History Made! Vance Lewis Installed As First Rotary District Governor From The BVI

Posted by Yvonne Crabbe 
on Jul 23, 2012
 
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Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

Vance Lewis sealed history when he was installed as the Governor of Rotary District 7020 during a gala dinner attended by senior Government officials, well-wishers, long-serving regional and local Rotarians at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda last evening, June 30.

Lewis is the first person from the BVI to be installed as District Governor in the Territory's 44 year history of Rotary and will serve for the period 2012-2013.
 

Immediate Past District President, Guy Theodore conducted the installation ceremony.

Also installed during the ceremony were Sam Welch, President of Rotary Club of Tortola; Trefor Grant, President of Rotary Club of Road Town; Allison Flax-Archer, President of Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town; and Jehree Clarke, President of Rotaract Club of Tortola.

Lewis was elected at the 2010 Rotary District Conference in Jamaica and vowed to inject passion and enthusiasm as he leads District 7020 which includes 10 countries, 82 clubs and about 2600 members.

During the ceremony, Past Rotary International Director, Barry Rassin delivered the keynote address and encouraged Rotarians to become more active in their community as Rotary International is aggressively looking at improving its public relations. He also spoke about Rotary International's effort at eradicating polio in the world.

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News
According to Rotary, for the past two years Lewis and other District Governors Elect from across the globe have been undergoing intensive training, which included Zone Membership, Foundation and Image Building Training in 2009, 2010 and 2012, Zone Institute Training in 2010 and 2011, and International Assembly in 2012.

Also in preparation for the work ahead, in 2011 Lewis selected his District leadership team of 80 including 9 Rotarians from the BVI. In January of this year the vast majority of those 80 District Leaders spent an intensive day and a half at the District 7020 Leadership Training in Miami.

Rotary International President, Sakuji Tanaka's theme for this year is 'Peace Through Service'.

Rotarians are preparing for Conference 2013 to be held in the British Virgin Islands with approximately 500 - 650 participants