Newly-installed President of the Anguilla Optimist Club, Jerome Roberts, has called on the membership of the organisation to show a greater degree of commitment in order to carry forward its work in the community.

Optimist Charter Members and Junior Optimists

He was speaking over the weekend at Grillers Restaurant, at Stoney Ground, where the Club’s handing over ceremony was held with Vice President Gina Brooks as chairperson.
Roberts, who served as president of the club in earlier times, said over the past twelve years it had worked extremely hard in terms of nation-building and youth development in Anguilla.

The 2007-2008 Board of Directors. Charmaine Sasso at extreme right

He outlined seven objectives which he hoped the Club would focus on during the ensuing Optimist Year. “I want first of all, as Optimist members, for us to re-commit ourselves to this organisation,” he admonished his colleagues. “We must re-dedicate ourselves, our time, talents and energies to move this organisation forward. The time for resting is about over. It is time for service and therefore I am calling on you to re-dedicate yourselves to the cause of Optimism and young people here in Anguilla.”

Monica Hodge Handing Over to Jerome Roberts

Among the objectives Roberts outlined were a membership drive and a re-commitment to the programmes of the club to build a greater bond between the youth and the Optimist leaders and members. He appealed for reliability among the club’s personnel in order to achieve the goals set out by the Caribbean District and the local organisation; for the improvement of knowledge about the Optimist Club and its work among young people; for the Optimists to keep abreast with the civic matters which confront the Anguillian community; and for them to be of much service to the island and its people.
Earlier during the programme, the Immediate Past President of the Optimist Club of Anguilla, Monica Hodge, who passed on the mantle of leadership to Roberts, spoke about the work of the organisation in Anguilla over the past year. Among other matters she said that the club was committed “to standing in the gap to protect children from criminal and other exposures by working hand in hand with schools, churches and other organisations to improve the chances of our children’s academic success.”

Miss Hodge called for a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Social Development and the Education Department to seek to put in place a safe house for boys and girls. According to her such a facility could provide for after school programmes to assist children with their home work, and for educational games that would reinforce what is taught in the classroom.

She was grateful to a number of partners who worked with the Optimist Club over the past year and helped to make a difference in the lives of young people.

Those on the Board of Directors of the Club for 2207/2008 were installed by Lt. Governor, Charmaine Sasso. They were President Jerome Roberts, Vice Presidents, Fritz Smith and Gina Brooks; Secretary, Uldean Trim; Treasurer, Sheila Richardson; One Year Directors: Susan Hodge, Valdez Johnson and Ingrid Fullington; Second Year Directors: Delphine Richardson, Carmen Hackett-Saunders and Brandon Franklyn; President Elect, Emma Ferguson and Immediate Past President, Monica Hodge.
Charmaine Sasso has succeeded Avon Carty as Lt. Governor.

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