“I’ve always been involved in service” - Vance Lewis
Having spent 35 years at Cable and Wireless (now LIME), which ended with him as CEO in 2008, Lewis states that he has been a Rotarian since 1991, perhaps a lifetime for some, adding that he’s “always been involved in service.”
He expressed that he was a member of the Rotary Club of Road Town, which was the second club charted in the BVI, started some 21 years ago.
Other local clubs include the Rotary Club of Road Town and the Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town. Lewis was also a Lions Club member in the 70s.
Some of the strategic goals for the organization during his tenure would be “Support and strengthening of the organization’s clubs, an increased focus on humanitarian service and also working towards an enhanced public image of the Rotary Club”, he noted.
In his service with the Rotary Club in the BVI, Lewis expressed that one of his proudest moments was being able to assist in the recent earthquake in Haiti. He said that they were able to raise some $270, 000 as a result of the generosity of the locals in the BVI.
The money raised was able to go towards the building of a school, and also the contribution of the first ever smart board in Haiti. There was also a lot of rehab work done in the communities of Haiti including the making of prosthetic limbs which created jobs for persons in the country. They were also able to contribute significantly to the agricultural sector in the community.
Mr Lewis was also excited at the progress the Club was making in efforts towards the eradication of polio, remarking that fundraising efforts have led to significant reductions in the prevalence of the endemic disease around the world.
Commenting on his appointment as Regional District Governor of District 7030, he said he felt it was a “very proud and very humbling moment”, more so since he was the first Governor from the BVI. He also noted that he was excited to be in the same cadre of past Governors that he holds in high esteem, all of whom will be looking up to him to continue the trend of exemplary service that preceded him.
Rotary’s succession plan meant that he knew of his appointment at least two years in advance and there was very intense training to prepare him for the Role of Governor. Lewis was involved only this past January in an intense programme in San Diego where he was able to meet the other 531 District Governors which allowed them to network with each other. At the International Assembly he said, there was a multi-cultural “melting pot of ideas” ensuring that he came away having built a significant amount of partnerships after coalescing and exchanging philosphies along the way.
Lewis added that the one year role is expected to be very challenging with much travelling to the 10 assigned countries of the District, an aspect he hopes to have completed by December of this year.
The new Governor says that this year’s theme of “Peace through Service” for Rotary is particularly important considering the fact that there is a lot of conflict with youth around the Caribbean today. He added that the Rotary Club is currently in the process of implementing modes of conflict resolution in the areas it covers, helping anyone who may need to use the service as a means of achieving this.
After his role as District Governor, Lewis says he plans to continue to serve and be supportive of his successor from the Cayman Islands, who has already been appointed.
He encouraged persons to become aware of what the organization does and also to become members as it would be very beneficial to them.