MARCH 4, 2008 GOVERNOR’S MONTHLY UPDATE

We left all of the snow and Toronto behind on Friday February 8th and arrived to heat and smiling faces at the Kingston Airport.  Our goal on this trip was to see as many of the 57 Clubs and 2,400 Members and their projects as possible. We wanted to talk directly with Members to hear their concerns, challenges and to work out solutions together.  A hectic travel schedule but our LG Team was up to the task. 

These Leaders are on top of what is happening in their Divisions.

We spent our first 5 days in Division 23W (17 Kiwanis Clubs) with LG Christine Long.  We arrived at our home away from home for 5 days.  We have made new lifelong friends in K George and K President Beulah Bartholomew who were our hosts.  I will miss my 5AM Coffee/Cigar meetings with K George in the Gazebo overlooking the City of Spanish Town. (xo Daphne, Andrew & Cecilia).  Friday night’s meet and greet at their home was most enjoyable.  The Saturday Youth Rally which was to be 150 Builders, Key Club and Circle K Members turned into 340. It was energized by K Jason.  GE Sheron and K Dorothy did the Builders Club session and LG Christine, Circle K Administrator Lloyd and I did the Advisor, Key Club and Circle K session.  The Sunday Division Council Meeting was a full house of 100+ Kiwanians and our discussions were very frank, informative, and educational with several solutions provided to challenges being faced. 

 

The Children, Youth and Health Programs being worked on certainly opened our eyes to service.  The Children were warm and welcoming as were all Kiwanians we met.  On Monday, February 11th, my 64th birthday, I enjoyed a morning TV Breakfast Show Interview; a visit with the Deputy Canadian High Commissioner and believe it or not, 6 birthday parties with banners.  I had cheese cake for breakfast with 3 waiters singing happy birthday, children sang a Jamaican happy birthday at several of our stops and at the end of the evening I was presented my own Jamaican hat at Greater Portmore’s Club Meeting from DLG Connolly and later was serenaded by a beautiful Kiwanis Member when we arrived at Hellshire Kiwanis Club with a birthday banner and a fun group of Kiwanians on hand.  A Birthday to remember. 

We had a police escort when visiting Maypen, the Mayor, and an impressive project at the hospital.  Hey, it was fun being rushed through the traffic with sirens going.  The Candle in the Dark Project which I was involved with for 3 years as Co-chair and had never seen was even more than we had expected.  Kiwanians can feel very proud of what we accomplished with the money we raised.  It was very emotional for all of us as I was greeted by “The Reids” who I had not seen since 2001.    The volunteer battery was fully charged and we were energized. 

The television interview and numerous newspaper items received a positive response from all Kiwanis Members.  Excellent marketing.   We enjoyed another Kiwanis Moment as I had the pleasure of inducting 6 New Kiwanis Members at the Linstead Kiwanis Club Meeting.  The next day we were handed over to LG Kay Anderson dragging our butts but very pleased and excited about what we had just experienced.

Division 23E (16 Kiwanis Clubs) was a blast and we experienced the same Kiwanis Spirit that we had just left.  It was like you were in the same division.  We stayed with LG Kay and her daughter Karen.  Within 15 minutes of arriving we felt quite at home.  The schedule she had set up was just as hectic but it was again around school program support, refurbishing and in some cases rebuilding.  We enjoyed an excellent tour of Kingston Harbour by boat. 

 

We made positive Newspaper stories almost every day and were on the main television news twice regarding the opening of the new addition to Jamaica Aids Support for Life Clinic.  The Kiwanis Members were upbeat and, by the way, I forgot to mention we had a motorcycle officer, 6’7” Constable James, as our escort through the traffic for 4 days.  Believe me we needed it to reach all of our visits on time as traffic was horrendous.  His smile would beam when I asked Children to greet him and they would say “Good Morning Constable James and God Bless You”.  

Over the next 7 days we were introduced to Breakfast Programs; Differently Abled Children’s Lodge;  Basic School upgrades;  Home for abandoned babies, Children’s Orphanage (we could have enlarged our family very easily) and the Mustard Seed Dare To Care HIV/AIDS centre.

 DLG Lloyd and Angella Distant hosted a terrific cocktail meet and greet where we met old and new friends. 

 

Sunday we enjoyed a very upbeat Church Service packed with Kiwanians, followed by the 23E Division Council Meeting.  We experienced a positive and informative meeting with the 16 Club Presidents and 100 + Kiwanis Members.  We enjoyed an excellent meeting with the four LGs and the Governor General.   We closed out our 7 days in Division 23E with a 3 Club joint meeting with the Mayor of Portemore in attendance (a Kiwanis Member) with his message about the positive role Kiwanis plays in Jamaica.

Wednesday (20th) it was back to reality traveling in city gridlock then through the mountains to be handed off by LG Kay to LG Cherrie Rowe of Divison 24 (11 Clubs) and husband Keith.  We will miss LG Kay’s morning singing and Karen’s cooking and big smile.  We have now had 13 days of Kiwanis Fellowship and “Service Action.” 

I thought I had seen some rough roads but highway construction is underway throughout Jamaica.  I closed my eyes several times as we traveled through mountain roads not wanting to look out the side window at what was way down below, although Keith Rowe was an excellent driver. 

 

We visited some Basic Schools (Children 3 to 6 years of age) where Kiwanis projects included new washrooms, new kitchens, fountains, fences and/or play areas.  A good start for the first day of 10 hours with 6 hours in traffic gridlock (side of the Mountain caved in on the road) and mountain travel.  Our room was decorated with flower pedals and a sign of greetings from Kiwanis Members.

For the next 4 days we saw many projects at Basic Schools; a Hospital Children’s Reading Area; Kiwanians laboring to build a home for a mother and her 8 Children; and a new building being constructed to house computers. We visited “Jacob’s Ladder” a new 100 acres Mustard Seed site for “Differently Abled Children” who are left to the streets once they turn 18.  This will be a major location for these Children (Adults) having the space and ability to move around, grow their own food and labour to keep their home clean and safe.  This project will keep the Kiwanis Members of the Moneauge Club busy forever. 

 

We closed with a DCM that was positive and informative to 80+ Kiwanis Club Members in attendance.  As Governor, I made Keith Rowe an Honorary Kiwanis Member to September 30, 2008 while he contemplates membership.  LG Cherrie and Keith Rowe have Kiwanis in their heart and soul.  We are charged with the spirit that we had seen and are so proud to be Kiwanians.

Sunday morning we had the ceremonial hand off to LG Jennie and then away we went for our circular drive around the mountain to “Lovers Leap” where we met with our LGs to discuss what we have seen to date, concerns and solutions for the future of Kiwanis in Jamaica.  No one, by the way, jumped.  We arrived at LG Jennie’s house and relaxed for the evening of good discussion and fun.  Jennie is a fantastic driver and does have certain messages for those who are not.  The next day the journey continued as we again experienced Kiwanis in Action visiting Basic School refurbishing and rebuilding such as washrooms inside the schools, kitchens to cook meals for Children, the opening of a computer room for junior schools, playgrounds, bus shelters for children to keep them out of the sun and a meeting with the Cuscus (Provincial Lt. Governor in Canada) who is a Kiwanis Honorary Member.  He spoke very highly about what Kiwanians are providing in his community and throughout Jamaica.  I met the Mayor of Westmoreland and in his welcome address at the club meeting, he started by saying “Fellow Kiwanians” which drew a large round of applause but it was a positive mistake.  When I stood to give my address I made Mayor Moore an Honorary Kiwanis Member until September 30, 2008 while he contemplated full membership.   

The spirit in Division 25 was no different than the other 3 Kiwanis Divisions.  We traveled up and down mountains and visited several current hands-on projects.  We continued to be impressed with our Sister and Brother Kiwanis Members who really are serving the Children of the World.  Our closing Division Council Meeting was “lively” as I continued with the program of encouraging members to ask any question they had on their mind.  We did not lose our sense of humour but it was tested a few times with “Protocol and Bylaw” questions.  Members appreciated the honest responses.  Division 25 has great Children’s projects and leadership.  We enjoyed our last evening and felt very much a part of Jamaica.  We are going to miss the fellowship we have enjoyed here.                                           

In closing, the 24 days spent in Jamaica were impressive, moving, emotional, energizing and continued to make us so proud to be members of Kiwanis.  Our 4 Kiwanis Divisions are in good hands with LG Christine, Kay, Cherrie, Jennie and the 2,400 Members they serve and lead.  Everything we had seen is being worked on now and will continue in years to come.   At the end of our journey DST Hope Markes introduced us to K Pino Maffesanti, a humble, generous and caring individual.  As a Kiwanis Member he lives The Objects of Kiwanis.  He is God’s Gift to Kiwanis in Jamaica.

Governor Chuck & Dorothy

chuck@kiwanisecc.org