Eleuthera’s expanding family of Rotary International clubs welcomed its newest and youngest membership with the induction of Deep Creek Middle School’s Early Act Club, the first of its kind on Eleuthera. The nineteen member group makes up the youngest component of the organization, joining Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact Clubs already established on-island.
Early Act club members attended the Rotary Club of Eleuthera’s weekly meeting on Thursday the 29th of November at the Eleuthera Arts and Cultural Center. Rotaract members were also present. Speeches and introductions to the club’s upcoming plans were given by a number of members including Club President Keniesha Pinder, Vice President Shawnea Neeily, Secretary Trevonya Pinder, and other Club Chairpersons including Bronthaye Rolle, Zachary Carey, Tillia Leary, Tyrin Culmer and Leslya Monroe. All those in attendance, are proud of the club’s vision for the upcoming year of service. Also in attendance were parents and attendees from Emma E. Cooper Primary School in Palmetto Point.
“As President of the Rotary Club of Eleuthera,” stated Jacquie Gibson, “I am pleased to say that Rotarians are delighted with the DCMS Early Act presentation of their action plan. Their level of interest and commitment to ‘service above self,’ in their local environment, and to the world, really caught our attention! These young leaders are already positioned for both national and global greatness.”
The students articulated their ambitious goals and discussed their busy calendar which includes community clean-ups, environmental workshops, and participating in the One Million Bones Project, an art activism project against genocide. They will also be collaborating with the local family of Rotary clubs on service projects throughout Eleuthera. Rotarians in attendance were eager to support Early Act’s plans for the future. Excited members of Rotary and Rotaract made donation after donation in support of the young leaders, collectively raising over one-hundred dollars for the club.
“There are a lot of positive things happening on our island. Taking care of the community is well modeled here and I am excited that our students have embraced this. In fact, they are taking it to the next level. I am so pleased that they have really taken ownership of the ideas of responsible citizenship and leadership as these are priorities at our school,” spoke Dr. Joanna Paul, Rotarian and Early Act club advisor.
Rotary Club President Jacquie Gibson was encouraged by the club’s founding and hopes that other students on Eleuthera will be inspired by these young persons. “DCMS’ Early Act club will prove to be an excellent pilot for other like clubs in schools throughout the island,” she stated.
