Local Rotarians are getting in gear for their 33rd annual Rotary International District conference, to be held in Grand Cayman from 30 April to 5 May.
About 400 Rotarians from the 11 countries in Rotary District 7020 will attend the conference and enjoy a varied programme of education, administration, note-comparing and fellowship coupled with a unique opportunity to see just what has been achieved in this part of the world, said a Rotary press release.
District 7020 is one of the 10 districts in Rotary International and covers 68 clubs throughout the Northern Caribbean in Anguilla, The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Haiti, Jamaica, Sint Maarten, St. Barthelemy, St, Martin, Turks and Caicos Islands and the US Virgin Islands.
During the conference, Cayman’s Rotarians will take the opportunity to showcase Grand Cayman to the visitors.
In addition to the work of the conference, local Rotarians will host many cultural and entertainment activities to give their visiting counterparts a taste of Cayman.
Throughout the week visiting Rotarians and their guests will enjoy fellowship at various receptions and lunches, a pre Carnival Batabano Fete at Pedro Castle, spouse programmes, and a variety of home entertainment, highlighted by dinner parties all over the island when local members open their homes to conference attendees.
Alastair Paterson, who is the Rotary District Governor this year, is in the process of visiting every one of the 68 clubs in the District. Rotary stresses the importance of family and Mr. Paterson is accompanied by his wife Meg on every visit.
They have already visited Anguilla, French West Indies (St Bart’s and St. Martin), Dutch West Indies (Sint Maarten), British Virgin Islands (Tortola), United States Virgin Islands (St John, St Thomas and St Croix), Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands and Jamaica as well as the clubs in Grand Cayman.
‘We have had the pleasure of meeting all of the Rotary Clubs throughout the various territories including many outstanding Rotarians who have simply put ‘Service above Self’ in their communities,’ said Mr. Paterson.
‘We have had the honour of visiting the people of the various territories not as tourists but as friends and interacting with them on a local basis. We have been amazed and are in awe at the breadth and depth of the projects undertaken throughout our District and projects in many cases more ambitious than one would realize,’ he continued.
‘We have been touched at how Rotary is appreciated throughout our District by people who need help and how Rotary through its motto and ideals provides help for those who are less fortunate.’
He noted that projects throughout the District include meals on wheels for seniors; support of children’s homes; provision of literacy programmes for both adults and children; installation of fresh water wells for those who have no water supplies; experimental environmental programmes; purchase of equipment for hospitals; learning programmes to reduce teenage pregnancy; supply of breakfasts for kindergarten children; construction of schoolrooms and provision of school supplies; and manufacture of playgrounds and vocational programmes for youth including job training.
FYI
Rotary in the Cayman Islands consists of three clubs in Grand Cayman a recently formed Rotaract club (for young members aged 18 to 30), and the Rotary club of Cayman Brac.
The oldest club is the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman which meets at the Westin Hotel and Resort on Thursdays for lunch. Rotary Club of Cayman Central meets for dinner at the Marriot Hotel on Wednesday evenings. Rotary Sunrise meets on Wednesdays for breakfast at the Grand Old House. The Rotary Club of Cayman Brac meets at Biggies Restaurant in Cayman Brac on Monday at 7pm. The Roteract Club meets at Breezes on the Bay, in George Town, Grand Cayman on Thursdays for breakfast.
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