As I reflected on the reports coming out of the last Divisional Council Meeting, I must say that I am very proud of the achievements of Division 23C in less than two years of operations. The reports are stories of a Division that is holding its own and taking its rightful place of pride among the other Divisions throughout the District.
This is undoubtedly due to the quality and commitment of the members of the various clubs and their leadership.
Charter Lieutenant Governor Keith Byfield led ably from the start and may have sprung some surprises along the way. He ran a strong first leg and handed over the baton in a very good position. Not to be outdone, Lieutenant Governor Deborah Manning is evidently in full control and inspiring the clubs to great results in these challenging times. Her astute leadership is ensuring that we can all be proud of our Division, even in its infancy.
I will not shy away from proudly claiming paternity for the Division, since it was my idea and initial proposal to the District Board while serving as District Trustee, when they were seeking to merge weak Divisions. My proposal then was that we look at the larger Divisions and see how their efficient management could be enhanced. It was becoming onerous on a single Lieutenant Governor to efficiently service such large Divisions. At the time I proposed looking at both 23E and 23W which both had 19 and 21 clubs, respectively.
It was DLG Robert Wynter who offered and constructed the initial groupings that we commenced working with. The initial working group of seven comprising Sharon Williams, Leighton McKnight, Pam Rodney-White, Saundra Bailey, Barrington Whyte, and I started the process.It was a painstaking but deliberate approach that saw us starting with a few knowledgeable Kiwanians and that group was expanded as we progressed. In that manner, we managed the process and arrived at strong, saleable positions that we were able to take to each new expansion of the group. Eventually, towards the end,we involved all the affected clubs through their selected representatives.
It was not all smooth sailing and I recalled having to beat a hasty retreat from our position at a DCM held at the St. Andrew High School. We heard from the primary stakeholders then and was not reluctant to respond accordingly. So back to the proverbial drawing board we went to make the adjustments that would prove satisfying and acceptable. We also faced another hurdle that resulted in a club exercising its democratic right and walking out at a DCM held at the NHT sports club. It was opined then that for equity, 23 East should be disbanded and two entirely new divisions formed, as the one named 23E would retain the legacy and therefore have a distinct advantage. This thankfully has not materialized.
Despite all we persisted, and I think the process was properly managed in the end, resulting in as equitable a split as was possible. Geography played a minor role in the considerations, as we had to also take into account club strength, membership count, gender mix etc.
The results are now two strong Divisions doing excellent and significantly more work. More Kiwanians in leadership roles and an additional LG for Kiwanis in Jamaica. Division 23C’s performance would have exceeded some persons’ imagination, but for others, it’s a vision attained. Mission accomplished? No, but work in progress.
The Division, through its clubs, is meeting the mandate of Kiwanis International to expand the Kiwanis footprint across the landscape. There has been encouraging growth in clubs’ membership and a number of new clubs have also been opened.
What is heartening is when you view the lineup of elected leaders and those potentials yet to join the line. It provides a comfort that the Division will continue to be in good hands for a long time. Interestingly and without intention, the leadership of the Division is being equally divided by gender. In a short time, the baton will be passed to LGD Rosemarie Henry and that promises to be exciting times, as I have been privy to some of the innovative plans in the works. Quite unintentionally, I have ended up being a member of two clubs in this Division and while I would’ve preferred a foot in each, I am happy and fully committed to Division 23 Central.
The Kiwanis Mission & Vision
Kiwanis empowers communities to improve the world by making lasting differences in the lives of children. Kiwanis strives to be a positive influence in communities worldwide — so that one day, all children will wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them and provide the support they need to thrive. Our Kiwanis club fulfills the Kiwanis mission by serving our community through Kiwanis Community Service Projects
Kiwanis Service
Service is at the heart of every Kiwanis club, no matter where in the world it’s located. Members stage approximately 150,000 service projects and raise nearly US$100 million every year for communities, families and projects. By working together, members achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone.
Our Kiwanis club focuses on changing the world by serving children, one child in our community at a time. To reach more people and have a greater service impact on their communities, many clubs sponsor a Kiwanis family club — K-Kids for primary school children; Builders Clubs for adolescents; Key Clubs for teens; Circle K clubs for university students and Aktion Clubs for adults living with disabilities.
Are you ready to help create communities that let all children thrive, prosper and grow? It’s pretty easy to do! Simply contact us with your questions and apply for Kiwanis club membership here.
The kids in your community and the world are counting on you!
Club Calendar
Sorry, nothing found.About our Division
How Our Division was Formed
Ralston Nunes
Past District Trustee
As I reflected on the reports coming out of the last Divisional Council Meeting, I must say that I am very proud of the achievements of Division 23C in less than two years of operations. The reports are stories of a Division that is holding its own and taking its rightful place of pride among the other Divisions throughout the District.
This is undoubtedly due to the quality and commitment of the members of the various clubs and their leadership.
Charter Lieutenant Governor Keith Byfield led ably from the start and may have sprung some surprises along the way. He ran a strong first leg and handed over the baton in a very good position. Not to be outdone, Lieutenant Governor Deborah Manning is evidently in full control and inspiring the clubs to great results in these challenging times. Her astute leadership is ensuring that we can all be proud of our Division, even in its infancy.
I will not shy away from proudly claiming paternity for the Division, since it was my idea and initial proposal to the District Board while serving as District Trustee, when they were seeking to merge weak Divisions. My proposal then was that we look at the larger Divisions and see how their efficient management could be enhanced. It was becoming onerous on a single Lieutenant Governor to efficiently service such large Divisions. At the time I proposed looking at both 23E and 23W which both had 19 and 21 clubs, respectively.
It was DLG Robert Wynter who offered and constructed the initial groupings that we commenced working with. The initial working group of seven comprising Sharon Williams, Leighton McKnight, Pam Rodney-White, Saundra Bailey, Barrington Whyte, and I started the process. It was a painstaking but deliberate approach that saw us starting with a few knowledgeable Kiwanians and that group was expanded as we progressed. In that manner, we managed the process and arrived at strong, saleable positions that we were able to take to each new expansion of the group. Eventually, towards the end, we involved all the affected clubs through their selected representatives.
It was not all smooth sailing and I recalled having to beat a hasty retreat from our position at a DCM held at the St. Andrew High School. We heard from the primary stakeholders then and was not reluctant to respond accordingly. So back to the proverbial drawing board we went to make the adjustments that would prove satisfying and acceptable. We also faced another hurdle that resulted in a club exercising its democratic right and walking out at a DCM held at the NHT sports club. It was opined then that for equity, 23 East should be disbanded and two entirely new divisions formed, as the one named 23E would retain the legacy and therefore have a distinct advantage. This thankfully has not materialized.
Despite all we persisted, and I think the process was properly managed in the end, resulting in as equitable a split as was possible. Geography played a minor role in the considerations, as we had to also take into account club strength, membership count, gender mix etc.
The results are now two strong Divisions doing excellent and significantly more work. More Kiwanians in leadership roles and an additional LG for Kiwanis in Jamaica. Division 23C’s performance would have exceeded some persons’ imagination, but for others, it’s a vision attained. Mission accomplished? No, but work in progress.
The Division, through its clubs, is meeting the mandate of Kiwanis International to expand the Kiwanis footprint across the landscape. There has been encouraging growth in clubs’ membership and a number of new clubs have also been opened.
What is heartening is when you view the lineup of elected leaders and those potentials yet to join the line. It provides a comfort that the Division will continue to be in good hands for a long time. Interestingly and without intention, the leadership of the Division is being equally divided by gender. In a short time, the baton will be passed to LGD Rosemarie Henry and that promises to be exciting times, as I have been privy to some of the innovative plans in the works. Quite unintentionally, I have ended up being a member of two clubs in this Division and while I would’ve preferred a foot in each, I am happy and fully committed to Division 23 Central.
The Kiwanis Mission & Vision
Kiwanis empowers communities to improve the world by making lasting differences in the lives of children. Kiwanis strives to be a positive influence in communities worldwide — so that one day, all children will wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them and provide the support they need to thrive. Our Kiwanis club fulfills the Kiwanis mission by serving our community through Kiwanis Community Service Projects
Kiwanis Service
Service is at the heart of every Kiwanis club, no matter where in the world it’s located. Members stage approximately 150,000 service projects and raise nearly US$100 million every year for communities, families and projects. By working together, members achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone.
Our Kiwanis club focuses on changing the world by serving children, one child in our community at a time. To reach more people and have a greater service impact on their communities, many clubs sponsor a Kiwanis family club — K-Kids for primary school children; Builders Clubs for adolescents; Key Clubs for teens; Circle K clubs for university students and Aktion Clubs for adults living with disabilities.
Join Us
Our Kiwanis club fulfills the Kiwanis mission by serving our community through Kiwanis Community Service Projects.
Are you ready to help create communities that let all children thrive, prosper and grow? It’s pretty easy to do! Simply contact us with your questions and apply for Kiwanis club membership here.
The kids in your community and the world are counting on you!
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