Rotary Club of Dominica

Our hosts on Dominica are the energetic members of the sole Rotary Club on the island, the Rotary Club of Dominica.



The 28-member club meets at the historic Fort Young Hotel in the capital city of Roseau (pronounced ROE-zoe).

In addition to the numerous vocational and cultural programs, we also attended their weekly lunch meeting on March 3. It was our first actual team presentation.

Shelly addressing the club

Rick and Club President Monsignor Reginald La Fleur – “Father Reggie”

Team with Father Reggie, Pastor Dan and Rotarian (President Elect) Paul Frampton (Heidi’s host family). Paul has been instrumental in setting up many of our programs.

Team with Rotary-Anns Carla (Monica’s host family) and Ann (Shelly’s host family)

After the meeting, the team visited one of the club’s projects, a public restroom water treatment facility at Mero Beach, located on the west (Caribbean) side of the island.

The team at the project site

Norris Prevost (Lillah's host family) explains the project to Monica. Norris is not only a Dominica Rotarian, but a member of the Parliament. The US$43,000 project was funded through a Rotary Foundation matching grant.

Another club project - bus shelters - is also a money maker. These shelters display advertising, providing a revenue stream for the club's other service projects, in addition to providing a welcome respite from the relentless Caribbean sun.

Event Planning - Dominica

March 4 - For my first vocational visit on Dominica, I met with Jennifer Fadelle, event planner extraordinaire in all of Dominica. As I opened her shop door, I saw a lady about my age at the counter. Thinking that she must be Jennifer, I walked up to her and introduced myself.

The well dressed, smiling lady advised that she was the secretary to the President and was waiting for Jennifer to collect the items for the gift basket she ordered. She explained, "when someone in Dominica turns 100, the country recognizes and celebrates the exciting occasion." A couple days prior to the 100th birthday, the family contacts social services to notify the turning of age. They then contact the President's office who sends a birthday card along with a gift basket full of age appropriate items: apple juice, foot powder, toothpaste, hot cocoa, ivory soap, morning coffee cookies, ointments, etc. In addition to the card and gift basket to recognize the occasion, the family receives free electricity and propane for the rest of the person's lifetime.

Jennifer's completed gift basket that the secretary to the president is holding.


During the three hours I spent with Jennifer, I found out that she not only practices event planning, but many other jobs as well. Fadelle's, Jennifer's event planning shop also serves as the community florist, rents and sells party supplies, and A/V rentals. She also made the front of her shop into a barista and a breakfast and lunch café.


I was very surprised at the many job duties she takes on, but she explained it well. "On a small island, you will find that one person takes on many hats because specializing in just one area is not enough (income) to live on."

With her florist hat on, this is one of the arrangements she put together while I was with her.


Jennifer took me on a tour of the state house, the President's residence as she was hired to decorate for a large 300 person cocktail celebration in two weeks.


The state house was still decorated for Christmas which Jennifer was not hired to do. Jennifer was appalled at holiday décor that was still hanging on the walls at the late date of March. We brainstormed some ideas for the cocktail party and I have full confidence that Jennifer is the right woman for the job to transform the outdated holiday look into a classy atmosphere fitting for the many Caribbean Presidents coming to the island for the event.

Even though this was my first (planned) vocational visit, things went better than expected. I not only learned how my vocation is practiced in Dominica, but I also made a friend. We made such a connection that Jennifer attended our dinner event later that week and brought me an amazing gift! While I was at her shop for my vocational visit, I met the gentleman who makes all the carnival costumes for the island. Jennifer asked him to make a costume for me and surprised me that night with the priceless gift.

Shelly Kane

Barbados - Tour of the Prime Minister's Residence

By the luck of the draw, my name was pulled out of the hat by Stanley and Harriot to be my host family on Barbados. Actually, it was me that lucked out!

After a morning of orientation for our upcoming month in the Windward Islands of the Caribbean, lunch with Rotarians from all three Barbados Rotary clubs and a beach afternoon at the Barbados Yacht Club, Harriot picked me up and surprised me with a personal tour of Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson's residence! Apparently, Anne Marie (Stanley and Harriot's 17-year old daughter) is best friends with the Prime Minister's daughter.

Although I was unable to take photos inside, they allowed me to take several photos from the upstairs outdoor pool of the grounds - the grounds are used for a variety of events. In fact, the Rotary Club of Barbados does its largest fundraiser on this beautiful property.

Shelly Kane

Initial Orientation in Barbados

Monica, Heidi, Rick, Joe, Lillah, Shelly, Stanley

Our first full day in District 7030

We arrived last night a few minutes late at the airport in Bridgetown, Barbados. We were met by GSE Coordinator Joe Steinbok and a group of Rotarians from the three Barbados Rotary clubs.

We were just enveloped in hospitality from these wonderful Rotarians - we felt like relatives coming home rather than a team of five strangers from the Pacific Northwest. We like to think of ourselves at home as friendly and hospitable, but these people must have the patent.

This morning, we met with Joe and Barbados Rotarian Stanley MacDonald at Joe's office for our initial orientation on what we will be doing for the next month here in District 7030. The coordination that must occur for any GSE team is a challenge - now imagine doing that for clubs on four different Caribbean islands that are all different countries - the air travel arrangements alone are astounding. We presented a small token of appreciation to Joe for his efforts on behalf of District 5110 GSE Co-Chairs Justin Baird and Chandra LaHusen.

The district here has set up a packed vocational and cultural exchange program on the four islands - each island has its own character. On a personal aside, we noted that they did build in a few tourist stops for us - the small piece of Barbados we have seen thus far has been like walking though a post card.

We are off tomorrow to the island of Dominica, where we will be for next week. We will begin our vocational exchanges there as well as making a team presentation to the Rotary Club of Dominica on Wednesday.

Plan D - the final final itinerary - again, we hope....

We received our final itinerary yesterday - we are going to Martinique, a department of France, after all.

February 28 (RED) - arrive Barbados from home
March 1-2 - Barbados (orientation)
March 2 (BLUE) - fly to Dominica
March 3-6 Dominica
March 7 (GREEN) - boat to Martinique
March 7-13 - Martinique
March 14 (YELLOW) - fly to Saint Vincent
March 14-18 - Saint Vincent
March 19 - Bequia (Grenadine Island)
March 20 (BROWN) - fly to Barbados
March 21-27 - Barbados
March 28 (PURPLE) - depart Barbados for home

Team photo

(Click on image for larger view)

Rick Francona, Lillah McBride, Heidi Ellis, Shelly Kane, Monica Holzmer

Team Change

Some sad news.

Liane Richardson has had to drop out of the exchange. The team will miss her sense of humor, but understands the issues that have caused her to make this decision.








Okay, some good news.


Heidi Ellis, our first alternate, who has been a key contributor during our team training, is stepping in.












Limes will still be put in the coconuts....