SHE was the first female to join the Rotary Club of Savanna-la-mar, and after four years in the organisation, Jenepher Baugh, has added another first to her list of accomplishments.

She was recently installed as the 34-year old club’s first female president.

And though the club has only two other female members, Baugh does not see gender as a major issue.

“When I am among the men, I feel supported and protected. I don’t feel overpowered and gender does not affect anything in Rotary,” she said in a recent interview with the Observer.

According to Baugh, the service club provides her with an opportunity to make a difference, something that she is confident she can accomplish with the help of the club’s other 23 members.

The Rotary Club of Savanna-la-mar’s major project for 2002/3 is a massive tree-planting project on both sides of the entire length of Great George’s Street. The environmentally friendly project is in keeping with the activities of other clubs in Rotary International.

“A similar project was done in Indianapolis and we believe that this project will be successful, with the assistance of the other service clubs and support groups like the police and nurses,” Baugh said.

A set of landscapers will conduct certified training to club members who will assist with the project’s maintenance, but the Rotary Club of Savanna-la-mar is hoping that the Jamaica Public Service Company will contribute their services by pruning the plants.

Other projects will include:

* a programme to identify dyslexia,

* the provision of uniform and gear for cub scouts in the area

* assistance for the School of Hope, Ferris primary and Clifton Boys Home

* adoption of a needy student and

*sponsorship for two students to attend the Wisconsin Skills Training Programme.

The other executive members of the Rotary Club of Savanna-la-mar are:

* incoming (vice) president Kenneth Banhan,

* secretary Andrew Williams,

* treasurer Mark Lewis,

* international service director Prince Nunes,

* vocational service director Gladstone Clarke,

* club service director Eric Clarke,

* community service director Douglas Arnold

* public relations officer Basil Cahusac and

* sergeant-at-arms, Roger Allen.