Presentation to the RC Basse Terre

This was our first presentation since we arrived on this island. The Rotary Club welcomed us with open arms. We enjoyed our time with them and were glad to have been able to spread the message regarding GSE. The club felt that this was a project that they should embrace, so we have arranged to be their buddy as they move through this process. Rotary working together towards a joint aim.

Basse Terre

Today we enjoyed a visit to another part of the island. We visited Fort Saint-Charles steeped in history with the opportunity to see the magnificent views across Guadeloupe. We moved on to view embroidery that is locally made. We would like to thank them for the small gift as a momento of our visit. The botanical garden was spectacular with many different specimens of flowers and trees.

Cocktail Party By The Beach

We were again treated to champagne by the RC Pointe à Pitre and other Rotary friends at a cocktail party by the beach. It was great to feel we were beginning to get to grips with some french. We also found that a smile and sign language worked wonders. We were presented with a few more souvenirs that would remind us of our visit.

Vocational Study French Style

Clair and I attended a local hospital to see how the elderly were looked after with Alzheimers disease and neurological conditions. We had a power point presentation on the new hospital. We could not fault the holistic approach and the fact that the patient was put at the centre of the care. The day hospital was noted for it's rehabilitation activities, especially the cooking, the cake that one of the residents had made smelt extremely nice.

We saw Rotary in action as we visited a garden shed equipped with tools and the vegetable patch. We enjoyed a buffet lunch with members of the hospital. Thank you to everyone for your time and effort.

Arrival in Guadeloupe

Wow, we felt like film stars as we walked in through the baggage reclaim area. PDG and AG Fritz were there to welcome us with Members from the Rotary Clubs in Guadeloupe. It was great to see Rosy again and to know that she had become a Rotarian since her GSE Exchange visit to our District. We had cameras flashing as we were ushered into the VIP lounge to a champagne reception. It was over whelming. Rotarian Alain undertook the job of claiming our luggage, as we got to know our new hosts and started the next stage of our journey. Thank you to everyone for making us feel so welcome. We were taken by our hosts for our first evening to meet family and friends. I enjoyed meeting Alain's family as we enjoyed good food and wine and more champagne.

Methodist Church

On my final morning I enjoyed attending the local Methodist Church. It was very interesting to see how the service was conducted and to see how many of the hymns I recognised. The warmth and welcome I received was astounding. One major difference was that two men gave their testimonials at the end of the service. In my local church the service lasts one hour, this service was one and a half hours.

Final Farewell

We enjoyed a final evening of fun and fellowship in the open air. The hospitality ended in St. Kitts as it had started. We were all very sad to be leaving not only our hosts but the island as well. Thank you again for everything.

Fun and Fellowship with Rotaract

Wow what a lively meeting led by President Nicole, thank you to the Rotaract Club of St. Kitts for your hospitality. It was great also to see Rotarian Carol again from the RC Liamuiga. We wish the Rotaract Club Members luck with their future ventures.

It is hard to believe that we have given our last presentation on this island. We look forward to meeting up with some of our friends, as they are now, at the Rotary Conference in Barbados.

Thank you to everyone for all your hospitality, in whatever capacity, whether it has been hosting, driving us round, Vocational Day hosts or sharing fun, friendship and fellowship. I know I speak for the Whole Team when I say it is really appreciated. We have made a lot of friends. THANK YOU

Fun and Fellowship

Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland Assembly

We send greetings to DG Glynn, DGE Barry and all Rotarians in D1210, to wish you a very successful Assembly. Rotarian Brian enjoy your birthday, have a great day.

The Rotaract Club of St. Kitts

Rotaract is dominant on the island. We have seen joint projects with lots of fellowship. Later today we present to the Rotaract Club. This will give us the opportunity to spread the GSE message to young people and to learn how they are developing through RYLA and other youth projects. Dominic Matthew who you will all remember as a GSE Team Member of D7030, sends his best wishes to everyone in D1210. He has informed me that he is to become a Rotarian. It has been great to be able to catch up with him whilst in this part of the Caribbean.

The Team Liming with President Max

Liming is a Caribbean word for relaxing whilst enjoying fun and fellowship.

4 Way Test

The 4 Way Test Presented Pictorially

The pictures depict the way the 4 Way Test was presented to the schools, each child was also given a book mark. It was interesting to note that they were very interested and asked questions about the message and it's meaning.

My Vocational day at Joseph N France Hospital

Tuesday 22nd March

I spent the day at Joseph n France hospital in st Kitts. I was very apprehensive about what sort of day I was going to have. I arrived and was introduced to the Matron Sonia Daly. She had a white uniform with a white jacket and they still wear caps, belts and cuffs. Matron explained the health care system for St Kitts and explained they had 160 beds, with Joseph n France hospital being the main hospital providing A&E, Medical beds, surgical beds, a private ward, a pshyciatric unit, opthalmology department, xray including a CT scan, a paediatric unit and a maternity unit.

As Sonia showed me around the hospital I was kindly introduced to the staff and given time to talk to the staff. I was then taken on an island tour of the hospitals.

It was very interesting and shocking at the facilities the hospital had, and the absense of medical equipment.

The 4 Way Test Presentations

We have had an awesome day visiting Basseterre and Washington Archibold High Schools, where there were presentations on the 4 Way Test and unveiling of placks by the Minister of Education and the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Informatics and Sports. This project was organised by the RC Liamuiga, led by Rotarian Dr. Ismay Taylor supported by President Eustace, Club Members and Rotaract. The event was recorded by the local television station ZIZ, which was shown on the 7pm news.

It was great to get the opportunity to meet the students and to see how they are encouraged to participate in literacy projects with Rotarians. The teachers were explaining that the students parents are supportive of the programmes undertaken in the school.

A Day hosted by the RC St Kitts

We presented today to President Max and fellow Rotarians from the RC St. Kitts and visiting clubs RC St. Vincent and RC Iowa. Our vote of thanks was from Rotarian Willy, a founder member of the club. The Club was chartered 41 years ago.

As part of the meeting we also enjoyed a presentation on TB, I bet you didn't know it was World TB day on the 24th March!! A Global Plan is being launched today 2011 - 2015 to help to limit the disease.

This afternoon we enjoyed a visit to the museum with AG Percy. Thank you to everyone for making the day so enjoyable and for the opportunity to educate us on your history and culture.

Happy Birthday DAD, I hope you enjoyed your day.

Dinner at Spratnet

Enjoying a visit to a local museum in Nevis

First Presentations of the Trip

The two presentations went extremely well yesterday with excellent feedback. RC Liamuiga and President Eustace with Rotary members. We also enjoyed meeting President Charles and the members of the RC Nevis, who took us to meet the Deputy Governor General (pictured here), before enjoying an island tour and an evening meal at Spratnet, a retaurant that is known for its fish, certainly lived up to its recommendations.

Vocational Day

I spent this morning at LIME (Cable and Wireless) with PP Rtn Laverne Caines who is the Marketing Manager. She very kindly explained the different marketing methods that the company uses to promote its services which was really interesting and useful.

She also talked about the internal communication methods that are used to help to keep staff morale high and to engage staff in teamworking.

She explained all the community projects that LIME is involved with and how a number of these have come to fruition with the help of fellow Rotarians. We watched a promotional video that showed how working in partnership with Rotary, LIME was able to give something back to the community and help benefit those who are less fortunate than ourselves. The video showed LIME staff and Rotarians giving out food parcels to the elderly and also updating gardens at a local hospital.

Thank you Laverne for your help today - much appreciated.

Tha afternoon was spent visiting two elderley care home in St Kitts - one privately run and one that was Government owned.

The differences were immense and a little upsetting.

Today has taught me a lot - to be very grateful for your health and having family around you.

It was nice to see that the Rotary Club of St Kitts had donated dining room tables and benches to the Government owned home - a very worthy cause.

My experiences today have made me even more determined to start my journey to one day opening my own care home.

I would like to thank PP Emile Ferdinand's mother for being my chauffer for the day. Thank you Bobbi

Vocational Day for Vicky and Carol

We were really taken care of by Rotarian Agnes and would like to take the opportunity to thank her and her team for their hard work and support. We visited the University to see the nurse training programmes, prior to visiting a community clinic and sitting in on a research lecture.

It was great to meet the Dean to discuss and compare health care and educational opportunities.

St. Christopher's Outreach Clinic is where church volunteers support people in the community with food, clothing and health checks, not dissimilar to Rotary Stroke Health Awareness Day in D1210. The bank work in partnership with the clinic and we were priviledged to see a presentation that will be used to further the work.

Vocational day

I spent my first vocational day at Training Development Centre (TDC) today and had a fabulous time, meeting all of the people there and learning about the company and its developments.

I also got to meet Dominic again, who was part of the outgoing GSE team from the Caribbean.

My thanks are expressed to everyone at TDC for providing me with such an interesting and fun day!!

Rotary Working at its Best

Our first official visit to the Governor General of St. Kitts, where we enjoyed learning about the island and the Rotary Projects that are supported and run in his residence.

An Island tour followed with a picnic lunch on Brimstone Hill.

In the evening we were officially welcomed to the island. It gave us the opportunity to share experiences and plan possible future projects.

We finally arrived after two very good flights, being received by a Rotaractor who ushered us through customs to find the RC Antigua and GSE Committee Chair Roger waiting to take us to the City View Hotel. Excitedly we booked in prior to a briefing by Roger.

We then enjoyed drinks with the RC Antigua and AG Paul before enjoying our first caribbean cuisine.

Manchester Airport at Some Ungodly Hour!!!

Hi Everyone, well the time to get on the plan has finally come. Here we are pictured with DG Glyn before we board the plane to Gatwick and fly onto Antigua. Thank you also to John and Ken for doing without any sleep to see us off.

Second Presentation to the North of Our District

The evening of 14th March was hosted by the Rotary Club of Stoke-On-Trent. A big thank you to President David, GSE Committee Chair PHF Lynne Marshall and everyone who attended for their support.

First Presentation to the South of our District

President Martin, Rotary Club of Walsall Saddlers thanking the team after their presentation on 15th February 2011.

Welcome from the Team

We are busy with preparations for our forthcoming visit to D7030. We would like to thank Rotary Club Members and their families for their help and support in making this a smooth process by giving us useful tips and advice. We really do welcome and appreciate the two evenings hosted by the Rotary Clubs of Stoke-on-Trent and Walsall Saddlers on behalf of the District, giving us the opportunity to practice our presentation in a true Rotary environment prior to our departure.

Thank you from Carol, Clair, Jen, Fay and Vicky pictured here with DG Glyn Johnson.