The Tribune

Cycling Club Bahamas.- Weekend rides: Saturday leaving 6am sharp from Harbour Bay Shopping Centre in front of First Caribbean Bank (Starbucks) 43 miles headed West. In order to complete this ride, it is recommended that you have done some recent cycling! Leaving PI bridges optional at the end. The pace will range from 17–20+mph, three-hour duration.

Sundays leaving 6am sharp from Harbour Bay Shopping Centre in front of First Caribbean Bank (Starbuck’s) 40-50 miles headed East. This ride is not recommended if you have not cycled recently or first timers! PI bridges optional at the end. The pace will range from 17–20+mph, 3-3.5 hour duration (cyclists are invited to join in anywhere along the route).

Weekday rides, east: Morning, Tuesday & Thursday leaving 5am sharp from Sea Grapes Shopping Centre, East Prince Charles Drive. This ride is a 17-mile loop to the Northbound Paradise Island Bridge and back again (Both bridges are sometimes incorporated depending on available time). Open to riders capable of 18 mph + for 1 hour. Lights are essential.

Weekday rides, west: Morning, Wednesdays & Fridays leaving 4:45am sharp from Fidelity Bank Parking Lot (opposite Cable Beach Police Station), West Bay St. This ride is a 20 mile loop. The route is varied. Open to riders capable of 18mph+ for 1 hr. Lights are essential. Contact Shantell to confirm your attendance.

Afternoon, Tuesdays & Thursdays leaving 5:30pm sharp from Old Fort Shopping Center east of Solomon’s Fresh Market. Intermediate Riders 17-22mph - see Spyda. This ride is@18miles (faster group leaves North Side Lyford Cay roundabout, recommended for strong riders capable of 20mph+ for 1-1.5hrs. (23 miles) Lights are essential.

Upcoming: February 18th - Ride For Hope, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera http://www.rideforhopebahamas.com.

Rotaract Club of East Nassau. - On January 19, the Rotaract Club of East Nassau (RCEN) hosted its Fifth Annual Entrepreneurship Panel Discussion, under the theme “Entrepreneurship: The Leap of Faith!” at The Nassau Yacht Club. The event was moderated by Patrice “Puppy” Treco Robinson, founder of Pupstar Entertainment and a proud past president of RCEN. Patrice “Puppy” Robinson engaged the nearly 200 attendees in a thought provoking discussion with panellists on the topics discussed.

This year’s diverse group of panelists included: Alexandra Maillis-Lynch (Events By Alexandra/Festival Rum Bahamas), Charles Johnson (Crossfit Potcake), Jarrel Hall (Relish), Jason Kinsale (Aristo Development) Lincoln Deal II (JetLink Adventures)

The panelists brought a great deal of experience and gave invaluable insight into their motivation to take the “leap of faith” by starting their own business and, indeed, maneuvering the challenges of operating a successful business in The Bahamas. The panel discussion focused on topics such as the transition from being an employee to being self-employed, the ease of doing business in The Bahamas, classic pitfalls in business and, all importantly, tips for those attendees contemplating taking the “leap of faith” themselves. The event was brought to a close with a lively Q&A session between attendees and the panelists and was followed by a raffle. Raffle prizes included a handbag kindly donated by Bahama Handprints and a harbor cruise kindly donated by Barefoot Cruises.

This year’s event could not have been made possible without the extremely generous support of its sponsors, as follows. Diamond: Aliv, Platinum: Superwash, Mcvities (Bahamas Wholesale Agencies), Nassau Tile, Gold: Fun Foods Wholesale Ltd., NUA Insurance Agents & Brokers, Bahamas Waste, Bahamas Reality, United Shipping Company Ltd

The event was deemed by all to be a resounding success with approximately 175 attendees, mostly between the ages of 18 and 25, and was organised under the leadership of vice president and professional development director Tiffany Smith, fundraising director Brock North, and president Candace Russell. The members and board of RCEN are energised and excited to plan an entrepreneurship event on an even larger scale next year and wish to thank the panelists, sponsors and general public for their continued and overwhelming support.

The club meets twice a month on Monday evenings at Lifestyles Bar and Lounge/Bacardi Bar (East & Bay Streets). Fellowship begins at 6pm and meetings begin at 6:30pm. Should you have any interest in joining the club, email rotaract.eastnassau@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RotaractEastNassau/.

Rotary Club of South East Nassau. - Rotary member heard that new possibilities and exposure for The Bahamas will be realised with the country’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai. The Bahamas is to take part in this world fair where 180 countries are expected to showcase achievements of their nations. Rotarians from the Rotary Club of South East Nassau heard about the six-month Expo that ends in April 2021, where approximately 25 million visitors are expected to attend. The Bahamas is looking for talent and participation for their pavilion and Rotarians were invited to play a part.

With a collaborative effort between the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the University of The Bahamas (UB), a design challenge for the Bahamas pavilion for Dubai was kicked off by presentations from four groups. They comprised of students from the departments of architecture, culinary, as well as arts; their impressive concepts for the pavilions were well received. Another presentation will take place at the Harry Moore Library at the University on February 6, 2017. In April, the winning team will find out which design will be chosen to be built by the host country.

Representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tony Joudi, The Bahamas Ambassador to the UAE and State of Qatar, shared the vision for the Expo. He said, “Expo 2020 will be a place where ideas and people connect. Dubai is one of seven Emirates, in the Middle East, and they are undertaking what will be one of the greatest showcases of innovation, imagination, and collaboration. The theme is connecting minds and creating the future through opportunity, mobility, and sustainability.”

As part of the Expo, each country will have a pavilion, reflecting their identity, culture, national priorities, and achievements.

“As a fellow Bahamian,” said Joudi, “I see this as an opportunity to showcase the incredible skills we have as a country, to the rest of the world. There is little doubt that although we are a small archipelago of islands, we have the power to make an enormous impact, and shine on a global scope.”

Joudi said that the design competition aimed to help provide the Commonwealth of The Bahamas with the tools to generate exhibition proposals; they will serve as the foundation for the pavilion design. Additionally, it will offer Bahamian youth the opportunity to demonstrate their talent.

For more information, log onto www.expo2020dubai.ae.