Rotary Speaks | Christmas Message

Rotary Speaks

Christmas Message From The Rotary Club of Liamuiga

Basseterre, St. Kitts, 22 December 2009: BY PRESIDENT LAVERNE CAINES

Another Christmas is a few sunrises away! It’s hard to believe that 12 months have rushed by already, bringing to life the saying “time and tide wait for no man.” I take this very privileged opportunity to wish everyone a very joyous Christmas season, filled with love, peace and happiness on behalf of all of us at the Rotary Club of Liamuiga. For us Rotarians, Christmas also marks the half way mark of the Rotary year and is also a good time to reflect on the achievements of the first half of the year.

Let’s use the Christmas season to re-ignite that spirit of love that we once were accustomed to when neighbours traded sorrel for pigeon peas, or pork for a rum cake. When it seemed natural for us to make sure that our neighbours truly enjoyed a merry Christmas and it was not just an empty wish.

For so many millions around the world Christmas is a lonely time. This seems like such an oddity, when all of the Christmas carols speak of joy and love and cheer and happiness. We are fortunate that we can reach out physically to our immediate friends and loved ones and inquire of their well being. But do we?

For our part as members of the Rotary Club of Liamuiga, and indeed members of the other two Rotary Clubs in St. Kitts & Nevis, we have made the rounds around the islands distributing Christmas food hampers to the poor and needy. It is such a touching experience to witness the deep appreciation for such a simple gesture by the recipients of these gift baskets. We must continue to ensure that our gifts reach the neediest in our community, guided by Proverbs 19:17: which states “he who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.”

We wish we could do more to assist the needy, but as a young club – only six years old, we believe that we are making a good impression in this area and will continue to expand it as funds would allow. As members of society you can help us to help the needy by supporting our fund-raisers which we use to finance community projects.

Our outreach for the last six months was not limited to the poor and needy. We were happy to nominate Miss Giselle Williams as our delegate to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Conference held in Barbados in October. This was quite a fitting honour to a young lady who just weeks before had been named the Drum Major of the St. Kitts & Nevis Defense Force Band during our Independence Celebrations. Our Rotary Club continues to celebrate the young people whose light outshines the few who fall through the cracks but yet get most of the spotlight.

So as we reflect on Christmas and the end of the year we have much to be thankful for as Rotarians ourselves. This is not to say that we are not starkly aware of how much more needs to be done as partners in the enhancement of our social development. We acknowledge with thanks, those individuals and businesses that have assisted us with cash and kind to help us to achieve our mission. You too are part of the extended network of Rotary and we simply work on your behalf.

In closing, again we extend wishes for a blessed Christmas. Being in the unique position where we also celebrate Carnival at this time of the year, we hope for peaceful and sober celebrations so that all can enjoy the merrymaking in an atmosphere of tranquility.

We look forward to ringing in the New Year with many of you at our Ball at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort. Supporting this event will help with the realization of funds needed to carry out a number of community projects in St. Kitts. We thank you in advance of your support and wish you a healthy and successful New Year.

Thank you and may God bless you and your families.

Rotary websites:
RI http://www.rotary.org
District http://www.rotarydistrict7030.org
Club http://www.rotaryliamuiga.org

Production of the Rotary Club of Liamuiga
P. O. Box 1304, Basseterre
Club PR Director – Eustace Warner
869-662/765-1823
liamuiga.rotaryclub@gmail.com
www.rotaryliamuiga.org

Crime Symposium Report 2008

The issue of Youth Crime and Violence is complicated. As such, it requires a comprehensive plan that not only addresses the present manifestations but puts in place programs, activities and standards that prevent a recurrence of these damaging factors.  As such the report was created as a joint effort of the  St. Kitts National Youth Parliament Association, St. Kitts – Nevis Hotel and Tourism Association, St. Kitts – Nevis Chamber Of Industry and Commerce, Rotary Clubs of St. Kitts and Liamuiga  and other individuals acknowledged in the actual proposal/report.

Click here for the Report

This report and more will be discussed in our “Colour Blind” series at Barber Shop on Action Avenue.