Rotary Year 2009-2010 ended with another monthly Bingo game, Lobsterfest, continued work on several school projects and the Annual Handing Over Ceremony.

BINGO
The June Bingo game (currently, games are being held monthly) was held at the Paradise Resort on June 19 with the proceeds dedicated to supporting the Blissful Sage Foundation’s Battle Cancer Walk (held on June 25). Although the crowd was smaller than for past games, they made up for it with enthusiasm with the happy cash prize winners (50% of the pot for each game goes to the winner) being Suzanne, Betty, Malu, Polo (winner of 2 games), Kirah (winner of 2 games), Steve (winner of 2 games), John and Myra (split pot), Myra and Harald (split pot) and Lydia. In addition, Lydia won the free game with the prize being dinner at the Paradise, which was generously donated by Alan and Janet. We wish to, once again, thank Alan and Janet of the Paradise Resort for providing the venue and extend special thanks to Kathy Anglin for acting as the caller for the games. Bingo is planned as a regular event, so, please watch for ads on cable TV and around the Village and listen to LOVEFM for dates and times of future games.

LOBSTERFEST
The rains came on Saturday, which is the day that the Rotary/Fire Department booth is usually set up for Placencia’s Annual Lobsterfest and the rubber ducks used in our infamous Duck Race lodged a formal protest about having to go out in the wet and windy conditions, so, the Rotary Club of Placencia and the Peninsula Volunteer Fire Department regrouped and set up on Sunday with information about our organizations including the Rotary Club of Placencia’s accomplishments and the Scholarship program being set up and Fire Safety information for children and the general public. During the day, volunteers made their way through the small but growing crowd to sell tickets to the Duck Race which went off in the early afternoon. The competition was fierce as almost 400 rubber ducks were dumped in the sea from Harald Wallen’s boat and started riding the waves to the finish line. When it was over the winners were determined to be Garden Cabanas ($250), Hailes-Zoe ($100), Marvin Scheck ($75), Juan Caducio ($50) and Jordan ($25). The proceeds from the race will go to the Peninsula Volunteer Fire Department.

HANDING OVER CEREMONY
The beginning of each new Rotary Year (which runs from July to July) is marked by the Annual Handing Over Ceremony. The Rotary Club of Placencia held the Ceremony this year at the Maya Beach Hotel on July 3 as Rotarians and their spouses and guests got together to see outgoing President Harald Wallen and his Officers (Secretary Wanda Stakutis and Treasurer Nazle Frutos) and Board of Directors (Lydia Villanueva-Director of Membership and President Elect, Maretha McCullock-Director of Club Administration, Robert Edmonds-Director of Rotary Foundation, Eugenie Adderly Gabourel-Director of Service, Greg Valiton-Director of Public Relations, and Sandra Johnson-Past President) hand over the reins to incoming President Lydia Villanueva and her Officers (Secretary Maretha McCullock and Treasurer and Past President Harald Wallen) and Board of Directors (Steve Wade-Director of Membership and President Elect, Sandra Johnson-Director of Club Administration and Director of Public Relations, Robert Edmonds-Director of Rotary Foundation, Eugenie Adderly Gabourel-Director of Service and Jim Weller-Sergeant at Arms). The evening began, as do all Rotary meetings, with the Rotary Prayer and the singing of the Belize National Anthem, led by our always capable Mistress of Ceremonies Maretha McCullock. This was followed by a welcome address by outgoing Treasurer Nazle Frutos leading into outgoing President Harald Wallen who summarized all of the Club’s accomplishments for the year and credited his Board of Directors as well as presenting each with a Certificate of Appreciation for their service. Outgoing Secretary Wanda Stakutis then took over the microphone and presented Sandra Johnson with The Unsung Hero Award (a beautiful Driftwood Ditty by Annette Vernon that included the Rotary 4 Way Test) for all of the things she does quietly and without recognition throughout the year. Next up was the guest speaker for the evening, Paul Hunt (Assistant Governor for Placencia 2010-2011), who spoke on the importance of Rotary and the Future Vision project funding being implemented as a pilot project in our district before installing incoming President Lydia Villanueva and her Board of Directors for Rotary Year 2010-2011. President Lydia Villanueva then spoke about her plans and hopes for the coming year and expressed her confidence that we will, once again, build on last years’ success and have our best year ever. Following a Thank You address by President Elect (2011-2012) Steve Wade, an excellent meal was served and an evening of fellowship was enjoyed by all. We wish to extend our thanks to Assistant Governor Paul Hunt and his wife Betty Jean for sharing this evening with us and we extend special thanks to the Maya Beach Hotel for providing a beautiful venue and a truly outstanding meal.


ONGOING PROJECTS
Outside of the Fire Department, which is always considered an ongoing project, most of our current work involves the schools with building projects about to get underway in Placencia Village and Seine Bight Village and finalizing the Scholarship Program. As more work is performed on these projects, we will report in greater detail. The coming Rotary Year will see annual events like the dictionary distribution, Flag Raising Ceremony, cemetery cleanup, Haunted House and others continuing with the hope that more will be added as manpower and financial resources become more available. Also, plans are to continue to hold regular Bingo games and it is hoped that the year will see cricket back on the agenda. Please watch for our ads on cable TV and around the Village, listen to LOVEFM, or visit our web site www.rotaryclubofplacencia.org for information on upcoming events.

OUR CLUB
At this point in time, our Club consists of 15 members that, when what has been accomplished is considered, are obviously working hard to make our community and our world a better place. Much has been accomplished, but, more needs to be done, which requires more involvement by people in the community. We urge anyone that wants to give back to their community and become part of an organization that is accomplishing that to attend one of our meetings (Tuesdays at 12:30 PM at Yoli’s), visit our web site at www.rotaryclubofplacencia.org, or speak to any Rotarian. Our Club, as with all Rotary Clubs around the world, operates under the 4 Way Test, which is as follows:
Of the Things We Think, Say or Do
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOOD WILL and friendship?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Wouldn’t you like to give back and be part of an organization that operates under this test? If so, please consider joining us.