Dyer
WESTERN BUREAU:
FOR PROMINENT Montego Bay hotelier, Godfrey Dyer,it was a number of firsts at the recent Kiwanis International 85th Annual Convention in Taipei, Thailand. Mr. Dyer was elected the first non-American and the first black International President in the 61-year history of the Kiwanis International Foundation.
"I am heartened, it's really a good feeling and it will be a challenge," said Dyer, who previously served a one-year stint as treasurer of the foundation. "However, being a seasoned Kiwanian, I feel I will be able to do justice to the position."
Dyer, a 31-year veteran of the Kiwanis Movement, is a Charter Member of the Kiwanis Club of Falmouth, which he was instrumental in forming in 1970. In his capacity as International President, he will oversee fundraising activities and the disbursements of funds worldwide. He will also conduct board meetings and attend both the European Federation International and the Kiwanis International Conferences.
The Kiwanis International Foundation has just concluded a six-year fundraising drive along with the over 600,000 members of the Kiwanis family in 76 countries across the Hemisphere. It was successful in raising US$75 million to eradicate Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) in young children. The dreaded disease causes goitre deformity and mental retardation and affects nearly two billion people, including seven hundred million children in several countries across the world.
"Kiwanis has raised the 76 million US dollars and we have so far dispersed 47 million dollars," says Mr. Dyer, who thinks his new position is a feather in not only the cap of Jamaica but also the other 75 countries involved in the Kiwanis movement. "Our efforts have resulted in several million children being born today without no longer fearing the threat of mental retardation or deformity."
Kiwanis International incorporated the Kiwanis International Foundation (KIF) in 1940 as a Tax Exemption Organisation. It was set up specifically to administer the financial affairs of Kiwanis and to raise and disburse funds for Kiwanis projects worldwide. A board of twelve persons representing the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific runs the K.I.F.
Having been an outstanding and dedicated member of the movement for so long, Dyer's achievements have been numerous. As Governor of the Eastern Canada and the Caribbean (EC&C) District, he made history in 1996, when he was given the award of Distinguished Governor, an honour that had not been bestowed upon any other Governor in 17 years.
