Press Release
On Tuesday February 16, 2016, Mrs. Connie Gumbs-Francis was awarded the Vocational Service Award for 2016.
President Marcellia Henry stated that ‘To be eligible for the award, the nominee (individual or organization) had to demonstrate the following attributes: Leadership of the highest standard and a proven track record in the area; Exemplification of the Rotary spirit of “Service Above Self”; Involvement at the community level in activities; and High ethical and moral standards displayed in performance / work related to selected area of vocational service.
Mrs. Gumbs-Francis was nominated because of her passion for youth development and her outstanding vocational service in community.
Mrs. Gumbs-Francis is the Director and founding Member of the St. Maarten Youth Council Association. Her duties include management of the Rupert I Maynard Youth Community Center, and programming for the STAR After School Program. She is the initiator and coordinator of the Sint Maarten Youth Parliament since 2010, and is a member of the Rights of the Child Steering Group.
To list a few more of her noteworthy accomplishments, Mrs. Gumbs-Francis was bestowed a Royal Decoration for prolong outstanding service to the community in 2015, and is a Member in the Order of Orange Nassau. She is the founding member and secretary of the Saint Martin United NGO Federation, the current secretary of the Victorious Living Foundation, and Captain of the 2nd St. Maarten Girls’ Brigade.
Mrs. Connie Gumbs-Francis personifies the criteria outlined for the Vocational Service Award and after reviewing all nominees our club was proud to select and recognize her for the work she does for youth and the community of St. Maarten.
Past recipients of this award include: Dr. Judith Arndell, Mary Bryson, and Urmain Dormoy.
Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise meets every Tuesday at the Ginger Bread Café Restaurant at the Belair Hotel at 7:00AM to 8:00AM. . For more information on the club visit us at sxmsunrise.org or email sunriserotary.sxm@hotmail.com, we are also on Facebook: Rotary Club of Saint Martin Sunrise.
