ROTARIAN Renata Chuck–A–Sang was voted Rotarian of the Year for 2013 by major sponsors and contributors to the just concluded year of activities, while the University of Guyana Rotary Club, with a project to extend a weekly literacy programme to the residents of Victoria village on the East Coast of Demerara, was declared winner of the Rotary Club Project of Latin America when the Rotary Club of Demerara held a ceremony to install its new president last Wednesday evening at the Pegasus Hotel.

The Rotary International organization has also joined with other countries in the fight to eradicate polio.
Delivering the feature address at this gala occasion was Assistant District Governor (ADG) Mr K. Juman-Yassim, who detailed the body’s achievements over the past year to the small gathering in attendance.
Mr Juman-Yassin charged new president Osbert James to take the club in a positive new direction, and to build upon the already firm foundation of the group. James, a long-standing member of the Rotary family, will lead the group for one year.
Responding, the new president said he was honoured to have been given the opportunity to take the group forward, and to be entrusted with the mandate to lead the board and members of the dynamic club.
“This year, we celebrate our 20th year as a chartered member of Rotary International, and what a journey it has been. Our mandate as a board and club is to build on all the great accomplishments of the club through the years, and it is my pledge to take the lead in ensuring this goal is achieved,” he pledged.
Turning his attention to the 2103 theme of the international organisation, which was chosen by Rotary International President Ron Burton – “Engaging Rotary and changing lives”, he said: “While one may ask, ‘Isn’t this part of what we’ve been doing already?’ I’d say (that) at times you need to take stock, sharpen the saw and refocus. We will set our vision, we will set our goals, and we will go to work, as we pledge to all do.”
James added that, even as the club continues to do good, members should make sure they are making a real and sustained impact on the lives they seek to change for the better by daily practising the Rotary ideals and objectives, and by being guided by the Rotary’s four-way pledge.
He promised to be a good leader, with the support from fellow Rotarians, in ensuring that the club works towards making a real difference in the lives of people.
“We must be guided by the four ways, the objective of the Rotary and the prayer,” he stated. James acknowledged the work of all past presidents, and specifically last year’s leader, Eon Caesar. He assured that he would aim to take the club to higher levels while making way for the president to come.
The club’s total income for the year, according to the former president, was $19.5 million; its expenditure was $11.8 million, and the bank balance is $7.7 million.
President of the Rotary Club of Demerara, Mr. Osbert James, in assuming command of the ship, announced his willingness to face the challenges ahead in achieving all the activities and targets set out in 2014.
The Board members of the Rotary Club of Demerara were all decorated with Rotary pins.