BUSY DAYS IN SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2011

BUSY DAYS- SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2011
September 17th was the International Coastal Clean-up Day worldwide. I joined about 180 local participants including 2 other PCV’s and 2 of my summer camp boys at the White River. The organizers had buses ready to take volunteers to various beaches that needed cleaning. Our group of 5 ended up at Priory Beach near St. Ann’s Bay. We pulled a lot of black scandal bags out of the beach area along with shoes, clothes, cans and plastic. Everything was tallied up to be submitted for analysis. After we were bussed back, hot and hungry we had lots of donated food for lunch including my first taste of Lionfish soup! Quite tasty. Was so encouraging to see the local support and the number of school students who came out to help.

How appropriate- one Saturday in October a bunch of PC volunteers (16 in all) gathered to go tubing down the White River. We drove up into the bush where the river ran clear, cool and beautiful. No houses no trash. We divided into 2 groups and walked up the river with our tubes and floated down to meet our friends. The tubes were the same type you get at a water park- with the 2 handles. The river had a few ripples, some small rapids and one tricky spot that flipped out about half of the group!
I have been attending weekly formative meetings for the soon to be chartered Rotary Club of Ocho Rios East. In October we were visited by the District Governor Guy from Haiti. He has approved out charter and now we are planning our charter ceremony event! Then we can finally get to do some of the community projects we have discussed! Peace Corps volunteers are encouraged to get involved in community organizations, but they suggest we be just guest members since our monthly allowance is not enough to pay dues. I really want to be a “real” member so I have reached out to the Wallingford CT Rotary Club and past Rotarian Al Reynolds for financial support and they have graciously and generously helped me out! I am excited and proud to be a charter member of the Ocho Rios East Rotary Club! A “big up” to my supporters! (A Jamaican phrase to indicate a big thank you or accomplishment. )