Sat | May 18, 2024

Venrice Randall: The lone male

Published:Monday | February 28, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Pause
Lieutenant Governor Anthony Williams (left) acknowledges the historic achievement of Venrice Randall, as his proud sponsor Distinguished Lieutenant Governor Christine Long smiles her approval. - photos by Christopher Serju
Attorney-at-law Stacyan McLean (left) receives her Kiwanis pin from sponsor Claudette Phipps, while a smiling Venrice Randall looks on.
1
2

Christopher Serju, Flair Writer

Venrice Randall was the envy of all the men at the Portmore HEART Academy on the evening of Monday, January 24. It all had to do with him becoming a Kiwanian. Randall, along with attorney-at-law Stacyann McLean, became the newest member of the Kiwanis Club of The First City (Spanish Town) during a mass induction ceremony. And he had the distinction of being the first and only male member of what, until then, had been an all-female club. He now keeps the company of 29 women.

Founded in 1999, upon taking office last October, the club's new administration decided to remove the gender barrier and Distinguished Lieutenant Governor Christine Long jumped at the chance to sponsor the businessman and minister of religion she has known for 17 years.

"He's a humanitarian at heart. I met him while working at Jamaica National years ago and he used to bring in people all the time to open accounts. He would help them when they wanted to take out mortgages, so for a long time he has been a community-minded person," she told Flair.

She noted that Randall's presence would in no way alter the dynamics of the club's operations and should instead be seen as an added value.

"He is just a great addition and especially when we go out at nights and far away we will have a male. We are looking for other male members."

historic significance

Randall said that when he accepted the invitation he did not recognise the historic significance, until some time after. However, he expects to be a natural fit for the club.

"I have always been doing the work of a Kiwanian only that I wasn't involved in the club; but my passion has always been to serve and help people, which I find fulfilling," he shared.

"I have had friends who have been involved in the club for years, and they have always been inviting me, but I think there is a right time for everything. This is the right time because I really do want to make a difference on a wider scale, which the Kiwanis Club can afford to me."

Married to Donna for 34 years, the pastor, businessman and health-food advocate is the father of three children.