New President Robyn Curry (center right) surrounded by her 2013/2014 Rotary Club of Eleuthera Board.
On Friday evening, June 28th , 2013, the Rotary Club of Eleuthera (RCE) hosted its annual changeover, at the Eleuthera Arts and Cultural Center in Tarpum Bay, where the President and Board members turned over their responsibilities to a new crop of leaders in the organization.
The President during the 2012/2013 year, Jacqueline Gibson, formally handed over the Club gavel to incoming President for the 2013/2014 year, Robyn Curry, in a ceremony which mirrored thousands of others happening globally – as June/July is the period when a changeover of management happens annually – throughout all levels of Rotary International around the world.
Past President Jacqueline Gibson (right) formally hands over the Club gavel to New President Robyn Curry (left) in keeping with the longstanding Rotary tradition.
Honoured guests during the event was Assistant Governor, Stanford Charlton, accompanied by his wife Nadine Charlton, who made a special effort to be in attendance, and presented remarks before the official handover.
The four year old Rotary Club of Eleuthera has achieved a tremendous amount in its relatively short time since beginning, back in April of 2009, and has carved out for itself a reputation of being one of the best in the Rotary 7020 District, of which it is a part.
Successful community projects, as well as an aggressive growth push in the establishment of a Rotaract, Interact, as well as an Earlyact club on the island of Eleuthera have set the members apart thus far from competing clubs in the region. In the most recent Rotary 7020 District Conference held in the British Virgin Islands, under the auspice of District Governor Vance Lewis, now Past President Jacqueline Gibson and her Board, were presented with the District Governor’s Platinum Award, the highest honour for a Rotary Club, which was one of many received during the Conference.
Before passing on the gavel, Past President Jacqueline Gibson took the opportunity to recognize a number of the club’s members who had gone above and beyond expected duty during the 2012/2013 year, making special contributions of personal time and money as well as sacrificing in many other ways.
Among those recognized were Maisy Pinder, who received the ‘Flamingo Service Above Self Award’ for her unselfish assistance at every level in the Club; Mr. Kevin Knowles, received the ‘Blue Marlin Rotarian Partner Service Award’ for being the best Rotary spouse on the island – said to have been willing to assist his wife and Rotary member, Leahnora Knowles at any time; One Eleuthera, received the ‘Lignum Vitae Community Partnership Award’ for their work with the Rotary Club; Kathy Colman was awarded for giving her time and talent to the children of the School for Exceptional Learners – holding yoga classes with them weekly; Max Leary was also awarded for his contribution to the breakfast program for the Exceptional Learners; and Dr. Joanna Paul received the ‘Yellow Elder Youth Service Award’ for her work with pioneering the Earlyact club.
Assistant Governor Stanford Charlton and his wife Nadine Charlton assisted with the presentation of these special awards.
During her incoming speech, President Robyn Curry spoke of her goal to continue the push for growth, not just in numbers, but in the level of voluntary participation and contribution of individual members in the Rotary Club of Eleuthera. She also stated her commitment to providing even further support to the younger Rotaract, Interact and Earlyact clubs formed on the island – all in keeping with the new Rotary year’s theme of, “Engage Rotary, Change Lives.”
Serving Presidents during the four year history of the Rotary Club of Eleuthera include Mr. Shaun Ingraham (2009 – 2011), Mr. Ian Carey (2011 – 2012), and Jacqueline Gibson (2012 – 2013).
