A Beautiful Week: From Q3 Regional to CCDHH and Relay for Life Saturday

When the curtains came down on the 10th anniversary edition of the Jamaica Cancer Society's June 9-10 all night vigil, Relay for Life 2012, many of our Caribbean Optimists would have been coming to the end of another awesomely hectic but fantastic week in Optimism.  The event held at the Police Officers Club in Kingston, Jamaica is designed as "a unique fun way to raise funds for the Jamaica Cancer Society while increasing cancer awareness and celebrating survivorship". Relay for Life has solid support from many in the corporate world but also from voluntary service organizations such as the Optimist International Caribbean District and specifically the Cure Childhood Cancer Campaign. Congratulations to Chairperson Patricia and all those who made the usual Optimist presence and contribution a significant one.

Cassandra Whyte

I had my first experience of the District Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - CCDHH at the Altamont Court Hotel in Kingston on Saturday June 9, 2012 and it was such a delightfully emotional and refreshingly fulfilling morning. Addressing the topic How my optimism helps me overcome obstacles, eight contestants delivered some very powerful presentations to the supportive audience of family, friends, teachers and Optimists and in the process reminded us that regardless of our disabilities and challenges, we are all human beings.  These young people not only deserve to be respected as such but to be given the opportunity to fulfill their true potentials as underscored by Miss Deaf International 2011, Cassandra Whyte in her brief address to the participants.
Congratulations to junior category winner, Miss Ashli Bailey who walked away with a District plaque and cash prize. Miss Kimberly Barnes of the Lister Mair/Gilby School for the Deaf took the top prize among the seniors and won for herself a District plaque, cash prize and a US$2500 scholarship towards her tertiary education. The CCDHH "offers an opportunity for children who are deaf or hard of hearing to present their thoughts in the community, gaining skills, which can only come from signing or speaking to a large audience" (http://optimist.org/e/member/scholarships2.cfm) and is one of several programmes designed to bring meaning to the Optimist motto, "Bringing out the best in Kids".

On the weekend before just under 170 Caribbean Optimists gathered for the June 2 Q3 Regional meeting in Black River, St. Elizabeth and what a strong showing it was for Zone 4. Between West Saint Andrew, Scenic Castleton, Kingston Central, Breakfast Kingston, and Sunset Liguanea there were 26 members representing the zone. This was not enough to beat Zone 6 for the travelers trophy, but good enough to show that the power zone is indeed that and more. Sunset Liguanea with eleven members tied with Sunset Kingston in the club race with the winner's trophy going to Harbour View. 37 clubs answered the call for the Idlers Rest/Everglades Conference Centre south coast  gathering. From all indication, the OI-7804 family is getting ready to take all titles at the Q4 Convention scheduled for the north coast tourist resort town of Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The Sunset Jamaica Grande Hotel is set to host what is expected to be the largest confab for the "Power of One" year on the weekend of August 24-26, 2012.