EARLYACT CLUB AT EBENEZER THOMAS CELEBRATES ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY
On 23 November 2012, The EarlyAct Club of Ebenezer Thomas Primary School received its Charter from then Rotary District Governor Vance Lewis. Now 12 months on, the Club has passed its first birthday and today, Thanksgiving Day, celebrated the occasion with a turkey and ham lunch, all arranged by the Club’s school advisers. Some 30 members of the Club and their six advisers sat down to a sumptuous luncheon. In true Rotary spirit, the school reached out to their sister club at Enis Adams School and 10 members of their club as well as their adviser and Principal joined the EarlyAct members at Ebenezer Thomas.
In some congratulatory remarks on behalf of the sponsoring Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Road Town, the President congratulated the Club and the school on a very successful first year, in which they have carried out projects in their local Sea Cows Bay community, as well as assisting the Rotary Club of Road Town with some of theirs. Club members entertained the several hundred delegates to the District Conference held in the BVI in May to some cultural dancing, as did members from Enis Adams and Isabella Morris. Members are currently assisting the Road Town Club with their annual raffle, which is now under way, and will be attending the family of Rotary Christmas breakfast on 18th December. The President of the Rotary Club also showered praise on the school advisers, including Principal Mrs Hodge who has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Club. In her remarks, Mrs Hodge congratulated the Club on reaching this historic milestone and thanked the Rotary Club for their continued support. It is hoped that during 2014 there will be more joint activities across all three EarlyAct Clubs. After lunch, guests were entertained by some of the Club’s members who are in class 5 to a very moving dance with a religious slant.
EarlyAct is an affiliate programme of Rotary, and was introduced to the BVI in Jan 2011 when the first Club was opened at Enis Adams School. It is a Primary School based programme intended to introduce its members to the concept of community service, of giving back to the community; it also develops members’ leadership skills as members have the opportunity of serving as one of its officers, or leading a committee. And they have fun, lots of it. Clubs must be sponsored by a Rotary Club and have the enthusiastic support of at least some of the school faculty. The Rotary Club of Road Town is currently exploring the possibilities of establishing a Club at Althea Scatliffe primary School, and interested parents should meet with the school Principal, Ms Headley.
In the meantime, the Interact Club of Road Town were busy on Thanksgiving Day, as Club members brought Turkey , ham and all the trimmings to the students of Esslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre as they served the students lunch in what has become a regular community service event. After lunch and dodging the showers the Interactors played with the students. As always the students, enjoyed the occasion and there was much laughter as they destroyed the Pinyata.
