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Darren Cooper

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Len Hindley

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Over fifty years of service to the Grand Bahama community

Service above self.

We meet Thursdays at 12:00 PM
Ruby Swiss Restaurant

Corner of West Atlantic Dr & West Sunrise Hwy
Freeport, Grand Bahama Bahamas
Bahamas

District Site

Venue Map

Rotary Club of Freeport president dazzles at Junkanoo Summer Festival

Photo: Jenneva Russell/The Freeport News

RCF president Lorine Miller was one busy lady on Saturday, August 17. First she joined with Rotarians from all the clubs on Grand Bahama to cook burgers at the 49th annual Bernie Butler BASRA swim race on Coral Beach and later dazzled the crowds as a free dancer during the Ministry of Tourism’s Junkanoo Summer Festival 2019 at Smith's Point. The festival included Junkanoo groups competing for a grand prize; a special performance by the Royal Bahamas Police Pop Band; and the highly-anticipated appearance by Bahamian artist K.B.

Click HERE to read more about the Summer Festival in the Freeport News

Lieut. Johns discusses the role and responsibility of the RBDF at sea

By: Juelanda Thompson/The Freeport News

Rotarians and guests of the five clubs on the island came together yesterday – Thursday, August 15 – at the Ruby Swiss Restaurant for a special meeting, where they heard the role and responsibilities of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) in the Bahamian waters. RBDF Lieutenant Commander Clint Johnson, who was the guest speaker, also shared on the history and the revitalization of the Force’s decentralizing operation.

Johnson noted that while the decentralizing process is not new, there has been a regional command with an effort of setting up sub-bases throughout The Bahamas. “The decentralizing process was something that started a while ago. It is still in its infancy stages, but because you have 700 islands and you have them spread over 100,000 square miles of ocean, the process has been split up into Northern Command, Central Command and Southern Command."

Click HERE to read more in the Freeport News

Rotary clubs receive another shipment of wheelchairs

By: FN Reporter Abria Cooper

The Rotary Club of Freeport recently received a large shipment of wheelchairs, which will go towards helping many persons in need of mobility assistance throughout the Grand Bahama community.

Club president Darren Cooper, spoke with this daily on the arrival of the wheelchairs Saturday (April 27). “The Rotary Clubs of Grand Bahama have received another container of wheelchairs for distribution to deserving individuals in the Northern Bahamas,” he said.

Cooper said that the Grand Bahama Rotary Clubs have provided over 500 wheelchairs, free of charge, in the Northern Bahamas since the programme started in 2002.

Click HERE to read more in the Freeport News

DNA Leader Komolafe laments national economic difficulties

By: Abria Cooper/The Freeport News

Leader of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), Arinthia Komolafe, painted a gloomy picture of the economy of Grand Bahama and the rest of the country while bringing remarks as the key guest of the Rotary Club of Freeport recently. She pointed out though that the increasing ease to do business is positive. She likened the general situation though to a “perfect storm.”

Komolafe is no stranger to Grand Bahama. She informed of having visited the island several times over the past six months and that much of her youth was spent on the island.Komolafe admitted that she was first unsure of what to speak to Grand Bahamians about, being a resident of New Providence, but decided to address challenges of the Grand Bahamian economy which affects the country as a whole. Those challenges are already well-documented from devastating hurricanes, to much more in Grand Bahama which she inferred, affects the rest of the country.

Click HERE to read more in the Freeport News

Rotaract Clubs reaffirm commitment to community building

By: FN Reporter Abria Cooper

Members of the Rotaract Clubs of Freeport and Eight Mile Rock reaffirmed their commitment to support the Grand Bahama community through various initiatives. President and President Elect of the respective clubs sat down with The Freeport News to discuss their plans for the future on Wednesday (March 13).

President Elect of the Rotary Club of Freeport Philecia Martin, stated that World Rotaract Week is globally recognized from March 11-17 and to this end, the club members are dedicating time and effort to giving back to the community. Since the beginning of the Rotaract year, July 1 2018, the Rotaract Club of Freeport has had over 20 community service projects. "We’ve provided hot breakfast for families, adopted two schools and partnered with numerous organizations. Most recently, a dental health screening was conducted at our adopted school and teachers were presented with items for their staff room."

Click HERE to read more the in the Freeport News

Rotarians reach out to students in “different kind” of initiative

By: FN Reporter Abria Cooper

The Rotary Club of Freeport recently furthered its commitment to community service by spending time with the students at Genesis Academy and making a monetary donation to the institution.

President of the Rotary Club of Lucaya Darren Cooper, told this daily that the organization chose to visit the school because they wanted to conduct a different kind of outreach initiative. “We’re here, as a club, to be the inspiration. Our theme for this year is, ‘Be the Inspiration’ and we thought that it was very important rather than us sitting at the Ruby Swiss (Restaurant) and having our regular lunch meeting, we would come on the outside and connect with our kids,” Cooper revealed.

Click HERE to read more in the Freeport News

Rotarians urged to dream big

By: Juelanda Thompson - The Freeport News

Rotary Lucaya held a joint meeting at Ruby Swiss on Tuesday, December 19 to discuss economic development plans, which can catapult the Bahamian economy on a wider scope. Four of the Grand Bahama clubs – Rotary Sunset, Rotary Sunrise, Rotary Freeport and Rotary Lucaya – heard from guest speaker, District Governor Rotarian nominee 2020-2021 Peter Verbeeck.

“I notice that The Bahamas doesn’t take advantage of this pot of money that is sitting at Rotary International. It is just waiting especially on global grants for you to have projects that can really impact your local community. Another portion is an economic development project and I call it living the dream. It means whatever you as an individual Rotarian or District dreams to accomplish, you must work together to achieve it."

Click HERE to read more in the Freeport News

Rotary Club of Freeport captures Salvation Army Kettle project

By: Juelanda Thompson (The Freeport News)

The Salvation Army, Grand Bahama, crowned Rotary Club of Freeport its 2017 winners of the Red Kettle Campaign. The announcement came last Thursday, at the Ruby Swiss Restaurant. The Red Kettle Campaign is a fund-raiser, whereby clubs partner up with the Salvation Army to raise funds for those who need Christmas assistance. After the money is calculated, the presentation to the the winning club takes place a year later.

According to Salvation Army Representative Major Roger Compton, this is the biggest fund-raiser for the organization each year.“We go out and greet people, and because the public is aware of what the Salvation Army is about, 75 percent of the money that we raise is used for Christmas assistance and the other 25 percent would go to the food pantry.”

Compton congratulated the Rotary Club of Freeport “for winning the Annual Bell Ringing Trophy and for raising the most money in 2017.”

The Rotary Club of Freeport is hoping to win for the fourth time this year.

Click HERE to read more in the Freeport News

New Life encourages healthy living during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

From the Freeport News

The Bahamas’ leading nutritionist and herbalist, Jamal Moncur, has traveled the world to bring home lost herbal traditions and African Bi-Mineral therapies designed to improve the quality of life for ailing Bahamians and his international clients. Since launching his New Life business in New Providence in 2010, Moncur successfully expanded his operations to Grand Bahama, providing vegetarian and other natural remedies to treat and prevent scores of diseases facing our modern world. This month, during the annual observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, he and his team will host a ‘Prevention is the Path to Cure’ one day seminar on what they believe can help prevent cancer.

“Breast Cancer remains one of the most common forms of the disease,” noted Moncur, “and because so many people are unable to afford the medical treatments, our mission is to provide a natural alternative that incorporates healthy lifestyle choices and dietary measures that are both affordable and we feel, life changing.”

Click HERE to read more

Acting Warden shares MoA Animal Care Unit Responsibilities

By Sharell Lockhart/The Freeport News

Ministry of Agriculture Animal Care Unit Acting Warden, Lisa Lockhart on Thursday, August 30 served as the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Freeport weekly meeting at Ruby Swiss Restaurant, detailing responsibilities of the Unit. Known throughout the local community for her passion for animals, Lockhart has held various positions at the Humane Society of Grand Bahama where she worked for the past eight years before joining the Ministry of Agriculture Canine Unit.

Working feverishly to ensure all animals receive the help necessary, the Acting Warden detailed the responsibilities of the Unit stating, “The Canine Unit officially opened on March 1, 2017 and focuses mainly on the Government areas located in Grand Bahama but also able to deal with calls coming from Freeport.

Click HERE to read more in the Freeport News

Real estate broker tells Rotarians about ideal options in Grand Bahama market

Story by: Abria Cooper/The Freeport News

The real estate market is enticing at the moment. Such is the conviction of a noted real estate associate. On Thursday, during the regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Freeport, guest speaker Donna Laing-Jones said that now is the time to invest in the market.

Donna Laing-Jones, with Keys Bahamas Realty, said that there is still a great deal of opportunity in the local real estate market because it is a biased market. “We have a lot of persons who want fixer uppers, now is the time to buy those fixer uppers. I cannot determine if those properties will be available in the next six months. The market is in dire need of rental properties like efficiencies and one to two bedroom apartments."

Photo: Rotary Club of Freeport president Darren Cooper presents Donna Laing-Jones of Keys Bahamas Realty with a certificate of appreciation after she addressed the club on Thursday, August 9.

Click HERE to read more in the Freeport News

District Governor Monaghan outlines plans for Rotary year

By: Freeport News reporter Sharell Lockhart

Rotary International District Governor 6990 Drew Monaghan visited the Freeport Rotary Club (RCF) at Ruby Swiss Restaurant on Thursday, July 19 outlining plans for the year ahead. Darren Cooper, RCF president said he is expressly pleased to have had the District Governor familiarize and update Rotarians and guests on the organization’s outreach efforts, as it relates to ensuring rendering genuine, thought out and properly executed service above self, which is its operational motto.

According to District Governor Monaghan, “My mission here today is to discuss Rotary International’s new theme, “Be the Inspiration” and its expected impact; as a matter of fact, our Rotary International President Barry Rasin, East Nassau came up with it and it is important to know how important the actions of Rotarians are particularly as it involves inspiring others in joining together to get more done within our local communities and worldwide. “Certainly, we are keen on increasing our youth service programs, which helps kids become more connected as it relates to youth leadership and mentoring, as well as reduce crime and violence."

Click HERE to read more in the Freeport News

$9,000 in donations to four Rotary projects

By: News Reporter Sharell Lockhart

Rotary Clubs of Grand Bahama Island Assistant Governor, Wayne Russell, held a joint meeting on Wednesday, June 13 at Ruby Swiss Restaurant donating $9,000.00 to four charities inclusive of the Grand Bahama Emergency Water Relief Foundation (Rotary Water Plant) and the Rotary Wheelchair for the Handicapped Programme.

Elated with the success of the Annual Rotary Gala Ball, Russell thanked the out-going presidents of the Rotary Club of Sunrise, Sunset, Freeport and Lucaya as well as the Rotaract Clubs of Eight Mile Rock and Freeport, along with the membership for their unwavering support, particularly, as it regards rendering “Service Above Self.”

Click HERE to read more in the Freeport News

LIS Interact Club donates to Rotary Water Plant

From the Freeport News

LIS DONATION – Lucaya International School (LIS) Interact Club President Quincy Gordon Jr., (center) this past Thursday, May 10 presented a donation to the Grand Bahama Emergency Water Relief Foundation (Rotary Water Plant) during the Rotary Club of Freeport weekly meeting. Also pictured are club’s president, Elsie Knowles (left) and Mike Stafford (right), Rotary Water Plant Manager. (PHOTO: JENNEVA RUSSELL)

Grand Bahama Youth Choir performs at the Rotary Ball 2018

The talented members of the Grand Bahama Youth Choir performed the U.S. and Bahamian national anthems as well as other songs and drum performances at the 2018 Rotary Ball, held on March 17 at the Grand Lucayan. See video below or click HERE to view on YouTube.

Doc encourages residents to ‘show kidneys some love’

By: Freeport News reporter Sharell Lockhart

Grand Bahama Health Services (GBHS) Family Medicine Specialist Dr. Tiadra Johnson recently addressed the topic, “Show Your Kidneys Some Love” at the Rotary Club of Freeport Meeting kick-starting Kidney Health and Awareness Month, which is celebrated in March worldwide.

Kidneys are vital organs of the body that not only regulate blood pressure but also filter 120-150 quarts of blood daily, activate vitamin D for healthy bones, remove waste products from the body, direct production of red blood cells and balance the body’s fluids, Dr. Johnson informed Rotarians and guests.

Click HERE to read more in the Freeport News

FBC mentorship program gets sizable boost

By: Sharell Lockhart (Freeport News)

MENTORSHIP ASSISTANCE – Rotary Club of Freeport presents Falcons Boys’ Club with a $1,000 check to assist mentorship efforts locally and nationally. Pictured from left to right are RCF president Elsie Knowles; Community Projects Chairperson Venus Hall-Miller; Falcons Boys’ Club Founder Darrin Rolle and Rotarian Steve Gunn. (PHOTO: SHARELL LOCKHART)

Click HERE to read full story in the Freeport News

Rotary Club of Freeport donates to Council for the Disabled

Pictured is President Elsie Knowles, Rotary Club of Freeport, Acting President Frederick Potier of the Northern Bahamas Council for the Disabled, and Stephen Gunn of the Rotary Club of Freeport. The occasion is the annual Rotary Club of Freeport Christmas presentation of funds for the the purchase of food items for members of the Council for the Disabled.

Acting President Potier for the Council gave an update on the history and the present efforts of the Northern Bahamas Council for the Disabled. There was also a presentation of a new wheelchair for the Acting President, Pastor Potier, who was in need of a new wheelchair.

Pastor Potier whole heartedly thanked the Rotary Club of Freeport for its support over the years and also for the wheelchair program that the Rotary Clubs of Grand Bahama have provide over the last fifteen years with their distribution of over five hundred wheelchairs. The gift of mobility is deeply appreciated by the recipients.

Rotarians updated on activities at GB Emergency Water Plant

By: News Reporter Sharell Lockhart

Water is an essential life source and thankfully prior to, during and after the passage of Hurricane Irma, Rotary Club District 6990 Associate Assistant Governor and Plant Manager Mike Stafford worked diligently to ensure that shelters across Grand Bahama had an ample supply. Extending an open invitation to other civic organizations such as the Pilot Club of Lucaya, Kiwanis Club of Eight Mile Rock and the LIONS’ Club of Freeport as well as the junior branches of each; Stafford revealed he was pleased to have the support of everyone especially as it relates to sanitizing the water plant, filling up jugs and preparing tote trucks for distribution throughout the community.

Always prepared to render service, Stafford admits he is thankful that Hurricane Irma did not do as much destruction on Grand Bahama as Hurricane Matthew last year and, happily provided an update on the action plan at the water plant ahead of the recent tropical cyclone.

Click HERE to read more in the Freeport News

Dr. Forbes discusses importance of good heart and blood vessel health at RCF meeting

By: Sharell Lockhart (The Freeport News)

Renowned Bahamian Cardiologist and Internist Dr. Winston Forbes discussed the importance of maintaining good heart and blood vessel health at the Rotary Club of Freeport meeting held at Ruby Swiss Restaurant on Thursday, August 24, 2017.

Providing health tips while dispelling common misconceptions regarding various heart conditions, Dr. Forbes pointed out, “Maintaining proper heart and blood vessel health is essential, as heart disease (Cardiovascular disease) is the number one killer in The Bahamas among both women and men, which is a fact that is completely contrary to popular belief that cancer tops the list.

Click HERE to read more in the Freeport News