Call to Order:

President Elmer called the meeting to order.

 

Invocation:

Franny Decardenas did a short and sweet invocation.

 

To our Queen and to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

 

President Elmer announced that PP Adam Darville’s grandmother just passed away. We had a moment of silence to recognize Adam’s loss.

 

David Allen – Barry Romedio

Larry Treco from South East Nassau

Puppy Robinson from Rotaract East

 

None today

 

Robert Brown and David Allen both had guests that were warmly welcomed.

 

No Banners for exchange.

 

 

Sergeant at Arms:

JP had a bit of a weak welcome to the podium but it was all in good fun. JP invited the club to Craig Pinder’s wife’s birthday party tonight at John Watlings. JP cracked a few jokes mostly for his own entertainment. He got off to a slow start but finished strong.

 

26^thAmol’s wife

24^th Jenny Pinder (Craig Pinder’s wife)

 

24^thJamal Rolle And Ashley Rolle, 4 years

 

Membership:

23^rd Jonathan Pinder, 5 years

26^thFranny de Cardenas, 18 years

27^thBerkley Williamson, 30 years

 

Announcements:

JP – Our club just got in two sizes of brand new Tumblers. 16oz $20, 24 oz $25

Field of Fun Day is taking place tomorrow at QC from 12pm to 4pm. There will be fun but silly games and attendance will include Early Act, Interact, Rotaract and our club.

 

President Elmer urged the support of our members with these events that help to convert Interacters Fernando Cardenas gave a plea for outstanding membership dues to be paid asap. President Elmer encouraged us to support Sir Durward’s request to make a pledge for BAPD. Every member is asked to give something. Elmer also brought to our attention that there are many great events coming up that we should get along

Meetings are on Tuesdays for both Golf and Fishing Tournament. Members will receive an email with details for both meetings as scheduled.

Allan Burrows was thanked for taking care of the customs brokerage and clearance of the tervis tumblers to keep the costs down.

Special happy birthday to Llewelyn Burrows who provided the whole club with ice cream to celebrate the occasion. Congratulations also to Llewelyn who’s daughter, Megan, got married last weekend (President Elmer had the pleasure of attending).

 

Ros Brown – reminder about the tennis tournament taking place (doubles tournament) next Saturday, January 31^st. It is $25, players of all levels are welcomed to attend. The event is taking place at Gym Tennis Club in Winton.

 

Geoff Andrews– PP Robinson $172 for Robert Brown – supported it for his birthday.

 

Murray Forde announced the upcoming cookoff for Antique Car Show March 21. He has tickets for $15. Proceeds will benefit an Orphanage in Cat Island. Most children come from Nassau (from both Ranfurley Home and parents unable to care for them) and are sent there to be looked after. He encouraged our support for this great cause.

 

 

None today.

 

Krista Sherman, from University of Exeter, spoke briefly about her work with Nassau Grouper Spawning Aggregation Research in the Bahamas and showed a short videoaddressing the issue of grouper being caught during the closed season (when they are reproducing). They are seeing a decline in the species around Long Island. Krista led a Conservancy strategy meeting focused on tackling conservation management so that we can continue to enjoy grouper in the future.

 

Jean Marc-Fellay gave a great background and introduction for Pam Burnside of Creative Nassau, an organization that promotes Bahamian Art & Culture.

 

Mrs. Burnside received a warm welcome to the podium and began by mentioning that she was a grateful recipient of a Rotary scholarship 30 years ago to study fashion and textile studies in London.

 

Creative Nassau, is a non-profit community organization that formed to celebrate and promote Bahamian Art Culture and heritage based on the country’s vibrant Junkanoo traditions and its straw work industry.

 

The organization was formed in 2008 after Pam and her husband attended a UNESCO conference in Santa Fe, California. Creative Nassau’s mission is that by 2020 more persons will travel to the Bahamas for art, culture and heritage rather than just for sand, sun and sea. They encourage those in the arts to share their experience and knowledge within the industry worldwide.

 

Creative Nassau is very proud to have achieved what they have thus far without the assistance of the government. They aim to benefit the people of the Bahamas socially and economically. They want to concentrate on building this country and people through the history, arts and culture.

 

Based on 3 platforms

 

Their focus is on the people in order to achieve these 3 platforms. For too long we have relied on the outside flow of investment to our country. We need to focus on providing jobs rather than relying on imports, this creates a culture that we rely on outsiders to sustain ourselves.

 

They recognize the enormous amount of possibilities in the straw and junkanoo landscapes. Junkanoo has impacted film, art, and souvenirs just to name a few. Junkanoo can be used as an economic engine for the Bahamas.

 

Mrs. Burnside spoke about the importance of the straw industry and that this trade should be taught in our schools.

 

Creative Nassau is passionate about providing entrepreneurial enterprises with opportunities and encouragement to pursue their endeavours. We must spread the word about the importance of the Bahamian Heritage. They have developed a new TV series on Bahamian Art, Culture and Heritage, Channel 12 Sunday nights following the news. They are also starting a radio show on Island FM that also focuses on art,culture and heritage. They are looking for sponsors.

 

Mrs. Burnside stressed the importance of the economic potential of focusing on creative enterprise. They hold a monthly market in Pompei Square to showcase Bahamian talent.

 

She encouraged our support for Steven Cartwright’s Bahamas Revisited, a Creative Nassau partner. Bahamas Revisited is an excursion company offering affordable educational, and environmental week long excursions to the Bahamian Out Islands.

 

Geoff Andrews expressed how grateful we are to have had Pamela Burnside speak and share her incredible work in the community with us.

 

Rotary Around The World