The Rotary Club of Gros Islet was pleased to welcome poets Mr. Anthony Avril Jr, Ms. Jean Mederick and Mr. John Robert Lee to its club meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, 1st September 2020. This month is Basic Education and Literacy Month, and club members were treated to a selection of poems read by these poets. There was a short question and answer session chaired by President Trudy O. Glasgow.
All three poets agreed that their inspiration to write poetry came from notable writers like Derek Walcott and other Caribbean writers, C.S. Lewis, familiar English literature classics and contemporary poets. They write about love, relationships, St. Lucian culture, politics and society among other themes.
Being avid readers, they credited their passion for the Arts and Literature stemming from childhood and their earliest readings. Mr. Lee is a retired teacher and librarian, a Bible teacher in his church; Ms. Mederick is a lyricist, artist and engineer. Mr. Avril is an actor and performance artist.
This reading to Rotary represented a book launch for all three poets who have recently published new books.
Mr. Lee challenged the Rotary Club of Gros Islet to spearhead a project to reintroduce the Arts to schools and libraries, by inviting local writers to read their poetry to students and thereby inspire them to read and possibly consider the Arts as a career. All recognised that the present health and social situations provided opportunities for more use of online platforms.
The Rotary Club of Gros Islet organises regular meetings of various kinds for their members and invited guests.