Division 27:

Governor Gary and Julia meet Her Excellency, Dame Louise Lake-Tack.

Carib - Antigua

Division 27 is made up of Kiwanis Clubs from a number of Caribbean islands. Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Haiti, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Martinique all have active clubs that contribute to the rich culture of this division.

LG Griffith Joseph hails from Antigua, a small island in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean. That is where we held our official visit and DCM.

Antigua has a colourful history garnering it’s name from Christopher Columbus (meaning “ancient”). It is also know as Wadadli – significant to Kiwanians for one of our clubs has taken that name.

We began our visit with an official greeting first with the Prime Minister and then with the Governor General, Her Excellency, Dame Louise Lake-Tack. Her Excellency is a great supporter of Kiwanis and a champion for youth on the island. We were honoured to have been received in her residence and doubly honoured that she attended our Banquet later in our visit.

In Division 27, Kiwanis is a word that means fun.

Like in Division 26, Kiwanians must travel from far to attend a DCM. Most often, they have to fly in from one of the islands that make up this division. This lends itself well to the creation of "mini-conventions" that accentuate fellowship, Kiwanis education and growth discussions.

To that end, we celebrated the start of our DCM with a grand outdoor dinner at the famous Nelson Dockyards. This restored British colonial naval station is named after Captain Horatio Nelson. A working harbour it is now known for yachting and sailing.  In the Spring a world-class regatta brings many to Antigua.

In addition to good food and good music we got to know each other in grand way. Two teams were formed of Kiwanians who did not know each other. A glow stick tied to the end of a not-long-enough string and then passed from participant to participant, weaving its way through clothing; top to bottom. At the end of the competitive game everyone knew each other much, much better.

Lieutenant Governor Griffith Joseph relaxes with President Dianne Skeete.

Our DCM went well with much participation from all. Like in Division 26, simultaneous translation was provided. The clubs of Division 27 all brought banners and displays that they set up around the room. The displays highlighted service and fundraising projects that they were involved with. They served as an excellent way for all attendees to learn about the happenings in the participating clubs.

That evening we took part in a gala banquet and new-member induction ceremony.

The following day Kiwanians met on the beach to provide a picnic and fellowship for your men from a juvenile training school. For many of them, this was their only opportunity to get out and socialize as they were.

Members of the Saint John's Antigua Club at their DCM.

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