The Rotary Club of Barbados South has been awarded the Rotary Club Excellence Award (formerly the Rotary Citation) for the RI Year 2024-2025.
The award is a significant achievement that reflects each club’s dedication to fulfilling its goals and making a meaningful impact during the Rotary year while meeting club targets in engaging members, staying relevant in communities, and operating efficiently.
We salute IPP Terry Hall, her board members and all club members for the passion and teamwork which has made this award possible. Congratulations to all!!!!
40th Charter Anniversary Corner
Flashback:
Newspaper coverage of our 25th Charter Anniversary
We started membership and new club development month with a very inspirational classification talk from our newest Rotarian Wendell Scantlebury. Rotarian Wendell, a Chartered Accountant and CFO of Foster & Ince, took us on a journey through his professional development and the series of adventures which finally led him to his current career.
Sometimes the universe sets us up to obtain a better experience than the one we originally planned and this was certainly the case as the lack of power to the devices forced him to abandon the PowerPoint presentation and simply chat with us. I am certain that everyone will agree that this allowed him to connect and engage with those present in a way that felt superior to any PowerPoint presentation.
Rotarian Wendell, we are extremely proud of your journey and feel privileged to have you among us as you make an effort to give back. It was absolutely evident that can be a tremendous asset to the Rotary space.
Wendell truly demonstrated; in his own words that "where you start is not where you will finish." Cheers!!! To a long and productive Rotary experience.
Wednesday August 13th 12:30pm Zoom Business Meeting
Key takeaways
This year, we will focus on engaging current members through service projects rather than actively seeking new members
Launch of "Membership Monday" social media initiative to feature club members
Strong meeting attendance with 34 participants
Upcoming service project at BASE (Barbados Association for Supported Employment) on August 30th
Equipment assessment is required for the inclusive play project
Service Projects Overview
Youth and Education Projects
Dir Shem presented the ongoing and planned youth initiatives
Details
Back-to-school project supporting 60 students
Children's Christmas Party
Model United Nations collaboration
Prison Fellowship Children's Fun Day
Agro-kids program in 5 schools
Health and Inclusion Projects
Multiple initiatives focusing on healthcare and accessibility are planned
Details
Breaking Barriers initiative for differently-abled persons
Hampers for Christmas, mothers' day and fathers' day
Meals on Wheels program
Orthopedic Footwear Project
Sensory Play Rooms project
Inclusive Play Project Equipment Assessment
We discussed the condition of the equipment that is currently in storage and next steps
Details
PP Terry reported that the equipment appears in good condition and is mostly still in the original packaging
Rtn Robert raised concerns about verifying the integrity of the equipment
Rtn Glyne suggested that we contact the original manufacturer
PDG Sonya indicated that the lease documentation is being processed by the Ministry of Housing
Conclusion
We need a professional assessment of the equipment
We need to contact the manufacturer for guidance
A review of the original documentation is required
Orthopedic Foot Project Update
Sec Ryan provided an overview of ongoing orthopedic footwear initiative for diabetics
Details
4,000+ donated shoes are still available and yet to be distributed
The project is a partnership with the Podiatrist Association
The expected focus is on education and early detection
150 doctors and nurses were trained to properly fit the shoes and will be responsible for distribution
Membership Monday Initiative
PI Dir Graham presented a new social media initiative in collaboration with Dir of Membership Carrie-Ann
Details
Weekly member features on social media platforms
It will include personal and Rotary-related interview questions
The aims is to enhance the club's public image
The posts will be featured on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
Action items
Board
Assemble a team for the assessment of the inclusive play equipment
Create a budget to facilitate the professional inspection of the equipment
PP Katrina
Locate original documentation for the playground equipment
Dir Shem
Share details for BASE visit on August 30th
Coordinate Meals on Wheels for August 21st
Dir Graham
Launch Membership Monday initiative
Collect member photos and interviews
Wednesday August 20th- 6:30pm Zoom
Our guest speaker was Hilary Bethell of the Barbados Burns and Orthotic Charitable Trust; a pioneer in occupational therapy with over 50 years of experience.
Hilary explained that burns are devastating injuries that occur suddenly, causing excruciating pain and affecting not only the injured person but also their family and community. With proper medical care and support, burn victims do recover and lead productive lives.
Burn injuries heal with scar tissue that can become thick, raised, and restrictive, potentially leading to disfigurement and joint disability. The gold standard treatment involves wearing custom-made pressure garments 23 hours daily for 18-24 months, which are expensive but essential for controlling scar growth. These garments require precise measurements and are complemented by pressure underlays for uneven scars and splints to prevent joint contractures, with periodic adjustments made as the healing progresses.
Children's growth hormone affects scar development, thus requires ongoing monitoring. It is helpful to normalize children's lives by letting them choose from 32 colors of garments to match their skin tone or clothing. The Barbados Burns and Orthotics Charitable Trust provides essential services not covered by government healthcare, including pressure garments, therapy, and psychological support for patients who are typically from lower-income families without medical insurance.
Hilary discussed burn injuries across different age groups, noting that toddlers are often injured by hot liquids and irons, while boys aged 7 to teens tend to experiment with fire and accelerants. Adults commonly suffer burns from cooking accidents, explosions, and assaults. She emphasized prevention strategies such as supervising children, avoiding fire accelerants, having fire extinguishers in kitchens, and knowing proper first aid techniques including cooling burn areas with cold water for at least 15 minutes and covering with clean cotton cloth.
The Barbados Burns and Orthotics Charitable Trust provides treatment, pressure garments, and splints for burn victims. Approximately 13 people per year are treated, with the ratio shifting from mostly children to now about two-thirds children and one-third adults, totaling around 800 patients over her years of service.
She provides psychological assistance to burn victims, noting that as an occupational therapist trained in physical medicine and psychiatry, she intervenes with counseling and refers more serious cases like PTSD to specialists.
Wednesday August 27th- 12:30pm In-person
RCBS finished Membership and New Club Development Month with a fellowship activity designed to give members the opportuning to know more about each other. This "Speed Bonding" activity was well received by everyone present and from all reports it achieved its objective.
It was wonderful to have PP Michael Forde back with us after a long hiatus and it appears that the universe rewarded him for his return, as he was the raffle winner.
Upcoming Meeting Details
Wednesday September 3rd-In-person 6:30pm
Guest Speaker - Lee Carter
Redefining Literacy: Beyond Reading and Writing in Special Education
Wednesday September 10th-Lunchtime zoom 12:30pm
Business meeting
Wednesday September 17th -Evening Zoom 6:30pm
Guest speaker - Inclusivity and Accessibility
Wednesday September 24th- In-person Lunchtime 12:30pm
Guest Speaker - Melanie Trotman on Cybersecurity
Upcoming Events
September is Basic Education and Literacy Month
Meals on Wheels
Red Cross Building Warrens
Thursday September 18th
at 8:30 AM
Bridgetown Feeding
Independence Square Bridgetown
Monday September 29th
at 5:30 PM
Meals will be provided by
PP Brian Lashley
PP Hiranand Thani
PP Trevor Sealy
Inspirational
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?"
– Dr Martin Luther King
Club Directors & Officers
President: Jacklyn Broomes
Vice President: PP Stephen Broome
Immediate Past President: PP Terry Hall
President Elect: Kerryann Ifill
Secretary: Ryan Best
Treasurer: Dion Franklin
Director Service Projects: Shem Scantlebury
Director Club Administration: Morexa Martin-Gardiner
Director Rotary Foundation: PP Vivian-Ann Gittens
Director Public Image: Graham Belle
Director of Membership: Carrie-Ann Morris-Searle
Director of Youth: Kemi Brewster
Sergeant-at-Arms: PP Brian Lashley
Rotary International Officers
President - Francesco Arezzo
President Elect - Olayinka Hakeem Babalola
General Secretary/CEO - John Hewko
District Officers
District Governor - Soraya Warner-Gustave (St Lucia)
District Governor Elect - Maurice Saad (Pointe-a-Pitre)
Assistant Governor - Paul Ashby (Barbados)
Let's Celebrate
Belated Birthdays
2nd August - Shem Scantlebury
10th August - Howard Hall (PIS Terry Hall)
19th August - Denise Shepherd-Johnson
30th August - Andrea Thompson (PIS Peter Thompson)
Birthdays
17th September- Dion Franklin
27th September- Terry Hall
30th September- Hiranand Thani
Anniversaries
4th September - Nicole Hall and PIS Kirk
6th September - Trevor Sealy and PIS Andrea
Rotary Club of Barbados South - Spotlight
Meeting with the District Governor
Screenshot of the individuals who participated in the meeting with the District Governor
On August 18th, the RCBS board had an online meeting with the District Governor Soraya Gustave, District Governor Elect Maurice Saad and Assistant Governor Paul Ashby. At this meeting, President Jacklyn and her team presented the club goals and plans for the current Rotary year. President Jacklyn started with the overall goals for the year then transitioned to each director who outlined their plan for the year (presented to the club at the club forum). Treasurer Dion also gave a summary of the financials.
DG Soraya was impressed with the plans that were presented to her and congratulated the members present on their exuberance and motivation. The DG, DGE and AG all expressed that they were impressed by the presentation and its contents and extended their congratulations to the team for a well developed, thought out and presented plan. They look forward to witnessing the execution.
Back to School Initiative
Top image from left: PP Hiranand Thani, Mr. Collin St Hill (Child Care Board), President Jacklyn Broomes
Bottom Inage: Mellissa Broomes (Marketing Specialist, Rubis), Mr. Collin St Hill and PP Hiranand Thani
This year RCBS continued to make an impact on the community with our annual back to school initiative. This year, we had a total of 60 recipients.
50 through the Child Care Board
9 through PP Hiranand Thani
1 independent recipient
Each recipient received a voucher valued at $200 to spend at Woolworth. We are grateful to Woolworth for continuing their partnership this year by extending a 10% discount.
Funding breakdown:
$4,000 from Rubis
$2,000 PP Hiranand Thani
Money raised from the Summer Luau Cruise
Of the 60 school bags received from District 5280, 51 were delivered to the Child Care Board and 9 allocated as per PP Hiranand Thani’s list. Guardians have already begun making use of the Woolworth letters.
This represents another strong year of impact for the project. We look forward to the continued sustainability of this project.
Council for the Disabled Golden Jubilee Drive
From left: Operations Manager at the Barbados Council for the Disabled, Rosanne Tudor, president of Kiwanis Club Pride of Barbados Mary Walcott, RCBS president Jacklyn Broomes, vice-president of the Barbados Council for the Disabled and PE of RCBS Kerryann Ifill and president of the Barbados Council for the Disabled, Patricia Padmore-Blackman
The Barbados Council for the Disabled is celebrating it golden jubilee. The celebration was launched with their "50 Trees for 50 Years Legacy Project" where they will plant 50 trees across Barbados in honour of the individuals and organizations who have championed disability and inclusion.
RCBS partnered with the Council to provide the trees for the project. President Jacklyn, PP Marcel Dir Graham and PE Kerryann were all present at the launch of this project.
Congratulations to the Council on achieving this significant milestone!!!!
RCBS in action at BASE
On August 30th, A group of RCBS Rotarians descended on BASE at Greenwich in St James to participate in an outreach activity. BASE is one of our partners under the "Breaking Barriers" theme.
Rotarians repainted the verandah where the students work, as well as refurbished the container garden. Well done President Jacklyn, PDG Sonya, PP Terry, PP Marcel, Dir Shem, Dir Graham and Rtn Glyne. It looks like a good time was had by all. I am certain that the students will be happy with the upgrade when they return in September.
Bridgetown Feeding
Another successful installation of Bridgetown feeding was completed on August 25th 2025. PP George, Rtn Nigel and Rtn Mario provided the meals on behalf of RCBS. Present to assist were the usual suspects IPP Terry, Rtn Josie, Rtn Mechelle and Rtn Maurice (in the picture). As usual our Director of PI Graham was behind the camera and not in the picture. A total of 108 meals were distributed.
This month Rtn Mario brought us an extra special little guest helper. Also present from West were President Andre and Rtn Marisa.
Thank you to everyone who came out to assist. This project makes a significant impact on the lives of needy Barbadians and none of this will be possible without you.
Congratulations!!!!!! The Rotary Club of Barbados South has made the top 5 in the district for foundation Giving!!! Of the 77 clubs from the 17 countries in District 7030, we are number 1 for our contribution to the Polio Plus fund, number 4 for giving to the Annual fund and number 4 for overall giving. Well done Secretary Ryan, your work as Director of Foundation last year has helped us to make a significant impact. Congratulations to everyone who contributed!!! Please see the letter from the district below.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
Message from Rotary President Francesco Arezzo
Dear fellow member,
In an increasingly divided world, Rotary remains a beacon for unity. As we move Rotary forward, our core values and mission remain constant, keeping us focused on membership, peace, and polio.
We begin this year with a clear message: Unite for Good. It is an extraordinary phrase for its simplicity, brevity, and impact. Because behind every act of service, every new member, and every global challenge, two things matter most: friendship and trust.
Make connections
Providing a strong club experience that meets the needs of members is imperative. That means making sure your club is welcoming, flexible, and open to new ideas. It also means being responsive to the needs of your community.
I encourage you to find out what your community needs and collaborate with local leaders to make it happen. When we build connections locally, we increase our impact globally.
When we Unite for Good, we bring about lasting change not only around the world, but in ourselves. Our presence, our commitments, and our friendships matter. We build communities that care. And as we support and sustain one another, we grow in the process.
This year, I invite you to have conversations about the kind of culture and experience you want to create, and experiment with new ideas and creative ways to deepen engagement in your club.
The number of children paralyzed by polio has fallen 99.9% since 1988. It is one of the most successful health campaigns in modern history, and the best example of what can be accomplished when Rotary members combine our grassroots strength to create meaningful and lasting change. We cannot stop now. We have to keep the promise we made to the children of the world.
Today, we are facing new challenges — but together, we will end polio, and history will remember the way Rotary members and our partners worked side by side to achieve this tremendous accomplishment.
Not so long ago, I was playing with my grandchildren in our living room, with no thought of becoming Rotary’s president for 2025-26. Life really does come at you fast. I appreciate the support and affection so many of you have offered, and I am eager to discover what we will achieve together.
The connections that we make transform lives and make the world brighter and more hopeful. Everything is possible when we Unite for Good.
Sincerely,
Francesco Arezzo
2025-26 President
Rotary International
New RI President Elect
Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, a member of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi, Nigeria has been selected to become the Rotary International President for 2026/27.
The Board, guided by the RI code of policies, conducted a special session to select the organization’s leader after the resignation of RI President-elect SangKoo Yun, who decided to step back from his Rotary responsibilities and focus on his recovery from recent cancer treatment.
Babalola began his Rotary journey in 1988 as a Rotaractor. He joined the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi six years later. His leadership roles include serving as district governor (2011-12), RI vice president (2019-20), and member of the RI Board (2018-20). He was also an active leader and participant in RI committees such as the End Polio Now Countdown to History Campaign Committee (2017-23) and the Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee (2013-present, adviser 2016-present).
Babalola received a university degree in engineering in 1988. He has worked for 25 years in the oil and gas industry, holding senior positions in Shell PLC and carrying out projects on four continents. He is the founder of two companies: Riviera Services Ltd., an oil and gas infrastructure delivery company, and Lead and Change Consulting, an executive coaching and organizational performance advisory group.
Babalola’s professional affiliations include the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Institute of Safety Professionals, and the Association of Change Management Practitioners. He is a member of Jericho Business Club, an organization in his home city that provides input to governments on economic and social policy.
Babalola and his wife, Preba, live in the city of Port Harcourt. He supports The Rotary Foundation with a named endowment and as an Arch Klumph Society member. A trustee of ShelterBox UK and director of the Safe Blood Africa project, he is a recipient of the Africa Centennial Heroes Award, the Regional Service Award for a Polio-Free World, the RI Service Above Self Award, and The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service.
The president of Rotary International serves a one-year term, presiding over the Board of Directors and providing inspirational leadership for the organization. As the spokesperson for the global network, the president visits clubs around the world to promote Rotary's values and represent the organization at major events. Rotary chooses its president from members who have demonstrated extensive leadership experience within Rotary, including service as a club president, district governor, and member of the Board.
— 28 August 2025
Rotary District 7030
Registration is open for the 2026 District Conference in St Lucia
Rotary District 7030 Conference 2026 – St. Lucia Awaits!
Save the Date: 22nd to 25th April 2026 Location: Stunning Saint Lucia
Get ready to Experience Rotary in Paradise at the 2026 District Conference!
From vibrant culture to breathtaking views, this conference will be a celebration of Service, Fellowship, and Impact. Don’t miss your chance to connect, collaborate, and create lasting memories with Rotarians from across our District.
President Melanie and her team executed their first fundraising effort with a bake sale at Emerald City in St Philip on August 30th. A few Rotarians assisted in various ways with the execution of this event.
We must Remember that Rotaract South is part of our family and we need to support their club and events in any way we can.
Please click the images below to find out more about our club members
Past Presidents
Paul Harris Fellow
Honorary Rotarians
THE OBJECT OF ROTARY
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and in particular, to encourage and foster:
First: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
Second: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
Third: The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business and Community life.
Fourth: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service
THE FOUR WAY TEST
ROTARY GRACE
RCBS Banking Information
Club Account: CIBC Rendezvous 09616-1625923
Charitable Trust Inc. Account: CIBC Bridgetown 09606– 1001168072
Mailing Address: Club Secretary, G.P.O Box #995, Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies.
Rotary Club of Barbados South Charter Banner