I would like to start by first thanking the members Sunset for giving me the opportunity to lead this wonderful group.
Without your support, help and guidance I certainly would not have succeeded.
Special thanks to the team; my Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Presidents, Directors and Committee Chairs, your hard work was much appreciated.
The year started out with the team being prepared and ready to go. We started our planning two months prior to the commencement of the administrative year. All were provided with objectives and were prepared with their strategy for activities.
Publicity Committee
It was one of my main objectives to increase the visibility of the club and by extension the work of Optimism.
The Publicity Committee, chaired by Optimist Sylvia “Gina Rey” Straw, played an important role. Optimist Sylvia and her team continued to fly the Sunset flag high on the worldwide web, through the club’s blog Rays of Sunshine. Through her guidance, the team also developed and maintained a membership database.
Participation or sponsorship of a health awareness program was another objective. The club selected HIV/AIDS awareness for this program. Publicity Chair developed a campaign geared towards children. The plan was to design a poster with child friendly messages of acceptance, as well as dispelling myths about HIV/AIDS.
The design, a photograph of children within the HIV/AIDS symbol, to be modeled by children of members, was accepted by the membership. The next step was to seek sponsorship. This was obtained at the end of the first quarter from Supreme Ventures Limited and 2500 posters printed.
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The poster campaign dovetailed into a HIV/AIDS banner competition organised by the District. Each club was charged with designing a banner which had eight short messages spelling out the word OPTIMIST.
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The banner was taken on what was dubbed “Journey to Awareness”, were Corporate entities were asked to host the banner for a period of a week, as well as distribute posters. The “Journey” commenced on Television Jamaica’s (TVJ) “Your Issues Live” program - March 1, 2007. The banner was prominently displayed during the one hour program with the topic being HIV/AIDS. Our Publicity Chair as well as our own advocate for persons living with the disease were guests on the program.
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Many thanks to the companies who hosted the banner; Optimist Donnah Wanliss, who also helped to develop the “Journey”, was the first to host at her store, Woolworth New Kingston. The other companies were Island Car Rental and Supreme Ventures Limited-HWT. Approximately 1800 children benefited from this program.
The Journey ended with a letter to the editor of the Daily Gleaner highlighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Jamaica. The letter was also posted on the Gleaner’s website.
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070922/letters/letters1.html
Community Service Committee
The club continued the following projects started by previous administration.
- Lunch programme for 6 students at the Duhaney Park Primary School at a cost of $130,000 for the year.
- Children at the Wortley Home continued to benefit from our gifts, which include fans, clothing and other items at a cost of $40,000 for the year.
- After school snack programme at the Vision of Hope located at Beaston Street at a cost of $40,000 for the year.
- Reading to the children at Bustamante Children’s Hospital Burn Unit.
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- Musgrave girls were beneficiaries of clothing, after the fire at the home, donated by our overseas members.
The above schools, home and other projects benefited for our regular holiday treats which was conducted for Christmas at a cost of $40,000.
With the main objective for this Committee being to conduct a needs assessment and develop one new program for the year, the committee chair, Director Winsome Cousins, set to work. The team dreamt of staging a Health Fair, geared towards assisting needy children within the community, fulfill the medical requirement for high school entrance.
Even though corporate sponsorship was not what we hoped, the team was not deterred. An alliance was also forged wit the Optimist Club of Trafalgar, in order to obtain the services of medical Practitioners, free of cost.
The Fair occurred on August 11, 2007 in the midst of torrential rain. Approximately 51 persons benefited from this project at a cost of $260,000 for which we obtained $220,000 in donations and other financial support.
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Optimist International required program, Respect for Law week, was conducted May 14 to 20, 2007. Youth safety was also incorporated in the activities for this week. The following were conducted:
- Address at morning devotion of the Duhaney Park Primary School, at which approximately 600 children participated. Resource -Dispute Resolution Foundation/JCF- Duhaney Park Station
- Morning assembly was shared with the children at the Hope Valley Experimental School, with approximately 800 children in attendance. Resource - Grants Pen Youth Crime Watch
- An address to the JOOI club and their guest, with approximately 30 students in attendance. Resource-Grants Pen Youth Crime Watch
- Fun and games “Movie Night” at the Wortley Home of Girls with 20 girls.
- Church service at St. Luke’s Anglican, Cross Roads donation made towards basic school.
The total cost of above was approximately $40,000.
Childhood Cancer Campaign
I am pleased to report that the Board of Directors voted to sponsor the transportation cost of a child afflicted with leukaemia. This child is accompanied by her mother for monthly visits to the Bustamante Children’s Hospital for Treatment. This project was at a cost of $36,000.
Youth Services Committee
Optimist International required programs:
Youth appreciation week
This was conducted during November 12 to 18, 2007. The week started with the membership sharing in a church service with the girls from Wortley Home at The Good Shepherd Church. Students at risk from the St. Andrew High School for Girls were taken on a visit to the Fort Augusta Women’s Prison. Another group of children was taken on an educational tour of the Ban of Jamaica. Members visited Walkers Home of Safety with students from Duhaney Park Primary School to Read /Play Games. The total cost or this project was $25,000
New Club Building Committee
The club formed another Club in February 2007after the hard work and input of DOG Cecille Hale. Our baby called itself The Zenith Optimist Club of New Kingston and started with 25 members. Zenith is a vibrant club and is already on the Honor Roll. The cost of building this club was $30,000.
Fundraising Committee
It goes without saying, that without fundraising, the club could not finance its activities; as such it is the most important committee.
The first fundraiser was gained through the proceeds from a night at the play “Uptown Bangarang” in March 2007. It is safe to say that everyone in attendance enjoyed themselves.
Sunset is a club which enjoys putting fun in our fundraisers and so the next event was an Oldies Party held at Pricilla’s Club in May 2007. Also in that month the club added some fun to our last general meeting, by holding a Joint Dutch Auction with Kingston Breakfast Club.
Our annual golf tournament was staged in June 2007 and was a tremendous success despite the Herman Cup Tournament staged in Montego Bay, distracting a number of our regular players.
Our final fundraiser was conducted in September 2007, with the proceeds going specifically to an exceptional cancer survivor.
Closing Remarks
The past year was challenging, exciting, rewarding and fulfilling. I look forward to working with everyone in the next phase of my Optimist Life.
One Love
President Lorna Gooden
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