Posted by Public Image Team (PIT) on Nov 27, 2017
 
Interview with WaddySowma, RI District 7030 Governor, from Rotary Club of Panamaribo Residence, Suriname.
What is the outcome of your stay in Martinique?
 
As Governor of district 7030, this includes the southern Caribbean from Antigua to Trinidad, French Guiana and Suriname, I had to visit the seven Rotary Clubs of Martinique, as well as the two Rotaract and Inner Wheel Clubs, with my efficient and remarkable assistant Thierry D' AbadiedeLurbe. I have reviewed their goals and objectives for the year to see if they are in agreement with Rotary International and the district, and provide advice and recommendations. And of course, for me this year, the added value of my visit to Martinique is the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Fort de France (hereafter called Dean)!
It was the first French-speaking club in the Caribbean created in August 1957 and received its charter from the Rotary Club of Paris (the oldest club in France) and its bell from the Rotary Club of Hollywood in Florida. It was the island's only club for 13 years and then spread by sponsoring other Rotary Clubs and allowed the expansion of the Rotary family in Martinique, with theClub of Saint Pierre in 1970, then that of Fort de France Sud in 1975 etc.... It has been a driving force and continues to be very dynamic. We owe them the 60 years of Rotary presence in Martinique, which was the theme of last Saturday's gala evening in my honour.
Each club has its own DNA, its own specificities. I've seen some very good service, and I've met many enthusiastic Rotarians, Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Rotaractors. I encouraged them to take advantage of the training and education offered by the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) so that they could perform even better and play a role in Martinique society and contribute funds to The Rotary Foundation, giving them more flexibility for their projects.
With HervéHonoré, who is in charge of The Rotary Foundation in our district, I spent the entire day on Saturday in Dominica with our Rotarian friends there and met with Prime Minister Skerrit to discuss medium- and long-term reconstruction projects with him. There is a lot to do and the situation is disastrous. We will play our full part in the reconstruction efforts. First of all, we must identify the projects that we will be able to support effectively.
 
What can you tell us about the Rotary Club of Fort de France (dean) after your second visit to this club in 8 days?
 
It's an underage club: 60 years old! Very proactive, I told them: you're not close to retirement! You're 20 years old! I had the pleasure of meeting them, I felt "positive and inspiring waves" during my first visit last Monday at lunch and that's why I decided to go back there a second time before leaving. I wanted to show them my friendship.
It is a club that has marked Rotary's history in Martinique with remarkable service projects. It is still in line with Rotary International's focus on service, empathy and friendliness. It is also online on the notion of leadership and knowledge promotion with conferences twice a month with very high level speakers from all spheres of society. It is a club that continues to play a major role in the public image of the district and Zone 34. For example, with Archbishop Monseigneur Macaire as an honorary member and with two of their future flagship projects on the occasion of their sixtieth anniversary:
A 45-minute film about Rotary's 60th anniversary in Martinique, directed by one of their members Samuel Marie-Louise, was screened at a conference and debated in January. The film was given to the Rotary Club of Martinique to serve the Rotary community and beyond. Oh, that's wonderful. I think it's a great idea to work to promote Rotary.
Fundraising for illiteracy with a VIP dictation to be given in the first quarter. Once again, the club always plays a very positive role in promoting the public image of Rotary in Martinique.
And then I also noted its openness to the international scene with a willingness to continue twinning with other Rotary Clubs in Europe, North Africa, United States etc. and that's very positive!
I wished them to remain as enterprising as ever and gave them an appointment in 60 years.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interview with Waddy Sowma, RI District 7030 Governor, from Rotary Club of Panamaribo Residence, Suriname.
 
What is the outcome of your stay in Martinique?
As Governor of district 7030, this includes the southern Caribbean from Antigua to Trinidad, French Guiana and Suriname, I had to visit the seven Rotary Clubs of Martinique, as well as the two Rotaract and Inner Wheel Clubs, with my efficient and remarkable assistant Thierry D' AbadiedeLurbe. I have reviewed their goals and objectives for the year to see if they are in agreement with Rotary International and the district, and provide advice and recommendations. And of course, for me this year, the added value of my visit to Martinique is the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Fort de France (hereafter called Dean)!
It was the first French-speaking club in the Caribbean created in August 1957 and received its charter from the Rotary Club of Paris (the oldest club in France) and its bell from the Rotary Club of Hollywood in Florida. It was the island's only club for 13 years and then spread by sponsoring other Rotary Clubs and allowed the expansion of the Rotary family in Martinique, with theClub of Saint Pierre in 1970, then that of Fort de France Sud in 1975 etc.... It has been a driving force and continues to be very dynamic. We owe them the 60 years of Rotary presence in Martinique, which was the theme of last Saturday's gala evening in my honour.
Each club has its own DNA, its own specificities. I've seen some very good service, and I've met many enthusiastic Rotarians, Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Rotaractors. I encouraged them to take advantage of the training and education offered by the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) so that they could perform even better and play a role in Martinique society and contribute funds to The Rotary Foundation, giving them more flexibility for their projects.
With HervéHonoré, who is in charge of The Rotary Foundation in our district, I spent the entire day on Saturday in Dominica with our Rotarian friends there and met with Prime Minister Skerrit to discuss medium- and long-term reconstruction projects with him. There is a lot to do and the situation is disastrous. We will play our full part in the reconstruction efforts. First of all, we must identify the projects that we will be able to support effectively.
What can you tell us about the Rotary Club of Fort de France (dean) after your second visit to this club in 8 days?
It's an underage club: 60 years old! Very proactive, I told them: you're not close to retirement! You're 20 years old! I had the pleasure of meeting them, I felt "positive and inspiring waves" during my first visit last Monday at lunch and that's why I decided to go back there a second time before leaving. I wanted to show them my friendship.
It is a club that has marked Rotary's history in Martinique with remarkable service projects. It is still in line with Rotary International's focus on service, empathy and friendliness. It is also online on the notion of leadership and knowledge promotion with conferences twice a month with very high level speakers from all spheres of society. It is a club that continues to play a major role in the public image of the district and Zone 34. For example, with Archbishop Monseigneur Macaire as an honorary member and with two of their future flagship projects on the occasion of their sixtieth anniversary:
A 45-minute film about Rotary's 60th anniversary in Martinique, directed by one of their members Samuel Marie-Louise, was screened at a conference and debated in January. The film was given to the Rotary Club of Martinique to serve the Rotary community and beyond. Oh, that's wonderful. I think it's a great idea to work to promote Rotary.
Fundraising for illiteracy with a VIP dictation to be given in the first quarter. Once again, the club always plays a very positive role in promoting the public image of Rotary in Martinique.
And then I also noted its openness to the international scene with a willingness to continue twinning with other Rotary Clubs in Europe, North Africa, United States etc. and that's very positive!
I wished them to remain as enterprising as ever and gave them an appointment in 60 years.