Magicians, Magna Graecia, Marathon Running, Motorcycling, Music, Old & Rare Books, Photography, Police & Law Enforcement Professionals, Pre-Columbian Civilizations, Quilters, Railroads, Recreational Vehicles, Rotary Global History, Rotary Heritage & History, Rotary on Stamps, Scouting, Scuba Diving, Shooting Sports, Singles, Skiing, Social Networks, Tennis, Total Quality Management, Travel Agents, Travel & Hosting, Wellness & Fitness, and Wine.
(Not surprisingly, our club has Sunrisers who are proud members of the Rotary Wine Felloship. Sounds like a fun group, doesn't it?)
There's also a list of proposed Fellowships that Rotarians are trying to launch: Puzzles, Dancing, Film Producers, Mapping & GIS, Intellectual Property, Safari, Mountain Gorilla Tracking, CPAs, Ice Hocky, and Holiday Properties...just to name a few.
If any of those Rotary Fellowships strike a resonant chord for you, just go online to www.RotaryFellowships.org and you'll find contact information that will allow you to come together with other Rotarians around the world who share your interests.
Here's the list of members performing the respective duties
for this week's meeting:
Greeter: Rotarian Richard Purdom
Grace: Rotarian Gina McBryan
Four Way Test: Rotarian Gareth Pulman
Raffle: Rotarian Irene Gut
Rotary Minute: No minute this week
Sergeant's Assistant: Rotarian David Reid
Sergeant: Rotarian Conor Jennings
Here's the list of members performing the respective duties for this week's meeting:
Greeter: Rotarian Shannon Sylvestre Grace: Rotarian Geoff Matthews Four Way Test: Rotarian Wendy Koll Raffle: Rotarian Chris Lumsden Rotary Minute: No minute this week Sergeant's Assistant: Rotarian David Reid Sergeant: Rotarian Dawn Cummings
Here's the list of members performing the respective duties for this week's meeting:
Greeter: Rotarian John Lee Grace: Director Deborah Chambers Four Way Test: Rotarian Alan Brady Raffle: Rotarian Debbie Strassburg Rotary Minute: no minute this week Sergeant's Assistant: Rotarian Christian Cartagena Sergeant: Rotarian Jonathan Adam
Here's the list of members performing the respective duties for this week's meeting:
Greeter: Rotarian John Lee Grace: Rotarian Deborah Chambers Four Way Test: Rotarian Alan Brady Raffle: Rotarian Debbie Strassburg Rotary Minute: No minute this week Sergeant's Assistant: Rotarian Christian Cartagena Sergeant: Rotarian Dawn Cummings
Here's the list of members performing the respective duties for this week's meeting:
Greeter: Rotarian Betsy Kelly Grace: Rotarian Gina McBryan Four Way Test: Rotarian Daniel Lee Raffle: Rotarian Glen Trenouth Rotary Minute: IPP Michael Levitt Sergeant's Assistant: Rotarian Christian Cartagena Sergeant: VP J.D. Mosley-Matchett
Here's the list of members performing the respective duties for this week's meeting:
Greeter: IPP Michael Levitt Grace: Rotarian Alan Brady Four Way Test: Rotarian Barbara Oosterwyk Raffle: Rotarian Maree Martin Rotary Minute: Rotarian Raquel Solomon Sergeant's Assistant: Rotarian Christian Cartagena Sergeant: Rotarian Kevin Butler
Here's the list of members performing the respective duties for this week's meeting:
Greeter: Rotarian Berna Cummings Grace: Rotarian Victor Corcoran Four Way Test: Rotarian Donald Aitken Raffle: Rotarian Gina McBryan Rotary Minute: PP Hendrik van Genderen Sergeant's Assistant: Rotarian Christian Cartagena Sergeant: Rotarian Conor Jennings
Here's the list of members performing the respective duties for this week's meeting:
Greeter: Rotarian Dr John Lee Grace: Rotarian Donald Aitken Four Way Test: VP J.D. Mosley-Matchett Raffle: Rotarian Debbie Strassberg Rotary Minute: Secretary Frank Balderamos Sergeant's Assistant: Rotarian Christopher Lumsden Sergeant: Rotarian Dawn Cummings
Simon Amesbury, 8-Apr
Christopher Anco, 10-Apr
Joanne Lawson, 10-Apr
Patricia Steward, 10-Apr
Ciara Aspinall, 15-Apr
Pavlov Rameau, 16-Apr
Garth Arch, 20-Apr
Ron Stoll, 26-Apr
Kim Remizowski, 30-Apr
Sunrise Club Membership Anniversaries
Howard Cross, 4 years on 9-Apr
Kim Remizowski, 9 years on 9-Apr
Alistair MacDonald , 1 year on 13-Apr
Christopher Bowring, 10 years on 18-Apr
Dawn Cummings, 10 years on 18-Apr
Doyle Dally, 10 years on 18-Apr
Geoff Mathews, 10 years on 18-Apr
Jennison Nunez, 10 years on 18-Apr
Margaret (Meg) Paterson, 5 years on 18-Apr
Hendrik-Jan van Genderen, 10 years on 18-Apr
Simon Watson, 10 years on 18-Apr
Lynne Whittaker, 10 years on 18-Apr
Maree Martin, 6 years on 20-Apr
Deirdre McFarlane, 2 years on 21-Apr
Frans Vandendries, 2 years on 21-Apr
Frank Balderamos, 3 years on 29-Apr
Patricia Steward, 4 years on 30-Apr
Here's the list of members performing the respective duties for this week's meeting:
Greeter:Rotarian Gina McBryan Grace:Director Woody Foster Four Way Test: Rotarian John Lee Raffle:Rotarian Barbara Oosterwyk Rotary Minute: PP Winston Conolly Sergeant's Assistant:Rotarian Andy Scott Sergeant: VP JD Mosley-Matchett
Greeter – Rotarian Daniel Lee Grace – Rotarian Shannon Sylvestre 4-Way Test – Rotarian Pauline McGettigan Raffle – Rotarian Daniel Lee Rotary Minute – Rotarian Ian Comins Sergeant – Rotarian Jonathan Adam Sergeant’s Assistant – (TBD)
Dawn Cummings, Jan. 01 Tony Cowell, Jan. 05 Hendrik-Jan van Genderen, Jan. 05 Tony Catalanotto, Jan. 06 J.D. Mosley-Matchett, Jan. 13 Christopher Bowring, Jan. 14 Bob Kostich, Jan. 15 Ian Comins, Jan. 19
Sunrise Club Membership Anniversaries
Franz Manderson, 3 years, Jan. 01 Alastair Paterson, 29 years, Jan. 01 Greg Brooks, 5 years, Jan. 03 Simon Amesbury, 6 years, Jan. 04 Kevin Butler, 6 years, Jan. 04 Tara Handal, 6 years, Jan. 04 Mark Macfee, 6 years, Jan. 04 Winston Connolly, Jr., 9 years, Jan. 18 Richard Purdom, 4 years, Jan. 30
The excitement was in the air as people geared up to play Blackjack, Craps, Roulette and Texas Hold 'em on Saturday night. Everyone was in their finest and judging by the looks on their faces a good time was had by all. once again Rotary Sunrise worked together to bring the island another great event. Thanks to everyone for their participation and their enthusiasm - the Fundraising Team.
May is "Promote International Convention" month and with the convention being held in New Orleans this year, the unofficial city motto ("Laissez les bons temps rouler" translated as "Let the good times roll") clearly sets the theme for this international gathering of Rotarians.
The convention officially begins on Saturday, May 21st and lasts until Wednesday the 25th. However, many people will arrive early (and/or stay past the 25th) to enjoy some of the local food, sights, and entertainment that the city of New Orleans is famous for worldwide.
It isn't too late to register. You can still register online via Member Access on the Rotary.org website through May 6th, or you can download the on-site registration form and bring it with you. The registration booth will be open from May 19th at the ErnestN.MorialConvention Center.
If you're wondering why you should attend, here's what it says on the RI website:
By participating in an RI Convention, you’ll gain a broader appreciation of Rotary’s global impact and strengthen your commitment to service. And seeing a convention may move your invited guests to become Rotarians, too.
Here are some other great reasons to attend a convention:
Service projects. Find out how fellow Rotarians developed their service projects by visiting club and district project booths. You can also partner with other Rotarians in an international project or exchange.
The Rotary Foundation. Learn more about PolioPlus and other Foundation programs during plenary sessions and workshops that show how Rotarians take humanitarian action and promote peace and understanding throughout the world.
Development of future club leaders. Expand your network of international contacts by getting to know Rotary leaders and members from your own district, and become more involved in district plans.
Club administration. Attend a special workshop for incoming presidents and the Presidents-Elect Luncheon, where you can meet and exchange ideas with fellow leaders.
Family fun. With so much to do around the event, you and your family can plan a memorable vacation around the convention.
The promotion of literacy is a key objective of Rotary clubs worldwide.
Rotarians are often described as leaders in their fields and leaders are without exception literate and possess better than average communication skills.
How could Rotary put Service above Self without a foundation of literacy skills? If Rotarians are to serve the community, especially its disadvantaged members, literacy is the initial hurdle to overcome.
It is proven that early childhood intervention is the best time to address literacy issues. Children’s minds are being formed and are malleable, whereas adult illiteracy poses other hurdles which are by no means insurmountable but are by then intermingled with other issues.
Our own memories of reading as children should remind us that we had sponge like minds hungry to absorb stories and information.
It has been said that, “a child’s mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled”, and Rotarians the world over are spending their time contributing to keeping the fire of literacy alive.
It's filled with color and poetry and imaginative pictures. But most importantly, it introduces young minds to the benefits of living according to Rotary's Four-Way Test.
An advance copy of the character development book being published by Rotary Sunrise was presented to the club on March 2nd by Director Maree on behalf of the Literacy Committee. The book was written and illustrated by local artist and storyteller Nasaria Suckoo Chollette.
President Michael plans to take copies of the book to the District 7020 Conference in April and to the RI Convention in May so that Rotary Clubs across the Caribbean and around the world will be able to purchase the book and make it a part of their efforts to promote literacy.
Sophia-Ann Harris (nee Solomon) is the founder of the law firm Solomon Harris.
She is a council member of the Cayman Islands Law Society, and the Caymanian Bar Association. Sophia was the first female President of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman and is a Past Assistant Governor. Sophia is a Past President of the Chamber of Commerce and has addressed the United Nations on a number of occasions for the Chamber, including the United Nations General Assembly on constitutional matters for the Cayman Islands. She has also served as a member of the Labour Appeals Tribunal, served as Chairman of the Cayman Islands Business Staffing Plan Board and is the current Chairman of the Immigration Appeals Tribunal.
"What it means to me to be a member of an organisation that is 106 years strong". Essentially you can speak about any aspect of Rotary that appeals to you; that has touched you; being part of the young Sunrise club (only 9) that is in turn part of the 106 year old Rotary....you have absolute freedom of choice.
President Michael sent me an email a few weeks ago and said I had been “hand-picked” to make a presentation on Rotary’s 106th birthday on what it means to me to be a member of an organization that is 106 years strong and well it got me thinking a bit!
I had always heard about Rotary and my image was that of a service club with a primarily stuffy, elderly, silver-haired, professional male membership and maybe a few token female members. It was out there raising funds and doing work in the community.
President Michael has asked me to speak about “ What it means to me to be a member of an Organization that is 106 years strong”.
For me, being a member of an organization that is 106 years strong has shown that the services we, as Rotarians, provide to our community; how as individuals, we can be inspired to do great good for others and without realizing it, inspire others to join Rotary and help make the world a better place through the various avenues of service.
Guests of Rotarians on 23 February 2011 (as signed in): Camille Josephs, guest of Finley Josephs Finley Josephs, guest of IPP Winston Wendy Koll, guest of Rotarian Pauline Michael Torres, guest of Rotarian Christian Anthony Cowell, guest of Rotarian Greg Stacy Parker, guest of Honorary Rotarian Margaret Chris Lumsden, guest of Dir. Kim Alistair McDonald, guest of PP Chrs Enoka Richens, guest of Rotarian Berna
Visiting Rotarians on 23 February 2011 (as signed in): Benny Moore, Rotary Club of of Grand Cayman Marcos Montana, Rotary Club of of Grand Cayman PDG Chuck Mason, Rotary Club of Beaumont, TX, USA President Nominee Becky Mason, Rotary Club of Beaumont, TX, USA
--A Literacy Month article submitted by Dir. Maree--
Rotary Partners with another International Organization, the International Reading Association to promote Literacy at the Community and International Level.
A dilly bag is a traditional Australian Aboriginal woven fiber bag used by indigenous women for carrying food. A Rotary District 9600 literacy project adopted the name and filled its dilly bags with storybooks distributed in Queensland, Australia.
The project supports young indigenous students and their classmates as they develop emergent literacy skills. A “dilly bag kit” comes with 55 picture storybooks, craft materials, activity sheets to go with the stories, scrapbooks, a digital camera, and a teacher’s folder donated by a Rotary club to a kindergarten or school where indigenous Australian children are enrolled. A practical resource, the dilly bag kit provides younger students with enhanced opportunities for listening to stories, discussing them with older student mentors, and working together on creative responses to the literature.
A research scholarship awarded by the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA) for 2009–2010 provided an opportunity for a class teacher to work with a university partner to investigate how young indigenous students and older student reading mentors engaged with the dilly bag stories in a school setting.
Researchers found that the older student reading mentors reflected deeply on their responsibilities as mentors and clearly saw themselves as role models for younger students. The younger students also enjoyed the story-sharing experience and developed emergent literacy skills. Closer social relationships between the older and younger students were observed both during the mentoring sessions and on the playground.
For further information about the Tales From a Dilly Bag project contact Janelle Young, jyoung14@gmail.com" October 2010, Reading Today, 28(2), 9.
Rotarian Christian brought a special guest to the club meeting on February 23rd. Michael Torres, a New York City firefighter fled the snow and ice to soak up some Cayman warmth and Sunrise hospitality. He hoped to return on March 2nd before ending his vacation, so please make an extra effort to show him that we really are The Friendly Club!
NYC Firefighter Visits Cayman and Sunrise For Much Needed R&R
Regardless of whether you are a serious golfer or just an occasional putt-putt maven, Directors Shannon and Glen want you to sign up for a fun new way to raise money for our many charitable causes.
The balls will glow in the dark, the beer cart will be scooting about, and according to Director Shannon, PJs are optional. (Hmmm???)
Who says you can't have fun while doing good deeds? Be a player or a sponsor or both on Saturday, March 19th at North Sound Club!
Sunrise Rotarians led by VP Tony have decended upon Camana Bay to raise funds to eradicate polio. Last weekend and next weekend, Sunrisers are scheduled to show up on Friday and Saturday at the "End Polio Now" donation table near the cinema.
Be sure and stop by this weekend to offer your support and your spare change!
With his lovely wife standing by his side and his beaming sponsor PP Winston affixing the Rotary emblem to his collar, Finley Josephs joined the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise as its latest new member at the February 23rd club meeting.
Rotarian Finley has been so involved in club matters that he achieved a Heart of Rotary award even before being inducted into the club. Please welcome Rotarian Finleyas our newest member.
Night time drivers passing CamanaBay from February 23rd to March 9th will notice a larger than life message declaring Rotary’s pledge to rid the world of this crippling childhood disease. The message will first appear in lights against the side of an expansive office building in CamanaBay on the 106th anniversary of the humanitarian service organization’s inception.
For demonstrating an amazing ability to juggle more tasks than previously believed possible as the REDI V conference generated more than its share of twists and turns, PP Gordon was nominated for a Heart of Rotary award.
Director Frank was also granted a Heart of Rotary award for demonstrating the amazing ability to participate in three Sunrise projects during the course of a single day. That day was even more amazing because the club actually engaged in 6 projects on Saturday, February 5th...definitely a club record for "Building Communities and Bridging Continents" in one 24-hour period.
Gordon and Frank are great role models, great workers, and truly GREAT Rotarians!
Upholding its long-running tradition of providing long-stem red roses to all female members in honor of Valentine's Day, the Sunrise club once again distributed gorgeous blooms at the February 16th meeting. The few roses that were left over were snapped up by some of the male members, presumably to present to their own deserving sweethearts. (Isn't that right, gentlemen?)
Guests of Rotarians on 16 February 2011 (as signed in): Wendy Koll, guest of Rotarian Pauline Alistair MacDonald, guest of PP Chris Finley Josephs, guest of IPP Winston
Visiting Rotarians on 16 February 2011 (as signed in): PRID John Eberhard, Rotary Club of of London, Canada Andrea Balderamos, Rotaract Club of of Grand Cayman Marcos Montana, Rotary Club of of Grand Cayman PDG Robert Ketron, Rotary Club of Towsontowne, MD, USA President Adrean C. Russell, Rotaract Club of of Grand Cayman
Thursday 27 January, 2011, Audi Showroom – Camana Bay 5:30pm
1) District 7020 Team Sunrise – project leader – Rtn. Richard Purdom We are still waiting on confirmation from the Weston Club as to whether they will partner with us on the Montego Bay Matching Grant Project (St. James Community Centre). At the moment we are awaiting paperwork to be signed. Once that is done we can request Treasurer James forward our portion of the funds to Rotary International. Apparently the Weston Club is meeting on this issue within the week. Rtn. Richard and President Michael will press them for an answer – if they don’t have one soon the suggestion was made that we just push on without them.
If you find yourself sent far away by your job for an extended period of time, you do not have to surrender your membership in the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise!
As noted by President Michael when queried by the Board about Rotarian Nigel Twohey's status, according to the Club's By-Laws, Section 28 which is the sub-heading "Excused Absences" under the heading of "Attendance", By-Law 28(c) reads:
"A Member's Absence shall be excused if:
(c) a Member is working on an outposted assignment for an extended period of time such that attendance at the meetings of a designated club at the site of the assignment will replace attendance at the regular meetings of the Company (Club) provided that there is mutual agree to that effect between the clubs".
Four Sunrise Rotarians were part of a 16-person excursion to Cayman Brac as part of the REDI V disaster preparedness conference on Sunday, February 13th. President Michael, Rotarian Melissa, and Directors Pat and JD joined such international visitors as Rotary International Director Fred Hahn and Past RI Director John Eberhardt.
I do believe that we reached a new milestone in the history of Sunrise today as we were involved in 6 projects on one day!
Big thank you's to:
Andrea, Finley and the 10Ten10 team for setting up and manning our 10Ten10 exhibit at Art@Governors;
Kim and the cooking team who bbq'd and fed over 100 volunteers and artists at Art@Governors;
Alan and Debbie C with the JA team and our Achievers who first sold at Fosters and then at Governors Square;
Frank who opened the Youth workers programme that we are sponsoring at UCCI with 18 delegates;
Debbie S and her team that assisted with the unpacking of the furniture at the Frances Bodden Girls Home, where we sponsored the new air conditioning too.
Thank you so much - I do not know how many members were involved in total, but well over 20 and possibly close to 30, with some doing double duty and in Frank's case triple duty! Your community owes you a debt of gratitude.
Please see information below in regards to an opportunity to express your artistic talent while assisting with island recycling. Please address any questions to the organizer, Catherine Childs.
I'm organizing an Earth Day festival to be held at Camana Bay this year on Wednesday, April 27th. In honor of Earth day and as part of the festival I've created a recycling bin project. Tortuga Rum has agreed to donate their wooden barrels, I'll give them to local artists to paint in an Earth Day/natural Cayman theme, they'll be on display at the festival, and then we'll distribute them around the island to be used as recycling bins for aluminum cans. The Department of Environmental Health has even agreed to regularly pick up the cans for recycling. We'll concentrate on high visibility locations such as the Waterfront to increase recycling rates as well as Cayman's green image with our visitors. Every year we'll pick up the barrels and give them back to the artists (if they still want to participate) to re-do or touch-up, display them at the festival again next year, and in that way keep them maintained and beautiful. Everything is organized except the artists! Could you please pass this on to artists you think may want to participate? I could get the barrel to them immediately and they'd have until mid-April to complete it. Thanks so much for your help.
Kind Regards, Catherine Childs
If you would like to be a part of this exciting new project you can contact Catherine at catherinechilds@hotmail.com or 916-1312.
You can still be part of the Rotarian Emergency Disaster Initiative (REDI) conference by attending its keynote luncheon on Saturday, February 12th at noon. The keynote speaker for that luncheon is General Russel Honoré, who is best known for coordinating military relief efforts in Hurricane Katrina-affected areas across the U.S. Gulf Coast and restoring order to New Orleans, Louisiana.
The luncheon will be held at the Marriott Grand Cayman Beach Resort and the cost per person is CI$63. If you haven't yet signed up, please do it today. A sign-up sheet is on your table at today's meeting.
Many thanks to all the Sunrise sponsors and volunteers who so generously helped this conference happen.
And many thanks to the Rotary Clubs of Grand Cayman for jointly sponsoring the conference hospitality event.
For more information, simply send an e-mail to info@REDI.ky.
A "World Understanding Month" article by Rotarian Mellisa Hudell...
Rotary Peace Centres were formed to provide a means for The Rotary Foundation and Rotarians to increase their effectiveness in promoting greater tolerance and cooperation among peoples, leading to world understanding and peace. Over the past 25 years, a variety of initiatives have been proposed to make this dream a reality.
In1996. under the leadership of Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Rajendra Saboo, a committee was formed to consider the concept of an educational center, institute, or university dedicated to Paul Harris as a way of commemorating the 50th anniversary of his death in 1947. They ultimately recommended the creation of Paul Harris Centers for International Studies at several universities worldwide. At these centers, fellows would obtain a graduate degree focusing on issues related to international relations, conflict resolution, and peace studies.
Rotary Peace Fellows began traveling abroad to pursue a master’s degree at the Rotary Peace Centers in 2002. In 2006, a pilot of a short-term peace studies program was launched at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. This alternative to the master’s degree program enhanced Rotary’s existing work to support international peace studies and attracted mid to upper-level professionals who could arrange to be away from their employment for just a few months. It also provided a lower-cost option to The Rotary Foundation and more immediate returns on Rotary’s investment in world understanding and peace. In 2008, the Trustees approved the short-term option as a permanent offering within the Rotary Peace Centers program.
Up to 50 Rotary Peace Fellowships for master’s degree study and up to 50 Rotary Peace Fellowships for professional development certificate study are offered annually on a world-competitive basis for study at the six Rotary Peace Centers. Rotary Peace Fellows obtain either a master’s degree in international relations, peace studies, conflict resolution, and related areas or a professional development certificate in peace and conflict studies. Rotary Peace Centres are located at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand,Duke University & University of North Carolina in the USA,International Christian University in Japan,Universidad del Salvador in Argentina,University of Bradford in England, and the University of Queensland in Australia.
You have a great club and meet in a great setting. We need more clubs around the world with your average age (most are older). I enjoyed my visit and met one of your members at the airport flying back to Miami. He was on his way to Trinidad. He was with an international bank [and] did succession planning, etc. I only mention it because he could probably be up for a fine for just being mentioned. That was a fun portion of your meeting that we don’t do. We do allow people to give us good news and it cost them a dollar to speak.
Jim Ludwig Rotary Club Pittsburgh, PA, USA
PS. It was hard to find Steelers fans for Sunday night, but we went to Lone Star and had fun with a few others.
Getting up every Wednesdayfor a 7:00am meeting is not easy, but there are a few who do it all again on Thursday to support our Rotaract Club.For those of you who haven’t been to one of their meetings I highly recommend it. We have a great group of young people who continue to amaze me with their intelligence, energy, and team spirit.They not only have their own projects, but have also played key roles in many of our Sunrise projects as well.
RotaKids
After a tireless hunt, Marilyn has finally pinned down a teacher to lead an EarlyAct group at George Town Primary. The establishment of an EarlyAct Club has been one of President Mike’s great hopes for his term and it looks like we may get it done before the year is out.
As set forth in the Object of Rotary, the aim of this fourth avenue of service is "to encourage and foster . . . the advancement of international understanding, good will, and peace through a world fellowship of business professionals united in the ideal of service." In no other service activity are you so likely to develop an appreciation of the full scope of Rotary, for with this aim in mind you join forces with more than 1.2 million fellow Rotarians in more than 200 countries or geographical regions in a never-ending effort to bring better understanding among the peoples of the world through personal contacts, group discussion, and student aid. As a Rotarian you know that freedom, justice, truth, sanctity of the pledged word, and respect for human rights are inherent in the principles of Rotary. Through International Service you can give evidence of your belief that these things are vital also to the maintenance of international peace and order and to human rights.
Please remember that we have two new member applications that were sent out via ClubRunner last week by Secretary Ciara. It's important that you consider all membership applications carefully.
If you have misplaced the applications that were sent to you, please ask Secretary Ciara to send them to you again.
If you want to learn how to propose a new member, please contact Membership Director Bruce.
As a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise, Sybil Mclaughlin is a central part of our club. As the only living National Hero in the Cayman Islands, she's also quite famous!
Yet, many new members have never met her, due to her step back from active Rotary duties in an effort to manage her still very busy days of retirement.
That will change with the meeting on January 26th as we salute our very own National Hero and Charter Member, Ms. Sybil McLaughlin. Please make a special effort to attend.
Honorary Rotarian Sybil McLaughlin is National Hero and Charter Member
The latest Sunrise Rotarian to be presented with a "Heart of Rotary" recognition is Martha Connolly. Commended by President Michael for the many services she performs, often "behind the scenes", Rotarian Martha certainly exemplifies "Service Above Self"!
On January 4, 2002, Rotary eClub One was chartered as Rotary’s first electronic-based club in District 5450 of Colorado. In September of that year, the club accepted its first International member. Currently the club has 55 members from 10 countries; Nigeria, Australia, Japan, USA, Italy, Germany, Canada, UK, The Philippines and Kenya. In 2010, Rotary International’s Council on Legislation made e-clubs a permanent part of Rotary International.
President Michael presented International Director Pat Stewart with a "Heart of Rotary" pin to recognize the many thing she does as she embodies the very "heart" of Rotary.
Please join President Michael in congratulating Director Pat for being a wonderful example of Rotary in action.
International Director Pat Receives "Heart of Rotary"
Director Frank Balderamos was presented with his first Paul Harris recognition award by President Michael at the January 12th meeting of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise.
Please offer Dir. Frank your congratulations for supporting the ongoing humanitarian efforts made possible through The Rotary Foundation.
A 7.0-magnitude quake struck Haiti on 12 January 2010, killing more than 300,000 people and crumbling the country's infrastructure. More than a million people still live in tents and under tarpaulins. A deadly cholera outbreak in October slowed the work toward long-term recovery. As the world commemorates the one year anniversary of this tragic event, many reports have concentrated on the frustrating fact that much of the money raised to aid this impoverished nation still sits on the sidelines. Logistical headaches have caused problems for many of the NGO’s working in Haiti, but not for Rotary International.
1) SATC – work project for January. Install attic storage ladder and wire in electricity. Lead – Doug Murray and Christine Cartenegna
2) SATC – end of January early February - Afternoon at Movies. Lead – Doug Murray
3) Art @ Govenors – Set for Saturday, February 5th. Initial meeting held with organizing committee at Governor’s Square. Rotary Sunrise will provide hamburgers, chips and water for approximately 80 Artists and other Volunteers. RS has committed $1,000. Lead – Kim
4) Darkness to Light Training – February – David Watler
5) ISTAT Machine and supplies for GT Hospital – cost USD $12,702.81. RS allocated - CI$5,000 and Genesis Trust CI$5,000 which will assist in paying for the machine. Funding required for a second machine - CPAP. The cost CI $8,000. Funding potentially from Caring for Life Foundation, AON ($2K) and possibly a matching grant.
6) New Project – Guardhouse Hill and Park – Bodden Town. Volunteers and possibly funding needed for restoration. National Trust along with the Bodden Town Community Action Group, along with tour companies have expressed interest in fixing this up. Lead – Kim
7) New Project – Truth for Youth School request – Park Benches. Lead – Kim
A new club video featuring an interview with PP Hendrik is now on the club's website. Rotarian Jonathan and Director Shannon have produced this video, which is numbe 6 in the Past Presidents of Rotary Sunrise series. The purpose of these videos is to preserve our club's history and better inform our members about the club's origins.
Please make the time to watch this informative and very interesting video.
All Rotarians on Grand Cayman are encouraged to sign up for a day-trip to Cayman Brac on Sunday, February 13th.
As a club, we raised a lot of money to help rebuild the Brac following Hurricane Paloma. This is your chance to see what the Cayman Brac club did with the funds and see how well the Brac recovered from the devastation.
The cost of the trip is CI$167 for a day trip including flight, fellowship, food, fun, and tour of the island. Sign-up sheets for the Brac Trip and other REDI events will be on each table at our regular club meeting. (Signing up for both the Sunday Brac Trip and the Saturday REDI V Keynote Luncheon is a combined cost of CI$230.)
The Club Forum was held on Saturday, 15th January 2011 from 9:00am-12:00pm at the AL Thompson conference centre, with 28 Sunrise Rotarians in attendance. The aim of the Forum was to formulate the basis of a 3-5 year strategic plan for the Club and all Members of the Club were invited to attend to give voice to their ideas and concerns as to where they would like to see the Club in the next 3-5 years. Rotarian Bruce John facilitated the Forum and President Michael provided a brief overview of the SWOT analysis conducted at the Leadership Dinner held last year at Casanova's.
Throughout the years, Rotary has attracted a number of famous Rotarians. In addition to our own ‘famed members’ (including past and present Governors, esteemed Judges, police commissioners and lawyers from Conyers) the following famous people have been Rotarians:
As you know, the next Rotarian Emergency Disaster Initiative (REDI) conference will be held right here in Grand Cayman next month on February 11th and 12th. Although most Sunrise Rotarians will opt not to attend the full conference, there are two easy ways for you or your company to show support for this international disaster readiness program.
First, you are encouraged to sign up for the keynote luncheon to be held on Saturday, February 12th at noon, featuring General Russel Honoré as the keynote speaker. The General is best known for coordinating military relief efforts in Hurricane Katrina-affected areas across the U.S. Gulf Coast and restoring order to New Orleans, Louisiana. The luncheon will be held at the Marriott Grand Cayman Beach Resort and the cost per person is CI$63. A sign-up sheet will be circulated at every club meeting from now until the day of the luncheon.
Second, your company can show its support for disaster preparedness by becoming a sponsor of the REDI conference. Sponsorship levels start at only $250 and offer an array of benefits. For more information about sponsorship opportunities--or to register for the full REDI conference--simply send an e-mail to info@REDI.ky.
With the magnets on the sleek blue Sunrise badges (artfully designed by Rotarian Martha Connolly) allowing them to be arranged alphabetically on boards for easy storage and retrival, the old black "badge box" seemed to be a thing of the past. However, the large, round, non-magnetized red badges worn by our newest Sunrise Rotarians posed a bit of a storage problem. Attempts to attach magnets to them failed miserably. Dangling them from ropes and loops resulted in a tangled, jangling clump.
So, the old black "badge box" returns this Wednesday morning, but only to house red badges. (The blue badges will remain on the magnetic boards.) Perhaps this will provide further encouragement for our Red Badgers to complete their task list and acquire their blue badge status as quickly as possible!
Two members of the Sunrise club were awarded Paul Harris recognition pins at the Jauary 5th meeting. PP Chris and Director JD received recognition for being multiple Paul Harris Fellows.
For those new members who may not know the significance of the awards, the Paul Harris recognition pins are presented to Rotarians who make significant donations to the Rotary Foundation. Donors of US$1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, or the Humanitarian Grants Program, or people who have that amount contributed in their name, can be recognized as Paul Harris Fellows.
Two of the youngest winners of the 10Ten10 youth photo competition recently appeared on the DayBreak television show. Flanking President Michael Levitt of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise are two 5-9 age group winners: 7-year-old Cassidy Amesbury (who won in the "Lines" photo category) and 5-year-old Jagger Linford (who won in the "Reflections" photo category and was the overall winner for the age group). All the winning photos were featured during the DayBreak segment.
Partners in this successful youth competition, which is slated to become an annual event, are the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise, the Rotary Club of Cayman Brac, the Cayman Islands National Gallery and the National Trust for the Cayman Islands.
Young Photo Contest Winners Make Television Appearance
Just in case you failed to notice the socks that warranted a fine from Sergeant Dawn at Wednesday's meeting, Rotarian Nigel kindly displayed them for posterity.
Although Rotarian Nigel has business obligations that frequently keep him off-island, on the occasions when he is able to join us for our Wednesday morning meetings he always adds his signature blend of whimsical sophistication and inimitable fashion sense.
However, Rotarian Nigel wasn't the only member whose ankles attracted Sergeant Dawn's attention. Rotarian Doug's lack of socks resulted in a fine for him, as well.
Rotarian Ed Mead is back in the Cayman Islands. As a certified "snow bird", Ed returns to Rotary Sunrise every winter to wait for warmer weather to return "up north". In fact, Ed has been "adopted" by the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise and has his own personalized badge.
Perhaps you've noticed the new logo appearing just above our club's online calendar. If you were to click on it, the logo will take you directly to the website of law firm Bodden & Bodden, the first company to pay for a Sunrise club electronic ad.
With the club's transition from paper-wasting print communications to eco-friendly online news distribution, the format and requirements for companies sponsoring the club also changed. For less than a dollar a day ($360 annually) club sponsors receive a clickable link in the weekly eBulletin and on every page in the club's extensive website. Clicking on an ad takes interested visitors directly to the sponsor's company website. The sponsor also receives a month of special placement as a featured benefactor of the club.
Sponsors can fine tune their ads to be more than simple logos, but the maximum size of each ad is 150 pixels wide by 200 pixels high. Already, the Bodden & Bodden ad has sparked renewed interest in club sponsorship by other companies. A maximum of 12 sponsors will be accepted for inclusion in this program. The funds provided by these sponsors will be used for club administration expenses, so that 100% of all the club's fundraising can go directly toward our charitable projects.
If your company is interested in being a Sunrise Sponsor, please send an e-mail to ads@RotarySunrise.ky for more information.
December was a month of growth for the Sunrise club--with three new inductees, one reinstated member, and one transferred member. All five joined Rotary Sunrise on Wednesday, December 15th.
The club's newest Rotarians are Chris Anco (sponsored by Rotarian Simon Amesbury), Pavlov Rameau (sponsored by Dir. JD), and Andrew Scott (sponsored by Rotarian Jonathan Adam).
Rotarian Niko Whittaker transferred from the Grand Cayman club for a better scheduling fit. However, the fact that his mother (Rotarian Lynne Whittaker) is a charter member of the Sunrise club makes his transfer seem more like a homecoming.
And last, but certainly not least, is Tara Bush who has happily returned to Rotary and the Sunrise club. Rotarian Tara was enthusiastically reinstated and warmly welcomed by President Michael.
All five new members were applauded by more than 100 members, guests and visitors at that record-breaking Sunrise meeting.
If you missed the grand opening ceremony for the Cecile Crighton Spotts/Newlands Community Park--or if you'd like to relive the event--you can now see a professionally edited video featuring highlights from that day. Produced by Apex Video Solutions, Ltd, the video is a 3-minute view of the culmination of one of the biggest efforts ever attempted by this club, led by the unflagging vision of Rotarian Claude Myles.
While there, be sure to watch the video interview with IPP Winston at the top of the page. His video will be replaced next week by the interview with PP Hendrick in our continuing series of Past Presidents videos being shot by Rotarian Jonathan Adam and Director Shannon Sylvestre.
Be sure to tune into DayBreak on Channel 27 tomorrow morning (Thursday, January 6th) to see President Michael and two of our youngest 10Ten10 photo contest winners. The youngsters who will appear on television are Cassidy Amesbury (5-9 Age Group – Category: Lines) and Jagger Linford (5-9 Age Group – Category: Reflections and overall winner for the age group).
Also, two Cayman Brac winners from the 10Ten10 youth photo competition who were unable to attend the larger prize giving ceremony on Grand Cayman were presented with their prizes by President Andrea Stevens of the Rotary Club of Cayman Brac and by President-Elect Andrea Bryan of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise.
Those two Brac prize winners were 7-year-old Daniel Grant (who, at age 6, won the Floral category in the 5-9 age group) and 16-year-old James Christian (who won both the Floral and Close-Up categories in the 15-18 age group). Joined by their parents, these two gifted Brackers received tickets to the Hollywood Theatres in Camana Bay and iTunes gift cards. James Christian, having won in two categories, received double prizes. The young men and their parents were subsequently treated to a buffet lunch at the Brac Reef Resort.
Half the Rotary year is behind us and a new calendar year has begun. But January is also an exciting month because of all the great activities being planned by the Club Administration team. The most important of those January activities is the Club Forum, which will be held on Saturday, January 15th.
If you haven't signed up for the Club Forum, you are missing out on an important chance to steer the strategic direction that the Sunrise club will take over the next five years. This kind of long-term planning is a new concept for our club and that's why it's critically important for you to be present at that meeting, which will take place in the conference room at AL Thompson.
The Club Forum will begin at 8:30 a.m. with refreshments and fellowship for a prompt 9 a.m. start of the agenda items, which will be listed in next week's eBulletin. Topics to be discussed include projects, fundraising, membership, Rotary Foundation, and club administration. But you must register for this event in order to participate.
Breaking all previous attendance records for a single Cayman Sunrise club meeting, the December 15th meeting that featured Sinterklass was undoubtedly a family affair. Besides the long awaited arrival of Sinterklass, the meeting included the re-pinning of Tara Bush, the transfer from the Mother Club of Niko Whitakker, and the induction of new Rotarians Chris Anco, Pavlov Rameau, and Andy Scott.
It was a truly joyous morning...and if you missed it, you really missed the Sunrise "Family of Rotary"--which also happens to be this month's Rotary theme!
102 Sunrise Rotarians, Visitors, Guests, and Sinterklass Pack GOH
A collaborative Rotary Club effort brought much-needed Christmas cheer to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in Mona, St Andrew, last Friday, with the donation of six gurneys (stretchers).
The gurneys, valued at US$40,000, were a gift of the Rotary clubs of St Andrew North; Cayman Sunrise in the Cayman Islands; and Riverview in Orlando, Florida.
On Friday, December 17th, Rotary Sunrise members were in full force assisting CODAC (Community Development Action Committee) in conjunction with the Department of Children and Family Services with the annual Christmas Party for those people less fortunate in the Cayman Islands.
Previously the Government would hold Christmas parties in each separate community like Scranton, Windsor Park, Swamp and Dog City. However this year, because of Government funding cut backs, the organizing committee decided to have one combined party inviting all areas to congregate in the George Town Primacy School Hall. The event started at 4:30pm with a prayer and was quickly followed by Christmas songs, dances and skits. The Honorable Mike Adam, Minister of Community Affairs and Housing stopped by to welcome the families. The majority of the attendees were children. They enjoyed receiving gift bags from Santa along with some special little toys.
There were seventeen Rotarians that volunteered all the way from the President, to long-standing members to newly inducted (Niko Whittaker) to young future Rotarians (Anthony Catalanotto and Tyler Lawson). Rotarians were assigned to kitchen and drinks and ice detail; a number of them served a delicious meal of turkey and ham along with all the fixings. The event was held from 5-7pm and there were approximately 190 people that attended.
The organizers will now evaluate the success of a large combined Community Christmas as opposed to individual community Christmas parties.
Rotary Sunrise donated CI $1,500 towards this event and Joanne Rutty--through her contacts at Dart--came up at the last minute with a further donation of CI $250.
Here's the list of members performing the respective duties for next week's meeting:
Greeter: Rotarian Ron Stoll Grace: Rotarian Perry Rombough Four Way Test: Rotarian Steven Sokohl Raffle: Rotarian Michelle Bouchard Rotary Minute: PP Woody Foster Sergeant's Assistant: Rotarian Anthony Lawson Sergeant: Richard Purdom
Guests of Rotarians (as signed in): Chris Anco, guest of Rotarian Simon Amesbury Mia Burke, Junior Achiever Charles Antione, guest of Rotarian Steve Saskia Drake, guest of Rotarian Paul Tarick Drake, guest of Rotarian Paul Emma Drake, guest of Rotarian Paul Tara Bush, guest of Rotarian Berna Alistair MacDonald, guest of PP Chris Andy Scott, guest of Rotarian Jonathan Pavlov Rameau, guest of Director JD Suzanne Schevnenan, guest of Rotarian Frans Finley Josephs, guest of IPP Winston Tyler Lawson, guest of Rotarian Anthony Lawson Stacy Parke, guest of Honorary Rotarian Margaret Sheila Purdom, guest of Rotarian Richard Mark Purdom, guest of Rotarian Richard Candice Purdom, guest of Rotarian Richard Enoka Richards, guest of Rotarian Berna Ian Commins, guest of Rotarian Dawn Wiekert Weber, guest of PP Hendrik Kevin Weber, guest of PP Hendrik Richard Weber, guest of PP Hendrik Gunilla Freeman, guest of Rotarian Lee Emelie Freeman, guest of Rotarian Lee Victor Freeman, guest of Rotarian Lee Monica Watler, guest of Rotarian David Isabela Watler, guest of Rotarian David Sasha Watler, guest of Rotarian David Alexandra, guest of Kiwanis Krishna, guest of Kiwanis Karthik, guest of Kiwanis
Visiting Rotarians (as signed in): Andrea Baleramos, Rotaract Club Grand Cayman Benny Moore, Rotary Club Grand Cayman Rick Burgess, Rotary Club Grand Cayman Francine Bryce, Rotary Club Grand Cayman Central Michael Mandish, Rotary Club Grand Cayman Central
Sinterklaas will attend this week's Rotary Sunrise meeting, so be certain to bring the kids along. And for all of the members who have been naughty (or nice) the traditional wit of Nigel Twohey will be offered via Sergeant Jonathan. Although Rotarian Nigel can't join us in person, he is directing the frivolity from afar. He so very astutely noted, "It will be better if Jonathan does the reading as Sinterklass has a terrible Dutch accent and cannot pronounce anything without a g!"
Our President Michael attended the meeting of the New Kingston club last Friday and spent some time with past-Sunriser Claudette St. Reid. This was one of the only two Rotary clubs in our District that was "men only" until Rotarian Claudette was inducted as a member in April!
Prez Mike Visits With Past Sunriser Claudette St. Reid
The early afternoon of Saturday 11th December at the *Cecile Crighton Community Park in Spotts-Newlands was lovely, with a fresh easterly breeze blowing. Here the winners of the 10Ten10 Photo Competition – “A Day in the Life of the Cayman Islands” - gathered to receive their prizes accompanied by parents, grandparents, siblings and other relatives and well-wishers. After the prizes were given out everyone remained behind to mingle, socialize and enjoy drinks as well as a sumptuous spread of salad, fruit, chicken and sirloin prepared by Rotary Sunrise President Michael.
Fellow Sunrise Rotarians, this time of the year reminds me of the three F’s: Family, Friendship and Fellowship and for the most part, with many lovely memories of days gone by of seeing long lost family; renewing friendships and possibly enjoying too much fellowship!
There is a remarkable write-up in the December issue of Cayman's local Guide - What's Hot - about the recently refurbished Osetra Bay restaurant at Morgans Harbour. They mention the innovative and famous Chef Watters and his superb French cuisine and the fact that it is probably the only restaurant in Cayman that serves candy floss sometimes called cotton candy as a sugar buzz. What they fail to mention and this is a serious oversight, is that wine cork sniffers are specially catered for with a wine cork holder on every table.
My name is Raquel Perez and I live in El Pital. I'm thirteen years old and I have one sister and a baby brother.
El Pital is a community along the Río Cangrejal. It is a very important place because of the forests and animals that live in the same area. The river is beautiful and we use the water for many things. When I'm not in school I love to swim in the river.
I also love going to my classes in Guaruma. I'm so glad that I can go to Guaruma because I learn many things there. My favorite subjects are English and Photography. I hope that I will be able to go to classes in Guaruma for many more years.
Every year Rotary Sunrise supports the seniors at the Pines who have birthdays in the month of November. This year the event was organized by Community Service Rotarian Cathy Williams. The group met around noon on Saturday, November 20th and a number of Rotarians and some Rotaractors came out to show their support.
Food was provided by Welly’s, which the seniors really enjoyed. PP Chris Bowring played a number of tunes on the piano, which the crowd really adored. This was followed by the volunteers plating and delivering the food to the elders. Once lunch was finished, a birthday cake with lots of candles was brought into the middle of the room by Cathy’s daughter Zara.
Consolata Juma is 40 years old. She is from the Siaya District of Kenya and is married to Jacob Juma. They have four children who are all above 18 years old and in college.
Consolata has a business selling second hand towels and curtains. She has been doing this business for the past five years and has created a huge clientele. She wants to buy two bales of curtains to add to her stock and has applied for a loan of Kshs 70,000 from KADET LTD. Her monthly income is Kshs 15,000, which is her profit and is basically being used to pay college fees for her children. Her desire is to be able to open up a boutique in the future.
Rotary Sunrise has donated $100 to help with her total loan request of $875.00. We have also donated $15 towards Kiva.org.
There was a time--not so long ago--that only men could be Rotarians. So, the wives of those Rotarians launched their own auxiliary organization. Here's a bit of history about that part of the Family of Rotary.
One of the club's most outspoken and hard-working supporters was presented with a "Heart of Rotary" pin by President Michael in November, as were two very soft-spoken, but equally hard-working Sunrisers.
As noted by President Michael: "We are extremely fortunate that the hurricane season is all but over and we have been spared damage this year. But our brothers and sisters in Haiti seem to have been inflicted with one disaster after another. While still facing enormous challenges after the devastating earthquake in January, they are now being ravaged by cholera."
On Saturday, Past RI Director Barry Rassin sent out a request that Rotarians throughout District 7020 contribute to a matching funds challenge of $100,000 to assist our fellow Rotarians in Haiti battle the cholera epidemic. In response, our Sunrise Club has pledged US$5,000 (CI$4,100) to help meet this challenge.
As we enter the holiday season, please continue to keep the people of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers.
Meet Alexandre Michael Bush, held by his proud "mum" Rotarian Laetitia Bush. Young Alexandre was born on November 9th, and has already attended two Sunrise meetings!
We have had some remarkably good SUNRISE Fellowship events and a word or two on our policy and what we are trying to achieve might be useful.
First we strive to give value for money. Cayman is considered expensive by most, but when we organise we try to give the best value that we can. We often borrow homes for our events and this promptly excludes the restaurant margin on food and drinks and the 15% addition for gratuities. Fellowship committee members and other club members help by marketing, buying, transporting, cooking and serving.
Rotary Sunrise International Committee has loaned a total of $290 to assist Kiva in helping two international entrepreneurs grow their businesses, one in Cambodia and the other in Kenya. The stories of the Cambodian entrepreneur, Say Khoeurn, appears below. The other entrepreneur's story will appear in next week's Rotary Sun.
As Foundation month draws to an end, I thought it appropriate to address the question of why we should support The Rotary Foundation, which I am often asked.
Donating money to the charity of your choice is a very personal issue and no-one can prescribe to another what they should do with their hard-earned cash. The Rotary Foundation (TRF) is the charitable arm of Rotary International and as such, as a Rotarian, TRF is your charity.
Joined Lancashire Constabulary in 1976, rising to the rank of Chief Inspector before moving through promotion to Greater Manchester Police, the second largest police service in England. During his tenure with GMP, Commissioner Baines served in various posts including; Head of Corporate Performance with responsibility for raising standards throughout the force; Divisional Commander for Oldham with responsibility for restoring community order and rebuilding public confidence following some of the worst race riots ever seen in Britain and Divisional Commander for Salford, where he succeeded in reducing crime by 26% and doubling arrests and charges. After completing the Strategic Command Course, and emerging as one of the leading graduates, Commissioner Baines was appointed Assistant Chief Constable in the Cheshire Constabulary, where he held control of Operations Support.
Guests of Rotarians (as signed in): Chris Anco, guest of Rotarian Simon Amesbury Finley Josephs, guest of IPP Winston Steve Lilford, guest of Rotarian Paul Drake Alistair MacDonald, guest of PP John Elliott Angela Sealey, guest of Rotarian David Watler Norman Archibald, guest of Rotarian David Watler Pavlov Rameau, guest of Director JD
Visiting Rotarians (as signed in): Billy King, Rotary Club Grand Cayman Jim Banks, Rotary Club Stonehaven Scotland
Rotary Sunrise is proud to announce it will have four of its members serving as part of Governor-Elect Guy Theodore's District 7020 Leadership Team
Congratulations are in order for President Michael, who was appointed to the post of Chairman of Rotaract for 2011-12. Please also congratulate PDG Alastair, who will be the Chairman of Foundation Permanent Fund.
They join ADG Rosie and IPP Winston (Chairman of Membership Development) who are each in their first year of their 3-year terms of office in their district-level positions.
In 1938-39, George C. Hager, a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, was the 28th President of Rotary International.
"Rotary believes that the citizen who best serves his country is the one who wishes to know the truth about his neighbors, and who desires to replace hatred between nations with friendship." Address to 1939 Rotary Convention, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
The purpose of 'Movember' is to raise funds to support Cancer research and in particular prostate cancer. Men who do not normally sport facial hair are sponsored to grow moustaches for the month of November, whilst those who are normally moustachioed can join in by being clean shaven on the 1st November 2010. Hopefully this explains why some of us are looking a little more hirsute than normal...
It was wonderful to hear from your club the donation of assistance.
The idea of a cooking facility was just one of the needs that the tent community would require. We are looking to build some sort of area for bathing, latrines, and a shelter where communal cooking may take place. These will take some time and organization- but the cash for materials will definitely be needed.; Tomorrow, over 35 Rotarians will work to put up 30 Shelterboxes in one area, working the Red Cross and NEMO as well.
I am sending this information to Sue Reed, our secretary, and Bernard Rattray our treasurer, who will supply you with our charity account number, banking information needed to transfer funds.
Rotary Sunrise International Committee has loaned a total of $290 to assist Kiva in helping two international entrepreneurs grow their businesses, one in Cambodia and the other in Kenya. The stories of these two entrepreneurs will appear in the Rotary Sun over the next two weeks.
Kiva's mission is to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty.
Kiva empowers individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the globe. By combining microfinance with the internet, Kiva is creating a global community of people connected through lending.
I am doing well, thank you. I have finally recovered from jet lag .. That seems to take longer and longer with every passing year! I suppose it doesn't help to be wrestling with the effects of lengthy flights, a 12 hour time difference, different food, lots of pollution (which thankfully is not a problem in the beautiful Cayman Islands), a new job placement with 40 expectant little faces ... all together that adds up to about 10 days of reduced performance for me. Now that I have recovered, I am racing around Bangkok with one of my fellow volunteers ... teaching during the day, shopping, eating, sightseeing in the afternoons and evenings. They have great public transit here - water taxis, sky train, metro, bus, tuk-tuk, taxi ... so it is very easy to get around.
Guests of Rotarians (as signed in): Chris Anco, guest of Rotarian Simon A. Finley Josephs, guest of IPP Winston Saskia Drake, guest of Rotarian Paul D. Annabel Pulman, guest of Rotarian Gareth Daniel Lee, guest of Rotarian K. Mani Pavlov Rameau, guest of Director JD
Visiting Rotarians (as signed in): Andrea Balderamos, Rotaract Grand Cayman Stephanie Rattan, Rotaract Grand Cayman Chris Evans, Rotary Club Grand Cayman Niko Whittaker, Rotary Club Grand Cayman Jeremy Hurst, Rotary Club Grand Cayman Adrean Russell, Rotaract Club Grand Cayman
-- A "Foundation Month" article and synopsis of last week's speakers--
An informative presentation on the future of the Rotary Foundation was given at the meeting on the 10th November by Past Assistant Governor, and future candidate as District Governor, Jeremy Hurst of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman. With November being Foundation month, education on the Foundation continues, and it is hoped that after the month-long programme of information, the Sunrise membership will be better equipped to both understand as well as appreciate the working of the internationally top rated charity.
This message was sent by Tara Bush on Sunday, November 11th at 11:20 a.m.:
Just to let you know Laetitia Bush had a baby boy this past Tuesday - Alex. He was born about four weeks premature, so he is in the neonatal intensive-care unit at George Town Hospital. Latisha is now out of the hospital. Perhaps you would be so kind to let the members know ... and keep her in your prayers.
For her diligent attendance at meetings of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise, Saskia Drake has earned a badge of her own... as a "Young Sunriser" of the club. Her proud father Rotarian Paul Drake noted, "She was absolutely thrilled with the badge and I think it may be hard to keep her away from now on." Please keep in mind that the Family of Rotary extends beyond our members and includes their loved ones, as well. Children, spouses, and other important people in our members' lives are always welcome to our meetings!
Don't miss the latest episode in the growing Rotary Sunrise video library, featuring PP Chris and his recollections of our club's history. This "Past Presidents of Rotary Sunrise" video series is being produced by Rotarian Jonathan and Director Shannon. Find the video this week, prominently displayed on the club's homepage. Or view it directly at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei1bl1drC8E&feature=related
It has been noted by the club's Board that several new members have not updated their online profiles with critical contact information and dates. The club must be able to contact all members in case of an emergency, and missing information can potentially derail our club's effectiveness. whether you're a new member or an established one, please take a few minutes to check and update your profile information by following these four steps...
Bruce was born on 13 February 1970 in Montego Bay, Jamaica and moved to the Cayman Islands at a very young age. He attended WestBayPrimary School for a short period before transferring to WesleyanChristianAcademy. After receiving a two-year dosage of good Christian values (and the paddle), Bruce went on to the Cayman IslandsMiddle School and then to the Cayman IslandsHigh School. Upon graduation from the Cayman IslandsHigh School, he attended sixth form for two years and then the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida where he received a bachelor's of science in accounting.
The photos were taken on 10/10/10, entries are in (approximately 135), judging takes place on November 25th and the prize-giving is planned for December 11th at the CecileCrightonCommunityPark in Spotts-Newlands. There are 7 categories and 3 age groups from 5 -18 years. The three top prizes are state-of-the art digital cameras. Prizes for the winners in each category and age group (21 in all) are a combination of 2 cinema tickets and iTunes gift certificates valued at $50.
Director Bruce spoke earlier this month about the launch of a very important charitable foundation, whose mission is to improve the quality of health care for all people of the Cayman Islands.The George TownHospital was built over 13 years ago, and much of the equipment is in need of replacement.In fact, $8.7 million is needed to replace equipment in the medical, maternity and surgical wards, the operating theatre, admission & emergency, dialysis and laboratories, plant and facilities, and critical care, just to name a few.
So what exactly are the attendance requirements which are mandated by Rotary International to maintain membership in your Club regardless of where you are in the world?
Thoroughly outrageous, totally fun, and utterly delicious aptly describe the “cheap and cheerful” dinner that was splendidly arranged by the Sunrise Fellowship Committee. With Committee Chair Rosie resplendent in red(looking perfectly elegant among the mad tourists surrounding her) and Location Host Glen resplendent in a bikini t-shirt and hanky-headdress, the evening offered endless entertainment and loads of laughs.
The format of The Rotary Sun newsletter will change next week, to streamline the production process and to tap the eBulletin capabilities offered through the club’s website. The new format will be easily accessible online and will provide unlimited space for informative and timely articles.
… a “Rotary Foundation”Month message ... Written by President Michael Levitt
As PAG Jeremy Hurst will be presenting to the Club this week on Future Vision, I do not want to pre-empt his presentation and will limit this article to some of the back ground to the Future Vision plan of The Rotary Foundation (TRF).
At the November 3rd club meeting, Director Kim presented a check for $2500 on behalf of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise to Alta Solomon of the National Council of Voluntary Organizations (NVCO). Projects funded by this organization include the Richard Arch Children's Centre and the Nadine Andreas Residential Foster Home.
60 members and guests enjoy home cooked food and premium wines at the spectacular, waterside residence owned by Glen Trenouth and Jane Cebo.The Sparkling Wine we enjoy is called Concha y Toro from Chile - produced and fermented in the bottle very similar to the method used by the French to produce Champagne but the name 'Champagne' is reserved by the French, for wine produced in the Champagne districtof France and the name is protected by law. Concha y Toro used to call their product 'Champagne' and that was on their bottle.Now we notice they call it 'Concha y Toro Brut'.It is served by several of the hotels in Cayman with their all you can eat - all you can drink Sunday brunches and is sometimes called Cayman Champagne.
Rotarian Claudette Saint Reid, past member of the Grand Cayman Sunrise club and now with the New Kingston club in Jamaica, sent a brief message to President Michael outlining that club's latest effort to combat polio.
Casino Night, in the past, has been one of the most sought after events while at the same time contributing in excess of CI$30K to help fund our various projects.
It cannot be emphasized how vital the Rotary Foundation is to the basic function of Rotary and the furtherance of its motto 'Service Above Self', both on a local basis as well as internationally.
Our guest speaker today is a representative from an organization called the Women's Media Watch. This group is here to assist in launching the Estella Scott-Roberts Foundation’s new public education campaign.
… a “New Generations”Month message ... Written by Director Frank with Rotarian Hazel
September in Rotary is New Generations Month.But what does “New Generations” mean?Does it mean young people?Does it mean new ideas and concepts?Does it mean we want to move out the old guard and bring in the new fresh faces?
I think New Generations means taking a fresh look at our world and investigating what it means to be a good citizen in fast changing times.Young or “seasoned”, doesn’t matter; we all have a contribution to make.All that is needed is an open mind and a willingness to honestly discuss the issues surrounding us.
With half of all the attendees coming from the Rotary Sunrise club for this year’s Grand Cayman Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI), it’s clear which club is serious about learning more about Rotary. Even POTENTIAL Sunrisers were in attendance to gain greater insights into the largest professional service organization in the world.
… a Membership Month message written by PDG Alastair Paterson and Rotarian Christine Sanders Being a Rotarian requires many commitments and, as discussed in an earlier article, one of these is attendance. Sometimes circumstances arise and members realize that they will be unable to meet this commitment. When this happens, there is a provision within the Club’s bylaws for members to apply for a leave of absence (LOA).
The passing of July may have marked the end of an era in Rotary Sunrise history. For at least the remainder of this Rotary year, there will no longer be a single Sergeant to hiss into action at the end of each weekly meeting. Instead, this year’s original Sergeant-at-Arms Bryan, who is leaving Cayman for a new opportunity in the U.S., will be replaced by not one, not two, but EIGHT Sergeants on a rotating schedule.
Happy prize winner, Edgar Thomas G. Bodden, attended the Rotary Sunrise meeting on July 28th to the congratulations of all the club members present at that meeting.
After Rotarian Marilyn completed her talk about Big Brothers Big Sisters last week, President Michael presented her with this year’s speaker’s gift, an amalgamation of significance that unites Rotary and Cayman imagery. Here’s how he describes the manner in which these original and artistic gifts came about:
It’s Membership and Extension Month! It is a time to promote our Club and what makes Rotary Sunrise and its members so special. It’s a time for each Rotarian to invite a guest so that they can see why you get up early each week to attend Rotary, why you are a Rotarian, what makes Rotary Sunrise and Rotary so special and the difference you and Rotary can make in the lives of others.
Director Pat brought something special back from Montreal’s RI Convention for RotaKid Zoë. Our youngest affiliate was presented with a “Future Rotarian” pin last week.
President Michael worked with the young people at Career Camp this week as they learned the ins and outs of being a “fearless chef”! Rotary Sunrise provided funding for this summer camp programme to make a real difference in these youngsters' lives.
We’ve made it MUCH easier to reach any member of the Rotary Sunrise Board—especially if you don’t have access to the club’s website. If you know that person’s title, you can send an e-mail to him or her by adding @RotarySunrise.ky to the title!
Cayman’s teenagers have something new this summer to help prepare them for their future vocations, thanks in part to the support of Rotary Sunrise. Youth Vocational Camp, also known as "Career Camp", will shift from focusing on how to get a job and will now begin teaching young people from ages 12 to 18 how to behave in the working world.
Every year Rotary Sunrise organizes Christmas parties in the less fortunate areas of George Town (Windsor Park, Watler’s Road, Scranton and Mary Miller Hall area). We will plan for four evening events between December 18-28th. Provide music, meals, gifts and entertainment to children and elderly needy persons.
(Written by Sandra ten Zijthoff —Reprinted with permission)
Cayman Sunrise representative, Marilyn Conolly and family, visited Guaruma today, July 2nd, 2010.The Conolly family stayed at the Lodge in Pico Bonito and, after donating the Rotary’s six cameras to Guaruma (including one with underwater housing, great for shots in the river!) and a short tour of the facilities in Las Mangas, went for a hike on the Guaruma Trail, ending with lunch at El Encanto de Dona Lydia, a neighboring hotel.
With paintbrushes and rollers in hand, a hearty band of helpers answered Rotarian Claude’s call to action on July 10th. Mind you, not the 7 a.m. call to action that he had originally made at the July 7th weekly meeting. Instead it was a more civilized 9 a.m. rendezvous to beautify the community park that is rapidly moving from blueprint to reality.
How many fourteen year olds have performed dental procedures at 14,000 feet?Parker Godwin, son of Rotarian Frank Balderamos and his wife Nora, is one and there may be no others!Parker was part of the 15 member team lead by Rotarian Dr. Bert Thacker up into the High Andes of Peru on a dental mission.The team visited five villages in five days and performed sealants, fillings, extractions, examinations and fluoride treatments on nearly 1,000 kids!
In my planning for this year, I felt that we should not have to wait till the end of the year or even end of a quarter, to award members for something special they have or are doing as Rotarians. We should rather recognize these "random acts of kindness" as they happen and the nominations should come from you, their fellow members.
Those who missed the Changeover Evening at the Westin may be wondering about the young lady flanked by President Michael and PP Winston. Treasurer James offers the following information about this extraordinary achiever...
It’s no secret that Rotary Sunrise’s “Man of Mystery” has a heart of gold. So at the July 7th meeting, in recognition of countless acts of kindness,PP Winston presented Rotarian Claude Myles with a Paul Harris Fellow for exceptional service.
Everyone in attendance at Changeover Night applauded their approval of the latest Sunrise Rotarian of the Year, Douglas Murray. The applause continued as Barbara Anley was proclaimed Sunrise Rookie of the Year.
On June 11th, the students in the reading program at Leading Edge High School offered a special presentation of thanks for their reading partners. Each student prepared a personal message of thanks for his or her adult reading partner. The presentation was combined with a lunch-time pizza party for the youngsters, organized by the Sunrise program coordinator, Rotarian Raquel Solomon.
Leading Edge Readers Offer a Very Special “Thank You!”
On June 11th, the students in the reading program at Leading Edge High School offered a special presentation of thanks for their reading partners. Each student prepared a personal message of thanks for his or her adult reading partner. The presentation was combined with a lunch-time pizza party for the youngsters, organized by the Sunrise program coordinator, Rotarian Raquel Solomon.
Leading Edge Readers Offer a Very Special “Thank You!”
With "Rotary Royalty" in abundance (including a surprise appearance by "Zulu King" Nigel), the Westin Hotel sparkled during the installation of the Rotary Sunrise 2010-11 officers and directors on Saturday, June 26th.
After four years of heading up the effort of recruiting volunteers for the weekly tasks of reciting the Four-Way Test and Rotary Grace, managing the Raffle, and being the Greeter, Rotarian Berna is taking a much-deserved break. However, she's not content to rest on her laurels. Instead, she will be quietly assisting the new leader of the recruitment effort: Rotarian Deirdre.
Welcome to the new Rotary Year! Friday 29th June at Agua saw the changing of the guard at Rotary Sunrise from Andrea Bryan to Tony "Soprano" Catalanotto. President Tony has pledged that this year there will be an element of fun and fellowship in all events undertaken by the Club.
Marie-Beatrice Taylor has become the latest Honourary member of Rotary Sunrise. She was inducted by Rotary Sunrise President Winston Connolly this morning (Wed 31st Mar 10) at their breakfast meeting at the Grand Old House. Mrs Taylor was born in Antwerp in Belgium and educated at The French Lycee in London and at Hengrave Hall in Suffolk, England. She originally worked as a Commercial Assistant in the British Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela and later at the International Mexican Bank, Intermex in the City of London. She joins 95 other members, mostly young professionals from Cayman and 23 other countries worldwide having fun working in the community. Mrs Taylor is the wife of His Excellency the Governor of the Cayman Islands - Mr Duncan Taylor C.B.E.
Rotary Sunrise had a booth at the Cayman Heart Fund's Heart Health Fair on 6th March where the club helped promote the benefits of fitness nutrition and health to children in attendance.
Members of Rotary Sunrise, the Rotaract Club of Grand Cayman and PP Dave Phipps recently took on members of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman. There were refreshments for players and spectators alike and while Rotary Grand Cayman emerged victorious, a good time was had by all. See the photo album for more photos.
Red badgers, potential members and other members of the Club recently attended an orientation fellowship evening at the home of Director Geoff Mathews. The evening was a training evening designed to increase new members knowledge of Rotary from the club level up to international. After the training there was fellowship with a dinner prepared by several members of the club.
Sunrise had a booth at the Agriculture Fair on Ash Wednesday selling books. All funds raised will go towards helping the Club with its Literacy projects in the community.
On Wednesday January 27, 2010 a delegation of Rotarians (PRID Barry Rassin, RIDE John Smarge, PDG Richard McCombe and PP Carla McCombe, DGE Diana White) along with one Orthopedic Surgeon (Dr. Patrick McGrath) who would stay, and ZNS News Anchor Jerome Pyfrom and Videographer Burton Wallace flew from Nassau to Pignon, Haiti. Our purpose was not to visit the epicenter but to meet with the Rotarian Leaders who have working tirelessly to bring relief to all they can.
Sunrise members, their employers, colleagues and friends have together raised over US$19,480 for Haiti earthquake relief in just two weeks. One of the largest donations was a donation from local law firm Stuarts for US$6756.10. Rotary clubs in the Cayman Islands was set a goal of together raising US$50,000 and Sunrise is well on the way to making sure the Cayman clubs easily meet this goal. For information on how you can donate to Haiti contact PP Chris Bowring.
Jazz for Haiti, a fundraising initiative of the Rotary Clubs in the Cayman Islands will be on Wednesday 3rd February at the Grand Old House from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Tickets are $25 and thanks to the generosity of our sponsors 100% of the ticket price will go towards relief efforts in Haiti. The ticket price includes complimentary hors d'ourves donated by Grand Old House. Entertainers donating their time for a good cause on the evening include Sunrise's PP Chris Bowring and Gary Ebanks, Leyannes Valdes, Big Eye Squirrel & Cool School. There will be gate prizes and a silent auction and Rotarians wishing to donate items or who require more information on the event can contact Director Tony Catalanotto.
All Sunrise Rotarians and their families appear to be okay after this morning's earthquake. Islandwide there appears to be no significant damage, injury or any loss of life.
This is a message from PP Joey who is asking that you spread this information to your friends and colleagues.
We now have the DAF set up and is the lead on the RI Web site. Please spread the word so we can initiate the donations.
The announcement about the Haiti Earthquake Relief DAF has been posted to the RI web and can be found at www.rotary.org/haiti. The contribution information is listed on the page.
Background: The preschool is a non-profit organization operated by NVCO and provides preschool services for needy families. They are in need of a new paint job for the upcoming school year.Â
Rotary Leadership Institute - Graduates on 9th August 2009 at a course held in the Cayman Islands.
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Left to right : Wil Pineau, (Central) Raquel Solomon, (SUNRISE), Eric Bush, (Grand Cayman), Catherine Chesnut,(Grand Cayman), Haresh L. Ramchandani (Facilitator), David Watler, (SUNRISE), David Reid, SUNRISE, Christine Sanders, (SUNRISE), Marilyn Conolly, (SUNRISE), Â Winston Connolly,(SUNRISE) , Geoff Mathews (SUNRISE).
The new Rotary International President John Kenny's theme for the year is "The future of Rotary is in your hands". One of his main objectives is to remind Rotarians of their personal responsibility to Rotary and its ideals. We will strive to do exactly this in the upcoming Rotary year.
Rotary SUNRISE are helping Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cayman Islands by donating to ensure all the kids in their program can go to a summer camp of their choice. Spending the summer swimming, fishing, sailing and playing is what many children plan to do over the next couple of months but unfortunately, for some, summer camps can only be in their dreams
The seventh Atlantic Youth Forum, established successfully in 2003, aims to provide an opportunity for young Americans, Canadians and Europeans in the 18-24 age group. Participants will gain insights into each other's concerns and perceptions on key challenges facing their countries and the international community, and make lasting contacts. The programme will cover a range of political, security, cultural, economic and social issues of central interest to the US, Canada and European countries.
Rotary SUNRISE is encouraging the next generation with a program called Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. They recently staged an essay competition inviting Rotaract members to contribute leadership ideas and there were 4 winners. Leigh Smellie, a 27 year old Executive Assistant Marketing and P.R. Officer for the University College of the Cayman Islands, Danielle Japal, a 24 year old civil servant, a research analyst with the Ministry of Education. Susan Levy, a 28 year old Account Manager with Cayman National Fund Services Ltd and 27 year old  Troy Brady, currently job researching.
Rotarian Pat Steward recently  returned from a volunteer vacation in India where she was pleased to join members of Rotary District 6990 (South Florida/Grand Bahama Island), the World Health Organization, and UNICEF in their bid to eradicate polio.   Pat says the trip served to remind her of how very blessed we are here in Cayman and what an honour it was for her to be able to share a little of her good fortune. Her experiences in her own words are described below.
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The NCVO Telethon takes place this weekend, giving everyone in Cayman an opportunity to support an organization that runs six different programs: preschool, nursery, the John Gray college scholarship grant, the Caring Cousins lunch program, the foster home and a bargain shop. 
Over 20 Sunrise Rotarians and Rotactors supported the event by operating the station where attendees could stop by and do an online cancer risk assessment tool. Additionally Sunriser, Dr. Richens (left), assisted with basic health screening including blood pressure checks and answering questions from members of the public. Dr. Ecke (lower left) was also on hand with his equipment to provide screening for head and neck issues, including cancer.
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Sure, we all know what fellowship (singular) means, but Rotary International means something quite special when adding an "s" to that word. In short, Rotary.org offers the following definition.
Welcome to the new Rotary Year! Friday 29th June at Agua saw the changing of the guard at Rotary Sunrise from Andrea Bryan to Tony "Soprano" Catalanotto. President Tony has pledged that this year there will be an element of fun and fellowship in all events undertaken by the Club. 
