Latoya Grindley, Gleaner Writer
Sheron Cameron-Dunn, first Jamaican female to have been elected governor of the Eastern Canada and Caribbean District. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
She has created Kiwanis history in becoming the first Jamaican female to have been elected governor of the Eastern Canada and Caribbean District. This means that Sheron Cameron-Dunn will have to oversee one of the largest geographic districts of Kiwanis International.
Having had her first introduction to Kiwanis in 1989, Cameron-Dunn is not fazed by the responsibility and looks forward to executing her plans. "I will be like the chief executive officer of the district and oversee the work of the clubs throughout the district. I want to motivate members by finding a way to have them say Kiwanis is priority, regardless of how stressed they may be. I want to also protect the name and integrity of the organisation."
A staunch Kiwanian, she became a part of the service club for one reason which, she maintains, has kept her in the organisation. "I had visited a client's office and he asked if I would be interested in going to a Kiwanis meeting. I asked what it was about and he told me that they work with children. That one thing was what I was looking for because I love volunteerism."
Loves service
Giving of herself is like the normfor her now and living her life any other way isn't an option. "I love service and anything that has to do with volunteering and caring, I am for it. This is like an international family where you get to meet new people with a focus on serving."
While Kiwanis generally caters to those in need or to the less fortunate, this newly elected governor says she has a particularly weak spot for children. "Every time I think about that child, Ananda Dean, who was brutally murdered, I feel like crying. And I think, what is it that we can do to help the situation? We should definitely speak out against it and continue to work with schools to try and steer children in the right direction." And as the perfect gift to kick-start her tenure, the district has organised something special to assist children. "What excites me now is that the district has decided to raise CAN$1 million in three years with the assistance of the United Nations Children's Fund. The funds will assist children living in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana living with HIV."
Balances family and Kiwanis
Married to Trevor Dunn, who is also greatly involved in the service organisation (a past governor as well), and being a mother of one daughter, Cameron-Dunn says she has no problem balancing her family life with that of the club duties. "It is like a Kiwanis family and even before I decided to offer myself as governor, my husband was and is still very supportive. He knows I enjoy this and I am looking forward to my year as governor. He understands; in fact, we met through this organisation."
Serious and dedicated
So serious and dedicated is she that she offered to sacrifice her day job to effectively carry out her duties. "I am now a full-time volunteer; I resigned from MiPhone at the end of March. I enjoy voluntary work rather than earning a salary."
Doing voluntary work full-time on top of the new responsibilities of being a governor, Cameron-Dunn enjoys a little break at times - even though they are not too far from the club. "I love watching television, but most of my entertainment is within fund-raising events put on by the club. I also love dancing."
For the 2008-2009 year, she has come up with the theme, Embracing Challenges ... Creating Opportunities. And it is for this reason, she says, "Most times, challenges come our way and most of them are just really opportunities, which we need to recognise and get positive results from. Every day is a challenge but it is for us to organise and plan".
latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com
Sheron Cameron-Dunn (right) assists fellow Kiwanians of the Kiwanis Club of south St Catherine to unveil the EC&C District Governor's Banner, Division 23 West changing of the guard, and installation of board of directors at The Knutsford Court Hotel, Ruthven Road, New Kingston, on Saturday, September 27.
