The Tribune

THE Rotary Club of East Nassau celebrated 50 years of service at a function held at the National Art Gallery.

The club, which was chartered on May 6, 1963 with 26 members continues to go from strength to strength, currently boasting a membership of 107.

In his remarks at Friday’s event, current club president Geoff Andrews said that since its inception RCEN had raised in excess of $5 million dollars for local charities and community projects as well as contributing over $700,000 to the Rotary International Foundation which funds humanitarian projects around the world. The club has also developed many Rotary leaders over the years, most notably Barry Rassin who became the first Rotary International director from the Caribbean region in 2006.

Vance Lewis, District Governor for Rotary District 7020, flew in from the British Virgin Islands to join the celebrations and pass on congratulations from Rotary International President Sakuji Tanaka. He also presented Paul Harris pins to Keith Parker for his years of service to Bahamian track and field and to Kelly Meister, current president of the Inner Wheel Club of East Nassau.

Barry Rassin’s service to Rotary and his role as leader of Rotary’s relief efforts following the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010 were recognised during the awards ceremony when Frank Crothers presented him with the Grand Cross, the highest award available from the Order Of Malta, the oldest order of chivalry in the world. Barry’s wife, Esther, was given the Sir Durward Knowles Humanitarian award for her support of Rotary over the last 30 years.

Of the many hundreds of community projects undertaken by the club over the years the Fox Hill Run, which sees Rotarians distribute food to needy households in the Fox Hill area every second week, is the longest running, having been taken over from the Methodist Church in 1975.

The club’s other notable achievements include the founding of Project Read, a service that teaches adults reading, writing and basic math skills, in 1991 and the building of the Cheshire Home for the physically disabled which began in 1989 and was completed in 1991. The club also makes numerous donations to worthy causes on an annual basis including the Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled, the Bahamas Sailing Association, the Salvation Army, the Ranfurly Home and the Bahamas AIDS Foundation.

Friday’s event included a silent auction and a human auction in which Rotarians offered their services to the highest bidder, which raised $10,000 for the East Nassau Scholarship Foundation and will be used to help Bahamian students continue their education both at home and abroad.