Astrid C. Wenzke speaking with fellow Rotarians, including First Lady Mrs Lorna G. Smith OBE (second from left), on January 28, 2018. Photo: Facebook

Members of the Rotary Club of Tortola at a luncheon at The Moorings on January 28, 2018. Photo: Facebook

Addressing members of the Rotary Club of Tortola at The Moorings in Wickham’s Cay II, Tortola, on Tuesday January 30, 2018, Ms Wenzke also disclosed that one Rotarian has pledged to raise funds to assist small businesses affected by the hurricanes.

She said while in Germany she was interviewed by popular magazine and also shared with it photos of the destruction by Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017.

“I gave them 17 photos and they said they couldn’t afford to pay for them. I said I don’t want any payment I just want them the pictures to go out for people to see,” Ms Wenzke stated, adding that she made it known what was needed in the VI, including generators and mosquito nets.

She noted that she had asked persons to forward donations to the Rotary Club of Tortola and its disaster account in Scotiabank.

The Rotarian added that she has not been able to see how much money has come in to the account but, from the presentations she made while in Germany, every club that she visited had pledged between 1000 and 3500 Euros or about 1200 to 4000 US dollars.

$10,000 for shelter boxes

Ms Wenzke disclosed that one club even pledged $10,000 towards the provision of shelter boxes.

It was also noted that a fellow Rotarian has also committed to raise funds to assist small businesses affected by the hurricanes. “But all funds will come through the Rotary Club of Tortola.”

Before leaving for Germany following Hurricane Irma, Ms Wenzke said she slept at Peebles Hospital for about 10 days as her home was damaged and her vehicle was vandalised.

While at the hospital, she volunteered for the BVI Red Cross.