ESHER, Hanover ­— The Rotary Club of Lucea will be celebrating 50 years of service to the people of Hanover in 2024 and plans are already underway. Club President Neville Anderson told the Jamaica Observer that they are hoping to sign off on realistic and achievable proposals this month.

“We are going to use what is available at our disposal to make a mark in the Hanover area and Rotary International… That is one of my greatest ambitions,” stated Anderson who was returned as president for calendar year 2023/2024.

This is his third time at the helm of the organisation over the years. He is hoping to revive the club which was badly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That is why I am going back because I would have realised that during the pandemic we would be among the least active. We would have met, as the mandate suggests, twice a month and we would not be in the public because we were restricted by the way of public order for the better part of two and a half years,” stated Anderson, who took over from senior librarian with responsibility for the western region, Marvetta Stewart Richards.

Richards, too, spoke of the negative impact the pandemic had on the club’s members and its operations. Forced into the virtual space that was a challenge for some members to navigate, meetings were held less frequently. With no fund-raisers and, in some cases, no income, the club was on the verge of losing its charter, revealed Richards, who said members had to go the extra mile to prevent this from happening.

“The club suffered a number of losses. We lost our home at the Grand Palladium [Hotel], we lost income, we lost members and our members lost loved ones. But, the core never lost its commitment to the club,” she told Observer West.

She said they were still able to contribute to the development of the community.

Though small in numbers, the club has undertaken big projects in partnership with Rotary International and other collaborators such as Great Shape Inc and Sandals Foundation. One such project was in 2019 when the club spearheaded the purchasing and outfitting of a Yutong Coach into a mobile dental clinic.

During his term, Anderson will be concentrating on building the club’s image and membership with a focus on the youth.

“By encouraging participation, providing opportunities for growth and development, by fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, we can identify diverse skills and talent that are within the club and immediate community,” he said optimistically.

As the club works on current and future projects, it will be seeking to forge even more partnerships with local and international organisations and stakeholders in an effort to pool together resources and expertise.

One such partnership is with the Hanover Parish Library where the club plans to revisit an existing partnership through various literacy programmes.

“By engaging school leaders, we want to provide assistance to needy students along with continuing with some of our stronger areas of health and mental care,” said Anderson.

Education is also a key area of focus and the club will continue to provide shoes for students in need under an initiative called Happy Feet. In addition, branded hardcover books will be distributed to needy students.