First female president of Rotary Club of St Andrew North installed
Published:Friday | July 8, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Brian Bonitto, Special Assignment Editor
Attorney-at-law Kameika Fullerton-DeLisser beamed with delight on being installed as the first female president of the 24-year-old Rotary Club of St Andrew North on Monday, June 27.
The occasion also marked the second time that Fullerton-DeLisser was breaking the glass ceiling, as in December 2002, she was installed as the first female member of the same organisation.
Fullerton-DeLisser was presented with the president's necklace by outgoing president, David T. Brown, at the club's 25th annual installation ceremony at the Wyndham Kingston hotel in New Kingston.
The capacity audience also comprised Rotaractors (the young professionals and university students arm of Rotary), and many relatives, friends and well-wishers of the newly installed president.
"I must first express my sincere gratitude to all of you for being here tonight," Fullerton-DeLisser said. "I'm overwhelmed by the support you have shown. And, I'm thankful to God for giving me this awesome support system to take on the tasks which lie ahead.
"We'll continue to build on the solid foundation set by our founding members, by doing the things we do well and changing the things that need to be changed," she told the audience.
The incoming president, and mother of one, said she intends to establish and outfit a computer room at the St Stephen's United Early Childhood Development Centre in St Andrew to benefit the 100 students registered at the institution.
"We'll also provide other needed items to the school and invite our Interact and Rotaract clubs to join us in doing hands-on projects to benefit the institution. Also, we'll continue to support the Rotary Foundation to touch the lives of people we'll never meet."
"When we combine our individual efforts, there is nothing we cannot achieve. No bridge we cannot cross," she added.
In addition, four corporate bodies were presented with the Paul Harris Fellow for philanthropic services and, in particular, for supporting the fund-raising efforts of the Rotary Club of St Andrew North for over 10 years. They include, J Wray & Nephew, Jamaica Broilers Group, Pepsi and GraceKennedy.
The master of ceremony for the evening was Rotarian Wayne Wray.