Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal takes salute at Rotary Conference Opening
Founder member of the Rotary Club of Road Town, first premier of the Virgin Islands and present Leader of the Opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP), Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE came in for a full surprise last evening May 16, 2013 when honour was bestowed upon him at the official opening ceremony of the 39th Rotary 7020 District Conference 2013 at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in Paraquita Bay.
“This is a total surprise to me. I never expected that at all and I thank you,” said an obviously pleasantly surprised Mr O’Neal. He expressed his profound gratitude of seeing the growth of the Rotary in the Virgin Islands over the years and said he would never regret the steps he had taken some 45 years ago to form the first club in the Territory. He was also proud to announce that his beloved daughter Ms Abby O’Neal has chosen to walk in his footsteps as a Rotarian as she would carry on his legacy.
According to District Governor Mr Vance Lewis, Mr O’Neal has never failed to be present at the regular morning lunch meetings and other activites and continues to follow and give guidance to the local club. Mr Lewis himself also came in for high praises throughout the night since he is the first VIslander to be elected into such a honourable position in the world of Rotary.
The ceremony was held in an elite atmosphere of over 600 Rotarians from around the world, friends of the Rotary, Virgin Islands Government Officials and dignitaries all converged in the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, HLSCC. Led by Conference Chairperson Mr David Archer, the ceremony was one that heard of the significant contributions of the family body of Rotary as they would have given invaluable contributions to the world by sticking to their motto of 'Peace through Service'.
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith delivered the keynote address and spoke at length of his commitment to the organisation as a Rotarian himself, the significant works the organisation has done in championing the fight to eradicate the dreaded Polio, Rotary’s impact in nation building and the maintaining of peace by bringing together people to live as one family serving humanity.
Past District Governor of District 6809 Alabama, John Potter was also a special guest at the opening ceremony and the conference in general. He rattled through an extensive list of activities that were championed and executed during this year by the 82 clubs in the 7020 Rotary District.
The evening saw performances of contemporary jazz by Kamau Georges and company, the singing of the Territorial Song by Kamyce Penn, a performance by the CADA dancers and musical fanfare by the Elmore Stoutt High School Jazz band.
Today the conference takes the form of a lecture and interactive session to charter a way forward as Rotary seeks to revise and improve their strategies to champion their causes.
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