AT SUNDAY'S installation ceremony for the new officers of the Optimist Club of Barbican Pines, Dr. Pauline Russell-Brown, chief of party of the Futures Group, which conducts the Youth.now Project, lauded, encouraged and challenged the members of the all-female civic club.
"Clubs like yours, the Optimist Club of Barbican Pines, are contributing significantly to assisting individual children to achieve their education and social development goals," Dr. Russell-Brown said during the ceremony on Sunday at the Shirley Retreat House on Maeven Avenue.
COMMITMENT
She added: "I congratulate you for your commitment and steadfast resolve to make a difference to be true to your mission ... to foster an optimistic way for the improvement of individuals and society through service to members, the youth, the community and the world."
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In detailing some of the accomplishments of the all-woman club, Dr. Russell-Brown made mention of the scholarship fund that the club established for the Mona High School ($20,000 per year), the presentation of musical instruments to Maxfield Park Children's Home and the adoption of the three-year-old triplets, among other deeds.
Before departing Dr. Russell-Brown challenged the women to evaluate their existing mandate to ascertain how best they can improve on it. "As you enter your fifth year, this may be an opportune time for re-examination. As a group of civic-minded women who see the need to give something back to their society by lending a hand in helping to improve the lives of young people," she said.
In addition to strengthening existing relationships, the women were encouraged to forge new ties so as to develop fresh outreach initiatives.
"There is strength in numbers. Sounds very cliché but so true. We need to more often than we do now partner with others who share our vision and passion. We need to learn to partner in ways that allow us to retain our identify and purpose, but maximise the inputs," she said.
