DISTRICT7020SEPTNEWSLETTER-EN

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CONNECTOR

EDITORIAL

COMITTEE

EDITOR

Madsen Cherubin

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Marie Alice Belisaire

PUBLIC IMAGE

Khadija Benoît

LAYOUT AND

CORRECTIONS

Marylyn J. Paul

Inside...

Message from the newsletter editor

Message from Rotary International President

Message from the Governor

11 Governor’s visit to clubs in her district

19 Rotary means BUSINESS

21 Message from the Conference Chair

The cover picture@freepik

22 Basic Education and Literacy in the Age of

Artificial Intelligence (AI) : Challenges and

Opportunities

26 Rotary Club of New Kingston Provides Water

Relief to Hurricane Ravaged Communities

28 Rotary Central Cayman Islands

30 Rotary Club of South Ocean

36 Rotary Club of Anguilla

38 Rotary Club of Old Fort (RCOF)

40 Rotary Club of East Nassau

42 Rotary club of South East Nassau

46 Club of Central Tortola

48 Rotary Club of Eleuthera

50 Rotary Club of Port-au-Prince

52 Rotary Club of St. Croix

53 Rotary Club of Pétion-Ville Sud

56 Rotary Club of Juvenat

||||SEPTEMBER 2024

MESSAGE FROM

THE NEWSLETTER

EDITOR

Dear Rotarians and Readers,

e would like to

apologize for the

delay in publish-

ing the August newsletter.

We had to put a new team

in place to ensure the con-

tinuity and quality of the

newsletter. Now that this

step has been taken, we

are making the necessary

arrangements so that the

next newsletters can be

released as soon as possi-

ble.

The new team is as follows:

■

Madsen Chérubin,

District 7020 Newslet-

ter Chair

■

Marie Alice Bélisaire,

Vice- Chair, District

7020 Newsletter Vice

Chair

■

Khadija Benoît, Dis-

trict Public Image

Chair

■

Marylyn J. Paul, Lay-

out and Corrections

I will continue to motivate

the various clubs in the

District to send us their

articles by the deadline

set by the guidelines. The

District 7020 newsletter is

much more than just an

information document. It

embodies the very essence

of our Rotary commitment:

to serve others, learn from

each other, and grow to-

gether. It is important that

we continue to contrib-

ute to it, use it, read it and

share it, because it is one

of the keys to our collective

success.

Together, thanks to this

powerful communication

tool, we make a significant

Madsen Chérubin

District 7020 Newsletter Chair

2024-2025

SEPTEMBER 2024||||

difference in our communities while inspiring other clubs, other Rotarians and po-

tential prospects.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the many Rotarians who welcomed

the August newsletter very positively with their kind messages of encouragement and

suggestions.

In this newsletter, in addition to messages from Rotary International and District per-

sonalities, some fifteen clubs have shared their experiences, activities and projects.

We sincerely hope that you will enjoy it.

Yours in Rotary Service

Madsen Cherubin

District 7020 Newsletter Chair 2024-2025

||||SEPTEMBER 2024

MESSAGE

FROM ROTARY

INTERNATIONAL

PRESIDENT

he Magic of Rotary is

belonging, and it’s

a feeling that can

appear when you least

expect it.

Earlier this year, I was

in Slovakia serving as a

president’s representa-

tive during a six-week trip

through Europe. When I

wrote to Katarina Cechova,

governor of District 2240 at

the time, I mentioned that

my grandmother Veron-

ica Zilka grew up in a small

village in the area before

settling in the U.S.

It wasn’t long before Ce-

chova tracked down my

grandmother’s village,

Jakubova Vol’a. She even

organized a visit for me,

where I received an un-

forgettable Slovakian

welcome.

When I entered the com-

munity center of Jakubova

Vol’a, a small crowd of peo-

ple dressed in traditional

Slovakian clothing greeted

me. They sang with beau-

tiful and powerful Central

European voices that

reminded me of my grand-

mother.

A lot of families play cards

or games when they get to-

gether. When I was young,

my father would pick up

his accordion and lead my

family in song. My grand-

mother would sing along

with her impressive voice.

When I walked into the

community center and

heard traditional mu-

sic from my childhood

— when I saw a woman

play the accordion the way

my dad played — I sud-

denly felt like a little girl

Stephanie A. Urchick

President 2024-25

SEPTEMBER 2024||||

sitting at my grandmother’s house in Mo-

nessen, Pennsylvania. I burst into tears of

joy at the memories.

But the magic didn’t stop there. District

Governor Cechova really outdid herself.

A local genealogist worked with a videog-

rapher to make a short film about my

grandmother. We watched the video to-

gether in the community center.

When the video ended, I turned around

and saw a man standing in the back of the

room. I quickly learned that this stranger,

Frantisek Zilka, was my second cousin. His

grandmother and mine had been sisters.

I felt like I had been struck by lightning.

I visited my newfound cousin’s home,

which happens to be the home where my

grandmother was born. There, he shared

old photographs I had never seen of my

dad, my uncle, and my grandmother.

Since then, I can’t stop thinking about my

family of Rotary. When I refer to you as

my family, I’m not just being kind. I really

think of everyone in Rotary as my family.

But I never would have imagined that my

Rotary family would introduce me to long-

lost personal family.

Sitting in that community center listen-

ing to traditional Slovakian music from

my childhood filled me with joy and a

profound sense of belonging. I am so

grateful to District Governor Cechova and

everyone who helped create that magical

experience.

As members of Rotary, we have a unique

opportunity to share the same magic

with each other and with the world. I en-

courage you to consider how you can

help spread that magic and ensure other

members of your club — other members

of our Rotary family — feel like they truly

belong.

||||SEPTEMBER 2024

MESSAGE FROM

THE GOVERNOR

Dear Fellow Rotarians of

District 7020,

ducation is more than

just a fundamen-

tal right; it is a call

to action for every par-

ent, mother, and father.

As Rotarians, our hearts

naturally go out to those

children who do not have

the same opportunities as

our own. We feel a deep

sense of responsibility

toward the adults in our

communities who need

our help to achieve literacy

and unlock new possibili-

ties in their lives.

As we enter September, the

month dedicated to Educa-

tion and Literacy, we are

reminded of our collective

duty to promote positive

peace at all levels—peace

that is built on the foun-

dation of equal access to

knowledge and learning.

This month compels us to

renew our commitment to

ensuring that every child,

regardless of their circum-

stances, has the chance

to learn, grow, and realize

their full potential.

One story that exemplifies

this commitment comes

from a literacy project

in Haiti, where a young

boy named Jean-Louis

overcame significant chal-

lenges to access education.

Through the efforts of Ro-

tary, a community learning

center was established in

his village, providing the

resources and support he

needed to thrive. Jean-Lou-

is’s journey from struggling

to attend school to becom-

ing a beacon of hope in his

community reminds us of

the profound impact we

can have.

Supporting education and

literacy is one of Rotary

International’s key areas

of focus. Our efforts can

be far-reaching, from or-

ganizing adult literacy

classes that enable indi-

Dominique Bazin

District Governor 2024-2025

District 7020

SEPTEMBER 2024||||

viduals to read, write, and improve their

job prospects, to promoting early child-

hood reading through partnerships with

schools and libraries. Establishing mobile

libraries in underserved communities can

provide access to reading materials where

they are needed most.

Teacher training is another crucial aspect

of our mission. By sponsoring workshops

and providing modern teaching materi-

als, we can help educators improve their

skills, particularly in regions where pro-

fessional development opportunities are

scarce. Scholarships also play a vital role

in ensuring that students in need have

the financial support to continue their

education, whether through traditional

academic pathways or vocational training

programs that equip them with practical

skills for employment.

Infrastructure development is essential

in creating safe and conducive learning

environments. By assisting in the reno-

vation of schools and the construction of

sanitation facilities, we can ensure that

students, especially girls, have access to

proper hygiene, which directly impacts at-

tendance and retention rates. In today’s

digital age, providing access to technology

and running digital literacy programs are

also key to empowering both children and

adults to succeed.

Books and resources are the foundation

of learning, and organizing book drives or

collaborating with Rotary Action Groups

focused on literacy can significantly en-

hance the resources available in schools,

libraries, or literacy centers. Partnerships

with NGOs and local education authorities

can further amplify our efforts, ensuring

sustainability and scalability of literacy

programs. Additionally, applying for Ro-

tary Global and District Grants can help

fund larger education projects with long-

term, sustainable impacts.

Let’s also remember that education

doesn’t always come in conventional

forms. During our visit to the Rotary clubs

of Grand Turk, we learned about a cre-

ative initiative where young boys were

taken to barber shops to get haircuts in

preparation for school. It’s these kinds of

thoughtful, community-based efforts that

can make a real difference in the lives of

children.

As Nelson Mandela wisely said, “Educa-

tion is the most powerful weapon which

you can use to change the world.” Let us

wield that weapon with compassion and

dedication as we continue our journey to

bring education and literacy to all.

Yours in Rotary service,

Dominique Bazin

District Governor, 7020

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