Looking for Musical Instrument Donations for Columbus House Big Brother/Big Sister Youth Mentoring Program

Rotary Club Of GB Sunrise Big Brother/Big Sister Youth Mentoring Program for Columbus House music program is in full swing now. Thank you Steve Persaud, Marina Gottlieb, Larry Lewis for donating their time to bring music to their lives. Following Jujitsu with Professor Moss at Jaguar School of Juijitsu every Saturday, it's … Music Time!

Thanks to all who donated guitars to the program. We are now looking for an electronic keyboard, bongos, or any used instrument you have. The kids want to start a band! Please call Jamie Sarles at 351-9081 or 727-8888 and I will pick up the instruments.

The Music sessions have been really fun as you can see on their faces. These at risk kids who have been abused and abandoned need activities like this to make their life richer.  Watch the video below and you will know that "Every Little Thing is Gonna Be All Right …"

Please share this post by email or Facebook with anyone you think might be able to help.  THANK YOU!!

Rotary Club of GB Sunrise Presents 3rd Annual Cigar Nights

The Rotary Club of GB Sunrise will hold their 3rd Annual Cigar Nights Fundraiser on June 1, 2013 at the Pelican Bay Hotel Canal House in support of the club's Big Brother/Big Sister Youth Mentoring Program and community projects. 

Cigar Nights promises to be a fun filled evening. The event is a Cuban-themed event with Cigar Rollers from Graycliff in Nassau, Salsa Dancers, Jazz Band, Cuban food, DJ, and a Chinese Auction where guests can win prizes like Ipad2, Samsung S2 Tablet, Kindle Fire, iPod touch, iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, Kuerig Coffee Maker and more through purchase of raffle tickets. The event is in its 3rd year and attracts a wide variety members of the community who come out have a great time and support a very worthy cause.

Drinks are very reasonably priced. Dress: Vintage Havana.

Tickets available at OBS Marine, VTrade, J.S.Johnson, James Sarles Realty, ParrisWhittaker or from any GB Sunrise Rotarian member. 

Here are some pictures from the previous years that you should check out

(click on first photo to see more): 

* 1st Annual Cigar Nights * 2nd Annual Cigar Night

Columbus House Holiday Beach Day

Keenan and and Brittney Baldwin are members of the Rotary Club of GB Sunrise and mentors of the Big Brother Big Sister Youth Mentoring program. On Monday, May 20th (Whit Monday Holiday) 2013 they decided to give the Columbus House Boys and Girls a treat by organizing a beach picnic and Paddle Board afternoon. Thanks to Reef Tours bus and Paddle Boards, the Columbus House Boys and Girls and other friends of Columbus House had a great Beach day. On behalf of the Columbus House Boys and Girls... A Big Thank You to Keenan and Brittney Baldwin.

Cigar Nights: Rotary Club of GB Sunrise Gives Support to Youth and Water Safety

photo by Erik J. Russell · Keen i Media Ltd.

Rotarians of Grand Bahama came together recently to support several important youth programmes and to help fund a vital water safety initiative.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama Sunrise, the social fundraiser event was held at Pelican Bay Hotel under the theme, “Cigar Nights”. The hotel’s meeting facility was transformed into an intimate Cuba-inspired club, with attendees dressed in fedoras and “vintage Havana” outfits.

all photos in this post by Erik J. Russell : Keen i Media Ltd.

A  Cuban cigar roller from the world famous Graycliff of Nassau was on hand creating cigars that were enjoyed on the outside deck, while salsa dancers and live music from Marina Gottlieb-Sarles, Mark Carey and Ralph Munnings filled the room on the inside. Miss Grand Bahama, Keriann Stuart, also joined the festivities and posed for photographs during the evening.

The event attracted more than 200 local supporters that enjoyed the experience and helped to extend the impact of Rotary in the local community. A major portion of the proceeds will be directed towards an important charity -- the Columbus House Big Brother/Big Sister programme -- and a key water safety initiative, the Safe Swim Zone project.

The Columbus House Big Brother/Big Sister programme assists at-risk teens, and many Rotarians from the Grand Bahama Sunrise club are directly involved in mentoring the teens throughout the year.

Director of Big Brother/Big Sister programme James Sarles said that the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama Sunrise members are committed to helping the youth and changing lives. “When the teens age out of the system,” Sarles said, “we step in to assist with securing jobs, finding apartments, budgeting and developing general life skills.”

 The safety project has been an ongoing initiative by the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama Sunrise to establish a Safe Swim Zone along the island’s southern coast by creating a distinct separation between boaters and jet ski operators on one side of the surf and swimmers on the other. The club has devised a float system using 16-inch buoys, and the newly appointed Rotary Assistant Governor Jamie Rose says it is vital.

“Even though we have known for a long time that this was important, it has become even more urgent in recent days to set aside clearly marked areas that are safe for visitors and residents to swim,” Mr Rose said.

In addition to the fundraising aspects of the event, it was also the occasion when the new president of the club was inducted. Assistant Rotary District Governor Peter Turnquest did the honours of introducing new Rotary Assistant Governor Jamie Rose, and Outgoing President Joe Thompson welcomed new President Ken Saunders during a brief ceremony held at ‘Cigar Nights’ on Friday.

Assistant Rotary District Governor Peter Turnquest welcomes new President Ken Saunders. Also on that night, Outgoing President Joe Thompson introduced new Rotary Assistant Governor Jamie Rose. Shown (L-R): Joe Thompson, Peter Turnquest, Ken Saunders, Jamie Rose. (Photo: Erik J. Russell / Keen i Media Ltd)

 “I am pleased and excited about taking on this new role,” Mr Saunders said. “Our club has really been involved in developing new community programmes, and I will be focused on continuing and expanding the work of Rotary here in Grand Bahama.”

The Rotary Club of Grand Bahama Sunrise meets on Wednesday mornings at 7:00 at Geneva’s Restaurant, downtown Freeport.

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