March 2014 - Coalition of Jamaican Alumni Associations of Florida

March 2014
The Coalition Monthly
The Newsletter for Jamaican Alumni Associations in Florida
Published by the Coalition of Jamaican Alumni Associations of Florida
P.O. Box 970313, Coconut Creek, Florida 33097
(954) 510-6265
www.cjaaf.info
EDUCATION MINISTER CALLS ON DIASPORA TO INVEST IN
INFRASTRUCTURE
Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald
Thwaites, has called on the Jamaica Diaspora
groups to explore investing in education
infrastructure,
through
public-private
partnerships. “We fully understand the need
for investments and this is a reasonable
business proposition. I challenge the
Diaspora and the financial agencies in
Jamaica to move forward in this direction,”
the Minister said. Rev. Thwaites was
delivering the main address at the opening
of the Jamaica Diaspora Education Summit,
on February 18, at the Hilton Rose Hall
Resort and Spa in Montego Bay.
mobility, individual progress and national
development,” the Minister argued.
Rev. Thwaites emphasized that the
Diaspora summit is a grand opportunity
to develop the relationship between
themselves and the leaders of the
Jamaican education system, build on
mutual interests and translate these into
policy. “It is for this reason that the
National Education Trust (NET) has been
set up and is regarded as the main vehicle
for educational infrastructural advancement to take place. This is an arm of the
Ministry which oversees the renovations
The summit, being attended by 50 Diaspora and upgrading of school properties and
delegates from across the world as well as serves to facilitate these partnerships,”
other representatives from various sectors the Minister said.
of the Jamaican society, is being held from
February 18 to 21 under the theme: Meanwhile, member of the Jamaica
‘Advancing education initiative: a strategic Diaspora Advisory Board, Leo Gilling, said
alliance with the Diaspora’.
the summit allows the group to take a
more microscopic look at the education
Citing the new thrust in education, the system in Jamaica. “The Diaspora needs
Minister informed that plans are being made to arrive at a consensus on a proposal to
to take many schools off the current shift be submitted for an education project to
system as this is “robbing” students of assist our homeland to attain the goals of
valuable instructional hours. “We are now Vision 2030 Jamaica. Delegates at the
seeking to build the necessary infrastructure summit will want to extract information
on to the existing schools, wherever for needs analysis; to identify gaps and
possible, so that they can accommodate the challenges, and to see how, as a group,
numbers without that system. In reality, we we can move towards this vision,” he
cannot afford to build many new schools said.
(that are needed) now,” Rev. Thwaites said.
He commended the Diaspora for its record
of interest and “solid” support for education.
“Jamaica’s Diaspora has long taken an
interest in shaping education in their
homeland. They, perhaps more than any
other civic groups, have been acutely aware
of education’s value as a pathway to social
Glenis A. Rose
Jamaica Information Service
February 19, 2014
EDUCATION
MATTERS!!
PLANNING BOARD
Sandra Schrouder, PhD
Co-Chair (UWI)
Rupert Rhodd, PhD
Co-Chair (UWI)
Jasmine Barnes
(St. Catherine High)
Joan Segre-Leroy
(ALPHA)
Natalie Chung-Cauldero
(Queen’s)
Allan Cunningham, DBA
(Camperdown)
Lance Gibbs
(Cornwall College)
Rudy Kameka
(St. George’s College)
Audley Hewitt
(Kingston College)
Bethany Powell
(Clarendon College)
Peter Scott
(Ferncourt)
Audrey Smith
(Montego Bay High)
Carol White
(St. Hugh’s)
Advisors
Cheryl Wynter
Dahlia Walker, JD
Larry Brown, CPA
Stay
Connected
To Your
Alma
Mater!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
EVENT
DATE
PAGE
ARDENNE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WEEKEND (DANCE & PICNIC)
MARCH 29, 2014
5
CORNWALL COLLEGE ALUMNI “MARCH MADNESS” DANCE
MARCH 22, 2014
8
WOLMER’S SCHOOLS 285th ANNIVERSARY DANCE
MARCH 29, 2014
9
MAY 4, 2014
11
MT. ALVERNIA HIGH ALUMNI (CENTRAL FLORIDA) HOMECOMING OCTOBER 10-12, 2014
13
RUSEA’S OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION “JAZZ N TEA PARTY”
TRIBUTE TO SISTER BERNADETTE, FORMER PRINCIPAL OF ALPHA (PAGES 3-4)
TRUE-BLUE SOCCER EVENT (PAGE 7)
LIST OF ALUMNI ASSOIATIONS IN FLORIDA (PAGES 14-16)
PIT LATRINE PROJECT
The Coalition wishes to express its appreciation to the associations and
individuals that have already contributed to this project, to those who have
made pledges (hopefully the check is in the mail), and to those who will be
sending donations shortly. Yes, there is still time to contribute to this project!
The Coalition will be sending your donation to Jamaica at the end of February
2014. A local representative will ensure that your donation will be used to
build bathrooms for students at St. Mary’s Primary School in St. Elizabeth. We
started with a target of $5000, lowered it to $2000, and now we are increasing
the target to $3000 and hoping that you will join the Coalition in this last bold
effort.
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A Tribute to
RSM
Sister Mary Bernadette Little, RSM, our greatly beloved and highly-revered
principal emeritus, passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2014, shortly after 8
p.m., after an ongoing battle with cancer. She died at Mary Mount Convent
(Widcome), the Sisters of Mercy home in Barbican, St. Andrew, Jamaica. She
was 89.
Born Carmen Dorothy Mercedes Little, in Cassava River, St Catherine, on November 21, 1924,
Sister Bernadette was one of eight children born to Gervaise and Melita Little, both teachers at
St. Mary's School in Above Rocks. In 1936, ‘Dorothy’ as she was then known, entered Alpha
Academy (then a private school) on a scholarship. She shone academically and rose to serve as Head Girl while in 6th
form. Sister Bernadette entered the Sisters of Mercy convent in 1945.
Throughout Sister Bernadette’s three =decade tenure as principal, Alpha continued to flourish as one of the
preeminent high schools in Jamaica. Sister Bernadette is widely regarded as an innovative visionary; an educator and
principal who led her school with an eye on the future. She embraced useful technology and sound, forward-thinking
ideas. She is regarded as a woman of unparalleled, brilliant intellect and unwavering high standards; a nation-builder
who commanded respect at all levels while espousing and living a life of Christian charity, humility, and service to
humanity and country. She was a positive exemplar for the thousands of young women of Alpha Academy whom she
educated and nurtured. Sister Bernadette served as president of the Jamaica Catholic Education Association, as vicepresident of the Jamaica Council of Churches, and as superior of the Sisters of Mercy community in Jamaica. She was
the first Jamaican member of the Cincinnati Provincial Council of the Sisters of Mercy. She was also the first Jamaican
principal of Alpha Academy.
SISTER BERNADETTE THROUGH THE YEARS
L–R: as a RSM novitiate candidate (flanked by her parents), 1945; as Alpha headmistress, 1965 and 1971; as author, 2012
Not one for resting on her laurels, Sister Bernadette, in her retirement, fulfilled her long-held
intention of writing the history of the Sisters of Mercy in Jamaica, entitled: “You Did It Unto
Me”: The Story of Alpha and the Sisters of Mercy in Jamaica. Sister Bernadette was also known
to avidly peruse the Alpha alumnae newsletters, in which she took great delight. Ever the
educator, she would send emails with anecdotes, historical information and on occasion, did
not hesitate (albeit tactfully) to send editing suggestions to the editors-in-chief. Ever did she
hold her protégés to high standards (and we thoroughly enjoyed it). Sister Bernadette also
made a dedicated effort to support the endeavours of the various Alpha Academy alumnae
chapters, attending many fundraising events in Jamaica, Toronto and the United States,
including the chapter here in South Florida, whose directors, like so many past students,
remained close and supportive, caring for Sister Bernadette until the very end.
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In the poetry of Jean Lowrie-Chin, Alpha alumna:
“…As she taught us how to live
She showed us how to die
Nobility shining
From far-seeing eyes
Sister B is our Soul-Mother
As sure as bones
We carry 'B-DNA'
Walking and talking the Bernadette way
Holding her dignity
In the set of our face
The straight of our back
Drinking from her deep cup
Of faith and discipline…
… Your mantra:
‘Trust God’…”
A Vesper Service of Remembrance to celebrate the life of Sister
Bernadette was held on Friday, February 21, 2014 at Alpha’s Chapel of
Christ the King, where Sister Bernadette’s life was well-celebrated with
tribute speeches, tales of close encounters, fond remembrances, prayer,
song and dance. The Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday,
February 22, 2014 at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, in Kingston,
Jamaica. Interment followed at Dovecot cemetery.
Courtesy of the Alumnae chapters of Florida, Toronto and New
York/Tristate, the services were streamed worldwide, live from Jamaica.
Sister Bernadette had expressed her wish that in lieu of floral tributes,
that donations be made to the Sister Mary Bernadette Little Scholarship Fund, established by the Sisters of Mercy
Cincinnati Provincial Council, U.S.A.
On a personal note: Sister Bernadette leaves her family, The Sisters of Mercy, the Alpha community and her country in
deep mourning for her departure, but leaves us, too, in exultant celebration of her noble and exemplary life of
spiritual altruism, unwavering dedication to the holistic education and enrichment of her students, and unfaltering
service to her country. She is indeed a National Treasure.
Her way of inspiring and exhorting every one of her ‘Alpha Girls’ to follow the example of Christ, to be mindful of the
virtues of discipline, to stand tall with dignity (literally and figuratively), to do right, and importantly, of rising to the
challenge of becoming one’s best self, is just part of her legacy to us. We bear her mark and the mantle of our Alpha
heritage proudly and in perpetuity; we follow her example and her charge. We cherish her, and cherish her memory,
and in her legacy to us, she is truly deathless. Quite simply, she loved us and we loved her. Godspeed, Sister B.
Réquiem ætérnam dona ei, Dómine,
et lux perpétua lúceat ei.
Requiescat in pace. Amen!
Ad Verum Et Bonum
Carol Provost
Class of 1976
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TO PLACE YOUR EVENT OR TO ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT IN THE NEWSLETTER
To list your event in the newsletter or to advertise on the Coalition’s website
(www.cjaaf.info), call 954-510-6265 or write to us at [email protected] or
[email protected]
WHY SHOULD I HELP OR WHY SHOULD I GIVE?
We live in a very demanding world and it seems like there is not enough time to do all the
things that need to be done: keep up with work or studies, spend time with family, and earn
enough money to pay the bills. With so much to do, we often ask ourselves, “Why should we
expend any effort in helping to build our associations or why give back to my alma mater
and the community?” Sometimes we ask ourselves, “How will I find time and resources to
give more?” We even say out loud “No one gives to me, so why should I give to others?”
Here are some answers. Giving to your alma mater and to your community
1.
2.
3.
4.
Can make a positive difference to others.
Makes you feel better emotionally
Can help you achieve your full potential.
Can bring you more meaning, fulfillment, and happiness.
KINGSTON TECHNICAL HIGH SCOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
FLORIDA CHAPTER
FRIENDS OF KINGSTON TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
CALLING ALL KINGSTON TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL (KTHS) PAST STUDENTS
AND OTHER INTERESTED IN KTHS.
THE NEXT MONTHLY MEET-UP WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 AT 7:00 PM AT
CAPTAIN JERK, 6028 WASHINGTON STREET, HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA 33023. BRING A FRIEND AND
LET’S ENJOY SOME GOOD FOOD AND FUN TIMES.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT SHANNET AT 954 610-3192. TO LEARN ABOUT THE
ASSOCIATION, WRITE THE TO THE PRESIDENT
[email protected] OR VISIT THE WEBSITE WWW.FRIENDSOFKTHS.COM
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THE 10TH ANNUAL ZIADIE CUP/TRUE BLUE
WEEKEND - MARCH 21-23, 2014
“6x6 Over 40 Soccer Tournament – 2014”
Dear Jamaican Alumni Presidents:
St. George's College Old Boys Association of Florida,
Inc. and Jamaica College Old Boys Association of
Florida, Inc. invites your Alumni Association to
participate in the 2nd Annual Dennis Ziadie/True Blue
Over-40 Soccer Tournament on March 22, 2014. The
tournament will be held at Vizcaya Park, 14200 SW
55th St. Miramar, FL 33027 starting at 10:00AM. The
tournament is open to all South Florida Jamaican
alumni association, over-40 players. Tournament
teams will have six-players which may include one
guest player. Each Alumnus can enter no more than 2
teams.
This tournament provides an excellent facility to
showcase your Alumni Association Over-40 soccer
talent. We invite you to have fun participating in and
watching some great soccer games! We have many
events scheduled for the day.
The entry fee for this year’s tournament is $250 and is
due by March 7, 2014. Entries received after March 7,
2014 will be accepted on an as-needed basis to fill out
brackets. There will be a cash prize to the winning
Alumni Association.
Visit the True Blue Weekend website at
http://www.trueblueweekend.com for more information including the rules. We look forward to your
participation in our tournament on True Blue Weekend. Please contact the tournament coordinators
directly if you should have any questions.
Jimmy Sinclair
[email protected]
954-628-6589
Basil Billings
[email protected]
305-297-0315
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SOUTH FLORIDA HOLMWOOD PAST STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
MEMORIAL WEEKEND ACTIVITIES
MEET AND GREET
Friday, May 23, 2014
Kiwanis Center
3730 W. Oakland Park Boulevard
Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33311
7:30 PM until ……………
22nd ANNUAL BANQUET
May 24, 2014
FAMILY DAY AT THE PARK
Sunday May 25, 2014
Location: To Be Announced
Time: 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM
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JAMAICAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS IN FLORIDA
CONVENT OF MERCY ACADEMY “ALPHA”
Donna Fong (President)
(786) 246-0924
[email protected]; [email protected]
http://www.alphafloridachapter.com/
CORNWALL COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Lance Gibbs
(President)
(954) 600-5915
[email protected]
www.ccalumni-florida.com
ARDENNE ALUMNI ORGANIZATION
Judith Lawson-Keane (President)
(954) 483-0833
[email protected]
http://www.ardennealumni.org/d7/
DINTHILL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Charlton Chance (President)
[email protected]
http://dinthillfloridaalumni.com/
CALABAR HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI
Michael Schloss (President)
(754) 422-3307
[email protected]
www.cbarfla.org
CAMPERDOWN HIGH SCHOOL PAST STUDENTS’ ASSOC.
Allan Cunningham, DBA (President)
(954) 914-4533
[email protected]; [email protected]
www.camperdownfl.org
CAMPION COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Toni Brice (President)
[email protected]
http://campionalumni.com/ccaa/
CAST/UTECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Dr. Marilyn Morrison-Padilla (President)
(954) 578-5858
[email protected]; [email protected]
http://www.facebook.com/pages/CAST-UTECH-AlumniAssociation/226258306042
CLARENDON COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Bethany Powell (President)
(786) 262-3404
[email protected]
http://www.clarendoncollegefl.org/
CHURCH TEACHERS’ COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, INC.
Mike Andrews
(President)
(305) 502-6713
[email protected]; [email protected]
http://www.ctc.edu.jm/alumni/default.aspx
EXCELSIOR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Althea Brown-Robinson (President)
(954) 914-0811
[email protected]
http://www.xlcrflorida.com/
FERNCOURT HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Shawn Brown-Whilby
(President)
(954)464-7427
[email protected]
http://www.fhsalumniassociation.com/
GLENMUIR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Fitzroy Benjamin (President)
(305) 588-0521
[email protected]
http://glenmuiralumni.com/
GREEN ISLAND HIGH ALUMNI ASSOC OF NORTH AMERICA
Norrine Tavares (President)
(917) 969-4308
[email protected]
www.greenislandalumni.com
HAMPTON – MUNRO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Dona-Lee Raymond (President)
(954) 663-6744
[email protected]
HOLMWOOD TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOC
Veronica Wallace-Mitchener (President)
(561) 577-7123
[email protected]
http://www.holmwoodtechnical.com/
HOLY CHILDHOOD HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION
Joan Wright
[email protected]
http://www.facebook.com/HCHSworldalumni
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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNAE
Janice McIntosh (President)
[email protected]
www.ICHSalumnae.com
JAMAICA COLLEGE OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION
Xavier Murphy (President)
(954) 536-8811
[email protected]
[email protected], www.jcobafl.org
JAMAICA EX-POLICE ASSOCIATION (JEPA)
Malachi Smith (President)
(954) 572-9009
[email protected]
JAMAICA EX-SOLDIER ASSOCIATION
Patrick Russell (President)
(954) 324-5506
[email protected]
www.jesasf.com
KINGSTON COLLEGE OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION
(954) 587-5257
[email protected]
www.kcobafl.org
KINGSTON TECHNICAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Friends of Kingston Technical High School
Shannet Brown-Peterkin (President)
(954) 610-3192
[email protected]
www.friendsofkths.com
KNOX SOUTH FLORIDA PAST STUDENTS
Leary Mullings (Co-Chair)
(954) 594-2699
[email protected]
Dr. Susan Davis (Co-Chair)
(954) 648-2800
[email protected]
MEADOWBROOK HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Paul McPherson (President)
(954) 383-0321
[email protected]
www.mhsalumniassoc.org
MICO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Ruben “Tony” Brown
(President)
(954) 804-7200
[email protected]
http://micoalumnisf.org/index.html
MONTEGO BAY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNAE
(954) 330-4500
[email protected]
http://www.ncmgmusic.com/montegobayhighschoolalumna
eassociationofsoflorida/id2.html
MONTEGO BAY HIGH INTERNATIONAL ALUMNAE, INC
Marcia Windross (President)
(561) 714-3441/984-0616
http://mbhsiaa.org/
MOUNT ALVERNIA HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION
Andrea Smellie-McIntosh (President)
(954) 246-3595
[email protected]
http://mahsafl.com/
MOUNT ALVERNIA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION-CENTRAL FLA
Dawn Chin Jones (President)
(813) 910-9880
[email protected]
http://www.mahscfl.org/
NORTHERN CARIBBEAN UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
(CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER)
Vilma Campbell (President)
[email protected]
http://www.ncucentralflorida.com
MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Janet Plummer-Brown
(President)
(786)-260-3411
[email protected]
http://www.manchesterhighschool.org/
QUEEN’S HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Natalie Chung-Cauldero (President)
954) 471-4744
[email protected]
www.qhsalumnifl.org
Online store: www.cafeshops.com/qhsafl
MARYMOUNT HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION
Pat Matthews-Darlington (President)
(954) 288-3853
[email protected]
RUSEA’S OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
Judith Hinds
(President)
(954) 304 0882
[email protected]
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SAM SHARPE TEACHERS’ COLLEGE
Max Beckford
(President)
(954) 478-9475
ST. ANDREW HIGH OLD GIRLS ASSOCIATION
Deirdre Benka-Coker
(President)
(954) 805-6796
[email protected]
www.sahsflorida.org
ST. ANDREW TECHNICAL HIGH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
David Jemison
(305) 687-1677
ST. CATHERINE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Jasmine Barnes
(President)
(786) 252-6120
[email protected]; [email protected]
ST. ELIZABETH TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOC
Noel Knight
(President)
(786) 302-2456
[email protected]
http://www.stethsreunion.com/class_custom4.cfm
TARRANT HIGH SCHOOL PAST STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Michael Rose
(President)
(9540 353-1702
[email protected]
http://www.tarranthspsa.com/
THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF TITCHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
Paul Perry
(President)
(954) 647-0293
[email protected]
http://www.titchfieldhigh.com
TRENCH TOWN COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI
Leandus Campbell (President)
(954) 684-1367
[email protected]
http://www.tthsa.com/
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Rupert Rhodd, PhD
(President)
(954) 242-2529
[email protected]
www.uwiaafl.info
ST. GEORGE'S COLLEGE OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION
Rudy Kameka
(President)
(954) 815-8891
http://www.stgcfl.com/;
[email protected]/stgcfl
VERE TECHNICAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Sandra Lee (President)
(954) 478-3106
[email protected]
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vere-Technical-AlumniSouth-FL-Chapter/101936149849886
ST. HILDA’S HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Jenifer Plummer-Barrett (President)
(917) 974-4863 [email protected]
WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Melaine Thompson
(President)
[email protected]
ST. HUGH’S ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION
Sharon Smith, PhD (President)
(708) 404-5504
[email protected]
http://www.shaafl.org/
WILLIAM KNIBB MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOC
Charmaine Shettleworth (President)
(561) 396-0447
[email protected]
http://www.classcreator.com/Falmouth-Jamaica-WilliamKnibb-Memorial-1991/class_index.cfm
ST. JAGO HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Garnett Walker (President)
(954) 440-8786
[email protected]
http://psa.stjago.com/
ST. MARY HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH FLORIDA ALUMNI ASSOC.
Michael Brady
(President)
(954) 663-7220
[email protected]
WINDSOR /WILMAR HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI, NA CHAPTER
Indiana Robinson, Ed.D (President)
(267) 335-6589
[email protected]
WOLMER’S ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Karen McCallum (President)
1-888-965-6377
[email protected];
[email protected]://www.wolmersouthfla.org
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