Speaking at the ceremony, Optimist President, Emma Ferguson, said the other groups formed so far were the Best End Club at the Morris Vanterpool School at East End; the Progressive Youth at Campus A of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School; Kids for the Future at Campus B; and Super Stars at the Adrian T. Hazel Primary School.
“Your school and your peers have now joined an elite group of young persons serving children and their community,” she told the new young optimists.

The children were addressed by Deputy Governor Stanley Reid in his capacity as the first chartered President of the Optimist Club since 1995. He described the club as being a successful organisation in the eyes of the community as a result of the attitude of its members, its encouragement of independence of mind and self-reliance. He advised the children that there was a need to challenge each other as well as systems but in doing so they should be aware that there was a structure for everything and that at some point in time someone in authority had the final word.

Mr. Stanely Reid and other Optimist with new club members

Mr. Reid stressed that while young people were challenging or questioning certain matters, and working towards self-reliance, they should always do so in a courteous manner in order to build respect for each other. “You must set high goals in life,” Mr. Reid went on. “The Optimist Club of Anguilla set out to be different from other service clubs… and it has done that by setting high standards.” He added that if the young members wanted their Believers Club to be successful, they would have to do the same thing and work towards providing service to others.
The officers of the club are Bernice Brooks, President; Kyandra Benjamin, Vice President; Marla Hughes, Secretary; and Isabell Curtis, Treasurer. They were installed by the Optimist Club’s Ambassador, Avon Carty, and are part of a larger group of 25 club members comprising children in grades 4-6.

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