Sections A section shall be an association within the Club, which may be formed by any group of Club members to provide a specific study or activity for its members. Any Club member may apply to join any Section by presenting her name to the Chair of that Section. Article VII, Club Bylaws
Great Books has their first meeting of the new year on Tuesday, November 22nd. The gathering is at Ishbel's home, 1:00, and new people to the discussion group would be most welcome! Please call Isbel for directions and information.
GREAT BOOKS REPORT - by Ishbel MacDonald
April 12th was the last meeting of Great Books for this season.For those of us remaining on the island, we will meet monthly for “Lunch and a Movie” and perhaps watch some of the old classics. This past year we read selections from a wide range of authors including Stephen Crane, Sherwood Anderson, Jorge Borges, Simone de Beauvoir, Grace Paley, Michael Foucault and Jhumpa Lahiri.We also read aloud the poetry of Wislawa Szymborska.Latterly, we enjoyed reading from “Overture” by Marcel Proust.We marvelled at his use of language and detailed descriptions of his characters. For most of the year we have had a total of 8 members.We meet twice a month between 1pm and 3pm.We were all very sorry to lose one of our long standing members, Helen Hamilton, and will miss her quiet humour and witty anecdotes.
We welcome new members.If interested please contact me.
W.A.N.D.S
Taking Care of Your Teeth
WANDS is starting up for the new year, call Mary Seidel to help with any of the following days, all on Wednesdays: Nov. 9, Bishop Michael Elden School, Nov. 23 Lewis Yard, and Nov. 30, Tabernacle Baptist.
The W.A.N.D.S leadership committee for 2011 / 2012 Club year is Chris Rich, Michelle Lovatt, Anne Breaux, and Mary Sidell. Members of this secion and their friends who go each year to government and private schools to test the vision and hearing of all third and ninth grade students. Below you will find the full W.A.N.D.S annual report for the 2010/2011 year that was presented to the Club by past Chairman, Hazel Hallat.
Working with this section is a tremendous opportunity to get in to the local schools and meet the children of Grand Bahama. Over the years we have had speakers at our meetings mention time and again their memories of going to have their eyes and ears tested by the women of GBAWC. Watch the calendar section on our website to find out when W.A.N.D.S. will start up again in the new year or contact Norma for more information. This is a popular and hard-working section, and new members are always welcome! (You will be trained for the work, not to worry.)
W.A.N.D.S Appreciation Luncheon
Wands End of Year Report 2011 by Hazel Hallatt This was another successful year for this Section. 1606 students were tested.(1242 last year) 138 students were absent(90) 204 students needed further testing for Vision(195) 58 students needed further testing for hearing(81) The New volunteer training, refresher training courses both for Team Leaders and the workers were successful and will be factored in to next year’s WANDS agenda. Michelle Lovatt took over the school bookings as Christine Bonaventura was leaving the Island. We decided to simplify the way the schools got the necessary paperwork for the testing and this is now done by email or fax. Schools now print off the class lists and student slips for use on the day.We still print the letters to parents and the school summary forms. We do obviously also carry some spare class lists and student slips in case of problems. Anne Breaux has agreed to take over inputting the information from each school. This again simplifies things as she also is responsible for making sure the bags have all the necessary things in them for the next school and of course the paperwork from each school is in the bag. She can now input this rather than have to give it to someone else. Mary Siedel is taking over from me as the WANDS representative at the Exec Comm meetings and making the reports at the monthly lunch. The Admin Committee for 2011/2012 will therefore be Chris Rich, Michelle Lovatt, Anne Breaux and Mary Sidel. Christine Gardner has again kindly agreed to take the Audiometers to the USA and send them off for calibrating. My apologies to Anne Bain, because I was in the UK immediately prior to the WANDS Thank You lunch, Anne did not get her official invitation as I forgot to remind Chris Rich to do so. The WANDS ADMIN COMM hosted this at Anne Breaux’s home on Monday April4th. All food is donated by the Wands committee so all the GBAWC has to pay for is the hire of chairs (we managed with our own tables this year) and wine and plastic cutlery. These were all organised by and paid for by Chris Rich who has submitted her expenses. It was suggested to me that a separate or extra budget amount be requested to be included in this year’s budget proposals for WANDS. However, I really do not think this is necessary. Our expenses are not too high, and even allowing for the generosity of the Gardeners in taking and paying for the audiometers calibration, if they did not do this for the GBAWC I am sure we would still be well within our $500 annual budget. I have discussed this with the current Wands Admin Committee and we are all of the same opinion. I have enjoyed my work on the Admin Committee but it is time to let someone else participate and I look forward to going back to being a TEAM LEADER and working with the children again.
2009-2010 WANDS Volunteers
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Bahamas National Trust
Lisa Wildgoose and Cecilia Bodie keep the Rand running smoothly
Though not technically a Section, the Bahamas National Trust Education Liaison Committee is an active avenue for community service. With a representative on the Executive Board, this committee works closely with the local branch of the Bahamas National Trust. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed at the Centre. If you have time to devote to the program of education, leading garden tours, or just helping with the reception of tourists or special events, please get in touch with the Rand Nature Centre. Below is the annual report for the BNT Education Liaision Committee presented to the Club by Carolyn Milligan.
BAHAMAS NATIONAL TRUST EDUCATION LIAISON REPORT - by Carolyn Milligan Annual Report
In the fall upon my return to Freeport I was privileged to speak to the Club about the summer activities at the Rand Nature Centre (RNC). I mentioned the summer camp where 6 children were supported by the Club, the use of a new video system purchased by interest on the Club's donation to the BNT in celebration of the Columbus Quincentenial, the formation of Discovery Clubs at three schools and the renovation at the pond area at RNC. Since that time a successful Festival has been achieved with the focus on youth talent from art and music to food preparation. An arboretum has been developed near the pond and already planted with many native plants and trees. The RNC is now open to the public on Saturday, with the assistance of volunteers, and bird watching walks are offered the second Saturday of every month. The Grand Bahama Branch of the BNT under the leadership of Karin Sanchez has been most active during the last few years and involved with other organizations with projects of greening of Freeport, recycling, and presenting public meetings of interest. At the Annual General Meeting of the Branch, new officers were elected: Lloyd Cheong, Chairman; Eddy Rafael, Deputy Chairman; Chantel Nesbitt, Treasurer, Cheri Wood, Secretary. The income from Festival Noel will be used for the completion of the arboretum. Members and others may now contribute by buying a stepping stone for the arboretum; one is on display at the RNC. The Glory Banks Art Gallery has offered a variety of exhibits during the year and a new one will be hung in April. I have continued to volunteer when needed and urge members of the Club to do so also. My most interesting experience this year was an interview with a student whose project was "philanthropy." I was able to explain our Club's Philanthropic Committee and the way we select those to receive our donations. Thank you for your generosity to the BNT and allowing me to represent you there.
Del Foxton with one of her beautiful creations
The Rand Nature Centre
"Our deepest need is for the joy that comes from knowing that we are of genuine use to others" Eknath Easwaran
