A church service at the Holy Family Cathedral officially kicked off activities to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Antigua.

The anniversary will be officially celebrated on September 10^th under the theme “50 Years Strong Serving Humanity” but a week of activities will be held leading up to the actual observance.

On Sunday, “members gathered to give thanks for fifty years of unbroken service to our community by fellowshipping at the Holy Family Cathedral, which was of great significance to the club, as the Catholic Church was where the first members’ worshipped to bless the charter of the club in 1972,” the Club said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, members of the Club will be volunteering their time at the Fiennes Institute, in what they claimed is a “spirit in giving back”. Its members are expected to give out “care packages, lunch, and entertainment will be shared with the residents there”.

The club will also be hosting a special meeting at Rotary House on September 7^th, where they will recognize the hard work of its “dedicated members who have reached five, ten-, and fifteen-years milestones in service to our club”.

“Thursday, 8^th September will see our members visiting various secondary schools across the island to educate our youths on the joys of volunteerism and the impact they can make in their communities by providing service to others,” the club said. 

And too officially honor the chartering of the Rotary club on September 10^th, the club will be hosting a Gala Banquet at the Sandals Grande Resort and Spa and will be joined by special guests, members of our Sponsoring Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of St. Kitts, the Governor General, Sir Rodney Williams, and Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

“Special awards will also be distributed to long-standing members who have served twenty or more years in the club. Over the past fifty years the Club has completed a diverse range of projects too numerous to mention but suffice it to say that the club has made an impact in almost all areas of life in our community including; education, sports, medical, social, and community care. Some projects such as the Meals and Wheels have been ongoing for three decades and the Computers for the World and the Sewing Programme, for several years,” the Club said in its media statement.

According to the release, the Club sponsored its first Rotaract Club, the Rotaract Club of Antigua on December 5^th, 1986, and also, the Interact Clubs of St. Joseph’s Academy and the Christ the King High School.

As well as making an impact on the community in its fifty-year history, the Rotary Club of Antigua has boosted tremendous fundraising events, and has become known for our major carnival fete “Colors”.

This Rotary year, the Rotary Club of Antigua will focus on projects in support of the fight against childhood obesity, an empowerment program for single mothers raising young boys, and the construction of a school of the pan at the Irene B. Williams School.

The Rotary Club of Antigua continues to provide members with the opportunity to give back to the community by providing service above self. The Club is proud to have past presidents and Rotarians who have contributed to building and steering the club over the past fifty years.