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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
There is a new Vice Governor for Kiwanis International and he is from The Bahamas. Melford Clarke was successfully elected Vice Governor of Kiwanis International for the Eastern Canada and the Caribbean District recently.
He successfully beat out a distinguished lieutenant governor from Barbados vying for the position that catapults him on a course to be the Governor responsible for the Eastern Canada & Caribbean District of Kiwanis International.
The win for Clarke comes after months of campaigning in Jamaica and Canada and the and throughout the Eastern Canada & Caribbean District. He was also assisted in his bid through the campaigning efforts of Regional Trustee (RT) Edwin Thompson and Lieutenant Governor (LG) Alfred Poitier, who both in their respective capacities threw their support behind him and lobbied on his behalf.
The vote was held during the district convention for Kiwanis International held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada that saw more that 400 delegates in attendance with more than 50 Kiwanians from the Sunshine Division 22, which encompasses The Bahamas.
“This is a tremendous strive for The Bahamas,” said RT Thompson, who was among those in attendance. As regional trustee Thompson represents The Bahamas at the board level of the district and for him the win for VG Clarke adds another voice to the leadership arena.
“We have someone at the top who will now put focus on the people of The Bahamas [bringing] brighter days ahead and also letting the world, district and region know that, we in The Bahamas have the talent that’s going to take the Kiwanis movement to another level,” said RT Thompson.
Echoing similar comments were LG Poitier, who is also excited about the win, which he calls “phenomenal” for the Kiwanis Division of the Bahamas.
“The win I think was phenomenal, as The Bahamas division of Kiwanis will be at the helm of the EC&C District, which not only gives advantages for The Bahamas division of Kiwanis, but the country as a whole, as it will provide economic activities through travel and meetings of counterparts throughout the region,” said LG Poitier.
He explained that there is also the possibility of the country hosting a major convention during the governor’s tenure.
For VG Clarke, who now heads the largest district of Kiwanis, he views it as a great accomplishment to now lead the EC&C District.
“I now follow our distinguished Governor Hervis Bain, as the second governor to represent the Bahamas at the EC&C. As vice governor it is a succession plan that
Kiwanis International has in place, you become vice governor, then governor elect then governor,” said VG Clarke.
During the district convention in Hamilton, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism also had an opportunity to promote the country, with a taste of Junkanoo for attendees. But, the taste of what The Bahamas has to offer did not stop there as entertainer Dillon McKenzie or DMAC also wowed the convention attendees.
VG Clarke has served the Kiwanis organization in a number of ways. From 2007 to present he serves as the SLP Administrator for K-Kids Builders Club and Aktion Club.
Additionally, he has served as Lieutenant Governor of Division 22 and has been a proud Kiwanian for 27 years.
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