MDF Inaugural AGM

The Micoud Development Foundation (MDF) held its Inaugural Annual General Meeting on Sunday, August 31st, 2008 under the theme: “Laying the Stonework for a Strong Foundation”. The highlight of the meeting was the feature address by Mr. Lucious Ellevic, Chairman of the Laborie Development Foundation/Manager of the Laborie Credit Union and the election of the organisation’s first Board of Directors. Addresses were also delivered at the meeting by the Parliamentary Representative, Hon. Jeanine Compton and Mrs. Velda Joseph, Ag. Deputy Director of Community Services in the Ministry of Social Transformation.
During her address, Mrs. Joseph who represented the Ministry for Social Transformation, Public Service, Human Resource Development, Youth and Sports, extended congratulations to members of the Foundation on behalf of the Minister and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry. She noted that the Ministry welcomed the establishment of the Foundation, which would assist the Ministry in facilitating community development.

The feature speaker in his presentation spoke to the challenge of change management and called on members of the Development Foundation to display persistence and pride in advancing the mandate of the MDF. Mr. Ellevic highlighted the fact that volunteerism appears to be a diminishing factor at the community level. He noted the importance of succession planning. Mr. Ellevic suggested that the Foundation should market itself based on the concept of partnership in its approach. The feature speaker also lamented the failure of Caricom Governments to act on the provisions of the Civil Society Charter, which was signed by regional Governments in 1997.
One of the main outcomes of the meeting was the election of the MDF’s first Board of Directors. The members of the new Board of Directors are:
1. Darnley Lebourne - Chairperson.
2. Angelina Augusttin - Deputy Chairperson.
3. Jearmell Roserie - Secretary.
4. Octavia Augustin - Treasuer.
5. Esther Leshommes - Floor Member.
6. Denise Charlery - Floor Member.
7. Kenneth Phillip - Floor Member.
In addition to the elected Board of Directors, the Foundation’s Rules and Regulations provide for the Community Development Officer, the Chairman of the Micoud Village Council and the Parliamentary Representative to the be represented as ex-officio members of the Foundation’s board.
The Micoud Development Foundation was registered on May 14th, 2008 as a Not for Profit Organisation and has a current membership of twenty one (21), comprising both individual and organizational members.