Tuesday, September 20, 2011

BEACH CLEAN-UP 2011 - Rotary Club of Mobay, New Generations

The Rotary Club of Montego Bay hosted a Beach Clean-up on the edges of the Freeport Lagoon on International Coastal Clean-up day – Saturday 17 September 2011.


107 volunteers were in attendance at the early morning 3 hour event that started at Montego Bay’s Freeport Round-a-bout and ended at the gate of the cruise ship pier - sponsored by Cornwall Beach, CPJ, Margaritaville and Rainforest Seafood.

Organiser of the event, Rotarian Natasha Parchment-Clarke was delighted by the turn out and disgusted by the findings:


“There were children and their families from 15 different schools in and around Montego Bay – all New Generations (which is the young arm of Rotary in prep schools –EarlyAct; high schools – Interact; colleges and community based – Rotaract) were represented and they served their community amazingly.”

“We worked in partnership with the Jamaica Environment Trust and had to log details of all the garbage collected so they can send data to the Ocean Conservancy who analyses findings from international coastal clean-ups annually.



The surprising find this year was car parts – 143 of them and 89 bottles of oil. A group of children actually built a car out of the tyres, radiator, batteries, shocks, brake pads, axel, cv joints and oil filters found!




Some things were expected, but not in such high quantities:- 1,176 food containers, 1,123 pieces of plastic cutlery ; 1,794 plastic drink bottles, 682 plastic bags, 381 glass bottles; 221 metal drink cans; 184 paper bags ; 107 straws”

“It was as though we only scratched the surface – there were layers and layers of rotting garbage. We were able to pull out the non-biodegradable items, but there was years’ worth of dumped garbage in the bushes that fringe the Freeport Lagoon, of particular concern were the oil bottles – some full of dirty oil which are leaking into the lagoon”



“Our volunteers had a real learning experience and the youngest ones went away with a heightened consciousness about appropriate garbage disposal. As a gesture to be a part of the solution not the problem, signatures were collected for a pledge to “Stop using plastic bags and bottles – choosing re-usable bags and bottles instead” 111 petitioners signed up for the cause.



The event was complete by 11am and volunteers headed for another beach - not to clean it up this time, but to relax and enjoy an afternoon courtesy of Cornwall Beach who offered half price entry to any volunteer who had participated in the Rotary Club of Montego Bay's Clean-up.









 



Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Wheel chair project

ROTARY DISTRIBUTES WHEELCHAIRS FOR A SECOND TIME IN MONTEGO BAY
The Rotary Club of Montego Bay has once again partnered with Reach Out and Care Wheels (ROC Wheels USA), in association with Hope Haven Ministries (USA), and Food For the Poor, to provide much needed wheelchairs to the community in St. James


Those spearheading this project in Montego Bay included Rotary Club of Montego Bay’s Project Director and Past President Bhagwan Chuganey along with International Director and Past President Michelle Daswani.

A team of 24 specially trained personnel from ROC Wheels and Hope Haven Ministries arrived on the island to assist in fitting these custom built chairs for the needy, many of whom are disabled children.

Distribution commenced on 16th March at the Cornwall Regional Hospital , where pre-measured patients arrived to receive and be fitted with their specially designed chairs. Some of these patients have not been mobile until now and their gratitude for this life changing piece of equipment was heartwarming.

Distribution continued to West Haven and Blessed Assurance Children’s home, which houses some of the neediest orphans with severe disabilities, as well as other physically challenged persons who submitted applications to receive these gifted chairs.
This year The Rotary Club of Montego Bay celebrates its 50th Anniversary of Service above Self, and are proud to have initiated this multi-million dollar project in a series of other planned activities to commemorate this milestone.

Past President and co-ordinator of the second wheel chair project with ROC wheels -
 Bhagwan Chuganey, gives a heartfelt thanks to the team of visitors.

 


Immediate Past President Michelle Daswani hosts a thanksgiving dinner for the ROC Wheels team. Also pictured are President Mexine Bisasor and Past President  Bhagwan Chuganey.

 

Co-ordinator from  ROC Wheels Holly Floyd (far left) and Founder  Lee Ann Hanson second left) express their thanks for the work of Bhagwan and The Rotary Club of Montego Bay in making this 2nd trip to Jamaica with over 100 custom made wheel chairs such a success.

Members of The Rotary Club of Montego Bay, and 24 volunteers from ROC wheels and students from a Montana, USA high school celebrate the successful distribution of OVER 100  custom made wheel chairs in and around Montego Bay throughout the week of 14 March 2011

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

INTERACT CLUB OF MONTEGO BAY HIGH SCHOOL - re-kindling

With much excitement and enthusiasm, a team of Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors visited the prestigious Montego Bay High School to revive a dormant Interact Club.
Lead by the energetic Rotarian Natasha Parchment-Clarke who co-chairs New Generations for The Rotary Club of Montego Bay, the group sat in on the clubs meeting with the 30+ ladies in attendance giving advice, encouragement and support to the keen youngsters.


 

After making a presentation, leaving handouts and sharing knowledge, the Mobay High students clambered to volunteer for Executive Committee positions which the Grade 11 students will be deciding on over the next few days. The Grade 11's will hold the positions until exam-time whilst grooming the lower grades into taking the positions upon graduation.


Visitors included Prospective Rotarian, Montego Bay Club - Sunrise: Marcia Nembhard ; President Ivan Godfrey and Chairperson Raymond from the Interact Club of Cornwall College and Zaheer Clarke, Vice-President Elect of The Rotaract Club of Montego Bay along with his lovely wife Kim.


Under the theme "Igniting a fire" - the Interact Club of Mobay High proudly posed for a photo of the group whose smoke is rising and flames are growing . . .

Monday, January 17, 2011

EARLYACTORS SHINE AT 2011 INTERCLUB ASSEMBLY

2011 Interclub Assembly Highlights
On Saturday 15 January, 2011, President Elect-Vernella, Incoming Secretary -Natasha and  her EarlyAct children Lucas & Savannah took a road trip to May Pen for the 2-day 2011 Interclub Assembly.
They stopped to ask directions no less than 5-times !


The May Pen Rotary Club arranged an evening boat cruise and all attendees at the assembly were true to the words: ‘eat-drink-and-be-merry” until late into the night.




 President Mexine presents a 6-mth summary for the Rotary Club of Montego Bay.

Left to right – ADG  Govind Chulani ;  PRID Barry Rasin ; EarlyAct Member Lucas Clarke ;
EarlyAct Secretary Savannah Clarke; DG Diana White ; PDG Errol Alberga.

Throughout the 2-day gathering, the New Generations clubs were acknowledged and mentioned plenty and positively - Lucas and Savannah were fine ambassadors of their EarlyAct Club; school Montego Bay Christian Academy; sponsoring Rotary Club - Montego Bay and of course their Rotarian Mum - Natasha!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

SCHOLARS SPEAK at ROTARY LUNCHEON

Every Rotarian in the room was proud to be one, after thanksgiving speeches were made by 2 Rotary scholarship awardees at the Rotary Club of Montego Bay's weekly luncheon meeting on Tuesday 7 September.

Co-ordinated by Past President and Rotary International specially assigned host counsellor to scholarship awardees Bhagwan Chuganey, the scholarship duo visited the luncheon meeting under his fatherly wing. 

Young Jenoy Barnett, a tenth grader at Cornwall College who has received the Maxwell Southby Memorial Scholarship for the 3rd year in a row gave a heart-rending speech about family and school life and what the scholarship meant to him.

Then bubbly Shaniek Parks, recipient of the Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship worth over J$ 2 million took the stand and eloquently spoke about her journey ahead to Leeds University in England  where she will be reading for a Masters in International Communications. She leaves this Saturday with every Rotarian behind her promising to read the blog on her adventures at http://adventuresofajamaicanrotaryscholar.blogspot.com/

L-R  Scholarship Chair Rtn. Maria Hosue, Jenoy Barnett, PP Bhagwan Chuganey,
Shaniek Parks, President Mexine Bisasor

Thursday, September 2, 2010

5th Tuesday - GAMES NIGHT SOCIAL

On the 5th Tuesday of any month the Rotary Club of Montego Bay replaces their weekly luncheon meeting with a 'social' and  on Tuesday 31 August, Past President Ann Chen Ueker's legendary games nights was the hit of the summer.

With nearly 40 Rotarians and friends in attendance, an enlarged version of Pictionary (a drawing game, where teams have to guess what word their designated 'artisit' is drawing in under a minute) was organised and Rotarians and friends teamed up to battle their way around the game board using flip charts to draw such words as: Indianapolis 500 ; steam roller, plant, Dad. . .

After a competitive battle between the green, yellow, blue and red teams, the red team edged their way ahead and with some lightning fast guesses from husband and wife duo Natasha (Rotary Club of Montego Bay) and Bertram (Rotary Club of Rosehall), their friends Moralda Green and Melaine Myrie they shouted the loudest, guessed first and WON !

A super evening of cocktails, light fare and competition enjoyed by all .


Past President Ann Chen Ueker explains the rules
whilst husband Steven shows the game board
Team YELLOW start the ball rolling

Team BLUE in competitive form

An "all play" where artists from each team compete,
all drawing the same word for their team to guess
Hear no evil - Speak no evil - See no evil

Team GREEN in guessing mode captained by President Mexine

The winning RED team.
L - R Moralda Green. Rotarian Bertram Clarke,
Melaine Myrie, Rotarian Natasha Parchment-Clarke

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

NEW GENERATIONS CHAIR MOTIVATES ROTARACT CLUB OF MOBAY COM COLLEGE


New Gen Chair Andrea Hamilton gives words of encouragement

New Generations Chair Andrea Hamilton gave a motivational speech to the newly installed executive committee of The Rotaract Club of Montego Bay Community College at a short and sweet installation ceremony held by The Rotaract Club of Montego Bay at Pier One on Wed 25 Aug 2010.

Newly elected President Brett Lee promised a change in the way people look at the club ; an increase in active members and more island wide inter-clubbing as well as a mentorship programme with their sponsoring club the Rotary Club of Montego Bay East.

A truly encouraging gathering of 40+ young professionals , together on a damp evening in ‘service above self’ !

Left - right: Rotaract Club of MBCC Pres. Brett , Rotaract Club of Mobay Pres. Leon , Rotary Club of Mobay New Gen Chair Andrea , Rotary Club of Mobay East member Kurt . Rotaract Club of MBCC Staff Advisor Oneil 

All members of the executive committee of the Rotaract Club of Mobay Com Coll
plus Rtn Andrea and Rotaract Club of Mobay Pres. Leon (far left)


Thursday, August 19, 2010

CORNWALL COLLEGE INTERACTORS CELEBRATE C.A.P.E GRADES

CORNWALL COLLEGE INTERACTORS
CELEBRATE C.A.P.E GRADES
AT ROTARY CLUB OF MONTEGO BAY LUNCHEON
- 17 Aug 2010 -

Rotary Club of Montego Bay’s President Mexine Bisasor [3rd right]and a beaming co-chair of New Generations, Rotarian Natasha Parchment-Clarke [3rd left] congratulate Cornwall College students who received their grades on Tuesday 17 August and were feted at a luncheon at The Pelican moments after their slips were collected.

The service oriented students amassed a total of 10 credits & passes for level one and 10 distinctions for final results in their C.A.P.E subjects. Past President of the Interact Club Norman Malcom with 4 distinctions [2nd left]and Director of Fundraising Malke Kellier with 6 distinctions [far right] are both heading to the UWI Mona campus and will be moving into the Rotaract Club there for young professionals aged 18 – 35 yrs; they leave the Interact Club of Cornwall College in the capable hands of President Ivan Godfrey [2nd right], Vice President Deon Mitchel [far left] and Fundraising Director Romaine Miller [centre].
Left to right: Deon Mitchell, Norman Malcolm, Rtn. Natasha Parchment-Clarke,
Romaine Miller, Pres. Mexine Bisasor, Ivan Godfrey, Malike Kellier.

Monday, August 16, 2010

GUEST SPEAKER - MBJ Airport CEO Fernando Bosque

GUEST SPEAKER AT ROTARY CLUB OF MONTEGO BAY’S
WEEKLY LUNCHEON
MBJ Airport CEO Fernando Bosque
- 3 August 2010 -

Under the motto “Bigger, Better, Bolder”, Mexine Bisasor, the new President of The Rotary Club of Montego Bay has indeed lived up to those 3 words.
At the second meeting of the 2010 – 2011 administration, the guest speaker arranged for the club’s weekly luncheon housed temporarily at the Pelican, was Fernando Bosque, CEO of MBJ. His presentation highlighted details from the Master Plan for the airport and Mr. Bosque spoke candidly about the challenges being faced and solutions being put in place for the multi-million dollar operation in the heart of Montego Bay.The audience of Rotarians, Rotaractors and guests were positively impacted by the facts, figures and assured confidence Mr. Bosque has in the airport’s present and future prospects. There was a hearty and informative debate during the question and answer segment.

ROTARIANS GET PINNED

ROTARIANS GET PINNED BY PRESIDENT MEXINE
AS DIRECTORS OF THE 2010 – 2011 ADMINISTRATION


Rotarians unable to make the lavish installation brunch at Secrets at the end of June were ceremoniously pinned at The Rotary Club of Montego Bay’s weekly luncheon 2 weeks ago.
In the serene Waterfall room of the popular Pelican restaurant, President Mexine Bisasor presented committee directorship positions to:
Andrea Hamilton – New Generations (not pictured)

Kay Rueben – Director of Membership
Maria Ho-Sue – Director of Fellowship

Vernella Fuller – Secretary