On July 2nd, 2020 Rotary Club of Barbados completed its 59th installation of officers via a virtual platform, creating history. This classy event, which attracted over 100 attendees dressed in formal attire, was ushered by our very own outgoing Sergeant at Arms, Peter Arender. Our attendees included:
Past Rotary International Director - Brad Howard; District Governor - Lisle Chase; Rotary International Membership Committee Chair & Past District Governor David Edwards; Past District Governor, His Excellency - Milton Inniss; Past District Governor – Tony Watkins; District Governor Elect - Sonya Alleyne; Assistant Governor - Peter Thompson; President Rotary Club of Barbados South - Michael Forde; President Rotary Club of Barbados West - Trevor Williams; Hon Rotarian - Marina Leacock; Hon Rotarian - Professor Anne St John; Tamara Marshall; Dr Corey Forde; Dr Anton Best; Past Presidents; President Rotaract Club of Barbados - Rasheeda Prescod; Rotarians, Partners in Service; Friends of Rotary and Guests
Following a witty introduction by SAA Peter Arender, President Peter Williams opened with a Loyal Toast to the Queen. Outgoing VP, PP Elvin Sealy, provided the invocation. This was followed by a video titled ‘Year in Review’. The up-tempo music in this video surely got members engaged. Immediately following this video presentation, the outgoing President Peter provided the official welcome. He expressed gratitude to everyone for their support and announced that the Rotary Club of Barbados had qualified for the 2019-20 Rotary Citation with Platinum Distinction.
President Peter went on to introduce our featured Speaker Past Rotary International Director Brad Howard, a PDG of District 5170 (California’s Silicon Valley), and a past member of the Board of Directors of Rotary International years 2015/17. He just completed serving a three-year term as Chairman of Rotary’s Communication Committee. In addition, he was also a member of the 2020 Rotary Virtual Convention committee. The eradication of polio has been a significant part of Brad’s Rotary experience. He served 10 years as the Zone 26 End Polio Now Coordinator, and has led 34 Rotarian groups, comprised of over 1,600 people, to participate in polio national immunization days in sub-Saharan, West Africa and India. Brad is a recipient of Rotary’s Service Above Self Award, The Rotary Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award and the International Service Award for a Polio Free World, a recognition provided to no more than 10 people each year.
Brad opened with a warm greeting to DG, DGN, PDGs and Presidents; he thanked PDG David for inviting him to be part of our celebration. In his remarks he focused on Rotary; what it represents and some key causes which included peace, eradicating polio and our areas of focus. He spoke of what is possible at this time which he believes is ‘peace’ and reminded us that we have a promise to make the world more peaceful.
The featured speaker drew reference to Past RI President Sakuji Tanaka's words on peace, “we often define peace by what it is not; peace can be defined as a state of no war, no violence and no fear; it means you are not in danger of hunger or persecution or the suffering of poverty. But we can also define peace by what it is, and by what it can be. Peace can mean freedom of thought and of speech, freedom of opinion and of choice, and the ability for self-determination. It can mean security, confidence in the future – a life and home in a stable society.” He went on to say that President Sakuji claimed Rotary helps us to build peace in its most traditional sense, by reducing the causes of conflict. It builds bridges of friendship and tolerance among people and nations. It helps us to understand each another.
Brad stated that from his standpoint Rotary's most distinguishing characteristic is “who we are and not what we do..who we are allows to do what we do.. were it not for who we are, we would not be able to achieve the many things you just saw your club achieve and then you know what Rotary International has achieved when we join together…”
To demonstrate Rotary’s achievement, the past RI Director took us back to April 1945 at a conference consisting of 42 organizations including RI with 800 delegates of which 49 were Rotarians. It was during that conference in San Francisco, CA that the United Nations was created. He reemphasized Rotary International was one of the organizations that served as consultant to create the UN; an organization that promotes peace. Today, Rotary holds the highest consultant status offered to them in non-governmental organization in their economic and social counsel which oversees many specialized UN agencies. The Rotary representative network maintains and furthers its relationships with several UN bodies, programs, commissions, and agencies which consist of RI representatives to UN and many other organizations.
He then spoke of individual efforts of Rotarians like Past RI President K. R. Ravindran to fighting to eradicate polio where he successfully negotiated a ceasefire with the northern militants during National Immunization Days.
PD Brad eloquently related Rotary’s seven areas of focus to peace. He ended by saying until polio is eradicated Rotary is not going to take on any other corporate project.
However, once it is gone; and it will be; he believes what will happen is our focus will be to wage peace, to empower everyone of us to make a difference, to make our communities safe, make our self-stronger and make the world a more peaceful place.
Past RI Director Brad expressed appreciation for the opportunity to speak to the club and congratulated the transition of leadership of club from one board to the next and to be a part of success and peace in Rotary
This was followed by Club awards presented by the outgoing President. Several members and Teams were recognised for their contribution to the club and community. (https://portal.clubrunner.ca/7241/Stories/outgoing-president-recognised-several-members-contribution-to-club-community )
Thereafter, he announced six Paul Harris Fellow Awards. ( https://portal.clubrunner.ca/7241/Stories/six-recognised-as-paul-harris-fellows )
Next the event was transitioned into the new year with a video depicting the installation of the new Board. Then, President Fiona officially and virtually installed her new board and also announced the four Honorary Rotarians for her year - Krystal Boyea; Marina Leacock; Dr Jeff Massay; and Professor Anne St John.
President Fiona then introduced District Governor Lisle Chase who provided brief congratulatory remarks and noted that Peace is a top priority for District 7030 and that the district will be having its very 1st peace activation in both zones (33/34) and asked all Rotarians to be prepared for projects and programmes throughout the year. He then introduced his video presentation with a title track ‘We are a Family’. The video depicted Rotarians working together as a family.
Following DG Lisle’s presentation President Fiona delivered her inaugural speech highlighting that “Rotary Opened Opportunities for Me”. The full speech is available via this link: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/7241/Stories/rotary-opened-opportunities-for-me-president-fiona
President Fiona ended the historical event with a Toast to Rotary International. The event ran for about two hours and it was followed by the usual fun, fellowship and laughter. The full event is available via this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/128LHQudUvQ4bq3e9HnBnxs-qZnww2wzG/view?usp=drive_web
