Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
Christopher Issa (right), president of the Rotary Club of Kingston, with Sir Kenneth Hall (left), Governor General of Jamaica, and Andre Hylton at the launch of the Rotary Leadership Initiative at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, in New Kingston recently.

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

True to their charter, they are a service organisation with many years of service to good causes. They are, however, often wrongly regarded as little more than an organisation of talking heads, more concerned with their social profile than being their brothers' keepers'. This, however, flies in the face of a sterling record of service above self that is a credit to the men who constitute, lead and spearhead the many charitable causes that they adopt and execute.

They are the men of the Rotary Club of Kingston.

Dears, a founding member of the original Charter of Rotarians, the Rotary Club of New Kingston is, by and large, a service organisation whose members are drawn from the communities in which they live, but are exemplars primarily due to their overall desire and conviction to offer service above self to their fellowmen.

It was this commitment to service that led to an American teenager named Anders Jones to seek an audience with the club and addressed the club at one of its weekly luncheons at The Pegasus hotel, some years ago. He solicited support for his then fledgling idea of providing a computer lab, software and other equipment to 500 primary schools within Jamaica.

Now, the act of asking the then 14-year-old Jones to address the club spoke to the depth and understanding of the club's elder statesmen, as well as a greater understanding that sometimes an agent of change is not necessarily to be found in the traditional places.

Definitive objective

When Jones spoke to the club, his clear and definitive objective was that the club, as well as a number of its principals, chief among them being past president and Honorary Consul of Iceland Robert MacMillan, not only identified with the Technology for Kids programme, they signed on for the programme and gave it their fullest support.

Today, the fledgling organisation that found its roots in Jamaica is now an international charity organisation, sourcing and rehabilitating and donating computers to nations across the globe that could not afford them.

Jones is now a young adult, in fact, a 21-year-old in his final year of studies at Stanford University. His father, Mark Jones, an international financial consultant and venture capitalist, now a resident of Jamaica, and based on his experience with the Rotary Club of New Kingston, saw the organisation as the perfect vehicle to continue to contribute to the well-being of the country.

Today, Mark Jones is a member of the Rotary Club of Kingston and as part of its broader outreach programme, he and his wife Julie hosted a reception/party, at their fabulous Stony Hill residence, to celebrate and promote the culture of Rotary-benevolence. A number of Rotarians and other civic-minded personalities were in attendance, and my dears, it proved to be quite the fab shindig.

Absolutely fabulous

Dears, carved into the lush hillside of verdant Stony Hill, the Joneses' residence is one absolutely fabulous property. To begin with, we are talking a rather picturesque and majestic view of the city of Kingston and sections of neighbouring St Catherine.

It is accented by 'creeks' with giant kois; a family-sized pool; a Roman hot tub tucked neatly under a gazebo; plus flowering and towering plants everywhere. Now, add to this a number of some of Kingston's leading citizenry and you know we are talking the right royal ingredients here for a fab do.

Luvs, with Chez Max taking the catering honours, libations flowing with the ease of a fountain and music warming up the chilly night, the vibes were right for partying. Between the sips and spills, national and international politicking, partying there was aplenty.

Among the notables present were: club president and Honorary Consul of Slovakia Christopher Issa; Hon Mike and Peggy Fennel; Honorary Consul of Iceland Robert MacMillan and Candy DePass; Garth Moodie; Scarlett Gillings; noted attorney Harold Brady; Sarah Newland-Martin; Geoff Messado and his wife Jennifer Messado; Laker Levers; Dr Gail Ranglin; Rod Heaven; Munair Zacca; Jimmy Bruce; Marcia Turner; William Massias; Stacy Earle; Rajiv Bakshi and companion Dorothea Gordon-Smith, and businessman Ian Wong.

We also spotted: Robert and Odette Epstein; Jimmy Bruce; Oliver Magnus and Michelle Lawrence; 'famed' broadcaster Francois St Juste; Richard Josephs and his absolutely stunning wife Marie Josephs; Dr Garfield Gibson; Colin Henry; Mr and Mrs Lenny Chin; Paul Morgan; Michael and Nathalie Buckle; Paul Burgess; Heron Thompson; Barbara Gottgens; André Hylton; Denise Williams; Ken Wilson; Roberto Rizzio; Sharon Peart; Noel Osbourne; Donovan and Zoe Summers; Courtney Lawes; Janice Buchannan; Richard Gordon; Mohammed Shans; Nigel Pusey; and the absolutely fabulous Michelle Facey, in from Florida, for the occasion; plus a number of others.

And yes, it was a fine night to party too!