fp Turks and Caicos

The Rotary Club of Providenciales has chartered a new club in North Caicos and Middle Caicos, welcoming a dozen new members to the Rotary “family” of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The club is officially designated as a Rotary Community Corps, which is a branch of Rotary whose clubs are primarily located in small towns, communities and villages around the world. There are roughly 4,000 Rotary Community Corps groups and 100,000 members around the world. Their charter is similar to traditional Rotary clubs in terms of providing community assistance, but typically the clubs are smaller.

The North Caicos Rotary Corps will be led by President Wilbert Forbes, who was the inspiration and driving force behind the club’s formation. The clubs other officers include Vice President Russell Gardiner, Secretary Bernie Gardiner, Treasurer Barbara Gardiner and Sergeant of Arms Daniel Forbes.

The group has a number of projects in mind to serve the communities in North and Middle Caicos, and will also assist the Providenciales clubs in their projects that serve those communities.

“We are excited to see the continued expansion of Rotary in the Turks and Caicos and welcome this great group of community volunteers in North and Middle,” said Mike Sottak, president of Rotary Club of Providenciales.

“We have a strong track record of providing community assistance in North and Middle through programs like our Senior Citizens van, dictionary hand-out program, and other school programs, and we are looking forward to being able to do even more now with the formation of the Community Corps.”

Wilbert Forbes, a former member of the Providenciales Club, is enthusiastic about the group’s agenda.

“There is a lot of need throughout our communities for service projects, whether it’s a clean-up effort, development of recreational facilities, or direct aid to the elderly, underprivileged or school kids,” Forbes said. “I know first-hand about the power of Rotary as a worldwide organization and the great work it has done in Turks and Caicos. Together with the Provo club we have lots of ideas and are looking forward to providing hands-on assistance to the people of North and Middle Caicos.”

The North and Middle Caicos Community Corps will meet twice a month at Miss B’s Island Hut Restaurant on Airport Road. The club will meet the first Friday of each month at 7 p.m. and the third Saturday of the month at 11 a.m.