Held on Saturday 15 July at the Metzy Residence Hotel in Kotu, the eventful congress brought together members of the club, its partners, officials from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MOBSE), MRC Holland Foundation, and other invitees.
Rotary Club of Brusubi elects a new executive annually to administer the affairs of the club. Thus, members of the club converged at Metzy Hotel to elect another set of executive to lead or steer of the affairs of the club.
Rotary International is a non-political and non-religious organization aimed to “provide humanitarian service to needy people; promote integrity and advance world understanding; goodwill, and peace through fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders". It is one of the largest service organizations globally.
The organization has over 46,000 member clubs worldwide, with a membership of 1.4 million individuals, known as Rotary members or Rotarians.
The Rotary Club is the basic unit of Rotary activity, and each club determines its own membership. Clubs originally were limited to a single club per city, municipality, or town. Clubs meet regularly to discuss their humanitarian services such as implementation of projects. Rotary Clubs often work with local partners, sister clubs and public institutions to implement projects.
The Rotary Club of Brusubi focuses on peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, community and economic development, and environmental issues.
The new executive of Rotary Club of Brusubi includes Dominic Gomez - President; Alpha Jallow - Vice President; Akinwale Remi - Secretary; Jalamang Jobarteh - Treasurer; Omar Jallow - Foundation Chair; Fatou Gassama - Membership Chair; Wolla Barge - Training Chair and Joy Miracle - Sergeant at Arm.
In his remarks, Dominic Gomez, president-elect for Rotary Club of Brusubi, said he was delighted that the club has had a successful congress where members elected him to steer the affairs of the club for the 2023/2024 year.
“I will do my best to meet the challenge,” he promised, saying: “Our club has been built on a strong leadership foundation, and I am fortunate to have a membership that is fully committed to the rotary ideal of service above self, and continues to go the extra mile in building the club, and carrying out the many worthwhile projects that we undertake for the benefit of our community.”
Gomez commended his predecessor and his executive for supporting the new executive in the transition. However, he assured of consulting with his predecessor and seeking support when needed to ensure sustainable development in the club.
He thanked the new executive for the election, saying: “Our fellow club members have shown their confidence in you and me by electing us to our respective positions, and I look forward to serving with you. I have already seen the energy, enthusiasm, and commitment that you bring to the board.”
Mr Gomez said his primary focus in the next 12 months is to ensure membership development and retention, better administration, participation in local community service projects, and mental health awareness.
He urged members of the club to work collectively and support the poor in order to better their lives.
Alpha Omar Jallow, outgoing president of Brusubi Rotary Club, commended members of the club for giving him the opportunity to lead the club for the past 12 months. He described rotary as an organization that offers humanitarian services to vulnerable communities in society.
He said the 2022-23 year was the busiest in the history of the club, recounting that the club implemented several projects in his tenure.
He stated that Rotary Club of Brusubi, in partnership with MRC Holland Foundation, RC EDMONDS in USA and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary (MOBSE), was able to implement a GG project, bridge to success and the Kaur Science Lab phase 2.
The club in partnership with Prestatyn in the UK has successfully provided a borehole to Brikama Lower Basic School, he said, adding: “We have built a ramp for the physically challenged. We have also provided a fence wire around the borehole and changed the tap heads to plastic for security and durability.”
Recounting further, he said: “In partnership with MRC Holland Foundation, we have provided a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project to Latrikunda Upper Basic School including the construction of 24 pit latrine toilets and water supply worth 1.5 million dalasis. In this project we contributed 10% and MRC Holland Foundation funded the rest.”
He advised his successor to work harder in order to provide humanitarian service for the needy, saying several communities are in need of support from the club.
Ebrima Sisawo, permanent secretary at MOBSE, commended Rotary Club of Banjul and its partners for their selfless service to the masses, especially schools. He advised the Rotarians to continue the momentum to ensure sustainable development in the society.
Henriette Brummer-Sonko, coordinator of MRC Holland, described her foundation’s partnership with Rotary Club of Brusubi as tangible. She, however, commended the rotary club for engaging the foundation in such humanitarian services.
Mrs Brummer-Sonko said the club played a key role in the implementation of the aforementioned projects.
