Sunday, October 28, 2007
Monday, October 01, 2007
HIV/AIDS:'Journey to Awareness - End Discrimination"
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Poster 
Banner
Photos of JourneyJourney to Awareness was the Publicity Committee’s project for the club to promote the awareness of HIV/AIDS as well of the message of ending discrimination. This idea was conceptualized at the 2nd Quarter District Conference by Pres Lorna Gooden, Opt Donna Wanliss and The Publicity Chair as we admired our banner which we prepared for the ORAAW 2007 District Competition.
It was decided that the banner (8ft x 4ft) was really too beautiful and its message too important to be kept rolled up in a corner only to be brought out on special occasions. As a result it was agreed that we should target business places to host the banner in their organization for a week - especially businesses where children congregate.
The Journey to Awareness program was kicked off on March 1, 2007 where it was viewed nationally on the very popular current affairs program – Your Issues Live (TVJ). The Publicity Chair, "Gina Rey Forest", was invited on the program in her capacity as a performance poet to perform one her pieces related to HIV/AIDS. The opportunity was seized to ask the producer if this medium could be used to start the Journey to Awareness program and they happily agreed. As a matter of fact they gave the banner prominence by placing it on the fence behind the stage so that it could be in the view of the camera and the audience at all times. It is interesting to note that the program was re-broadcast and sections of our banner were repeatedly shown in close-up. Due to the late start of the show, the Publicity Chair was not interviewed about the project – however afterwards she was interviewed by Mr David Muhammad of the Jamaica News Network
The Journey began in the Mandela Park – Half Way Tree – as mentioned earlier. It is important to note that the “Your Issues Live” program has a wide sponsorship base as a result of its large number of viewers. After the program, which lasted for about one hour, we distributed posters to the public and I must point out that they went like ‘hot bread’. Many teachers were present and took posters for their schools as well as others took for their youth centers, and nurses took for their health centers. However, due to the rush we were unable to get the names of the various institutions.
Of note – is that one man came up to Publicity Chair and after receiving a poster said that he was HIV positive and that he loved the message of both our banner and poster. He took some to distribute in his community.
We distributed approximately 150 posters. In attendance were: Pres Lorna, Opt Sylvia "Gina Rey Forest", Opt Dianne, VP Michael and Opt Dudley who took pictures.
Demonstration of service above self
There was islandwide rains for two days before the event, with more rains forecasted for the weekend.
Publicity was obtained on the television morning programme, CVM @ Sunrise. The representatives on the programme were President Lorna, Sunset Kingston and President Elect Nicole, Trafalgar.
In the true spirit of optimism, the Sunset Optimist Club of Kingston and the Trafalgar Optimist Club of Kingston successfully staged the medical fair we dubbed ‘Healthy Bodies Make Healthy Minds’ on August 11, 2007, despite persistent showers of rain and overcast skies.
As the heavens opened, the volunteer doctors and nurses, dozens of students and parents, as well as corporate entities such as NCB Insurance, Wisynco Group and the Child Development Agency (CDA) were in no mood to be defeated by the inclement weather.
All pitched in to make the event worthwhile and to ensure that all who attended were feted with goodie bags, refreshment and good music.
My statement for the day was: “I prefer to be present and have no one participate, than to not be present and persons attend, only to be disappointed”.
We indeed did not disappoint, the 51 persons who attended (including parents), particularly the parent who arrived at 8:30am.
The Optimist CreedThird tenet - To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
Purposes of Optimist International Fifth purpose - To aid and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world.
It was indeed a test of our Optimist Creed and a testimony to our purpose as optimists.
Sunset's Annual Golf Tournament June 24, 2007
Photographs of Award reception
The reception was well attended by members and golfers. We were hosted at the Fraser Fontaine and Kong Parking lot, much thanks to Past President Dale for securing this location.The evening was well organised and much appreciation was expressed by the golfers at the numerous awards presented by the club.
The highlight of the evening however was the presentation of the overall winner's prize to Mr. Tomoe Mourikawa (centre photo with wife), who vocally expressed his delight, hands outstretched, shouting in Japanese "Thank, you, Thank you so much"; this was a sight to behold. This was especially pleasing as Mr. Mourikawa was last year's third place winner, as well as the fact that this will be his last year in Jamaica. He stated that this is a wonderful gift to take home with him.
A representative of a sponsor, Pan Caribbean, expressed her gratification at being there to see this reaction, and commented to sponsoring again next year.
English:thank you - Japanese: doomo arigatoo gozaimasu
English: thank you so much - Japanese: doomo arigatoo gozashimashita
Optimists in action day June 23, 2007
Optimists in Action Day took place on Saturday June 23, 2007. Clubs in Zones 1 -5 met at Emancipation Park at 10am for a tree planting ceremony.This 'One Love Optimist Tree' will be a symbolic representation of the 'One Love' year and the year when a Caribbean, Optimist ‘Theo’ take over the helm of Optimist International.
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