Rotary Club District Governor visits San Pedro

The Rotary Club of Ambergris Caye hosted Rotary District Governor Ray Hohenkirk on August 12 in San Pedro, marking a full day of meetings, school visits, and an evening presentation. Hohenkirk, who represents Rotary clubs across Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras and is a founding member of the Rotary Club of Sunrise Belize, led discussions with local members and leaders about the club’s strategic direction for the coming year.
The visit began with a board meeting, where members reviewed and refined the club’s strategic plan, with a strong emphasis on educational programming for the island. Club leaders discussed ways to expand and improve educational opportunities, highlighting ongoing initiatives such as the Second Chance after-school program at Holy Cross Anglican School, the S.P.I.C.E. culinary training program, the “Educator of the Year” recognition, and an English as a Second Language class for adults. In the afternoon, the delegation toured New Horizons Primary School to view a new playground and bathrooms that the Rotary Club of Ambergris Caye helped build.The District Governor’s visit followed months of planning and local project work by the Rotary Club of Ambergris Caye. Club members arranged the board session to explore more effective ways to engage with the community and strengthen membership retention. The school improvements visited during the tour reflected previous fundraising and volunteer efforts. The board meeting also included leadership coaching and discussions on membership growth, drawing on Hohenkirk’s 19 years of Rotary service.
In his remarks, Rotary Club of Ambergris Caye President Gregorio Najarro described the meeting as “empowering” and praised the Governor’s leadership coaching. “We had the honor to meet with District 4250 Governor Ray Hohenkirk and his assistant, Salvador Espat, the President and Assistant Governors Coordinator,” Najarro said. He explained that the meeting formed part of Hohenkirk’s ongoing tour of Rotary clubs throughout Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.
“We had a board meeting where we explored more efficient ways for Rotary to engage in community projects,” Najarro added. “We also had great coaching and enthusiastic, uplifting sessions where we learned more in depth about how to maintain our membership and steadily grow. The board meeting was empowering, and it came through his long experience in leadership.”
Najarro said the Governor’s central message focused on creating a lasting impact. “His main theme is ‘Create Lasting Impact,’” he said, explaining that the message for the 2026–2027 term encourages Rotarians to move beyond short-term solutions and focus on sustainable community development.
The Rotary Club of Ambergris Caye aims to translate the guidance received during the visit into concrete action by expanding its after-school and educational programs, increasing membership, and strengthening community partnerships. The club’s strategic plan focuses on increasing its impact, expanding its reach, enhancing engagement, and improving adaptability.
Anyone interested in joining the Rotary Club of Ambergris Caye or learning more about its work can contact Membership Coordinator Jo-Jo via WhatsApp at +1 919-824-5118.