South Florida Bahamian Association, hosts elegant evening of dining and remembers a beloved deceased member
Fort Lauderdale, FL – December 5, 2010 – Bahamians flew in from Nassau over the weekend to join Bahamians in South Florida, who along with, South Floridians of Bahamian descent and friends of The Bahamas, enjoyed an elegant evening of dining, hosted by the National Association of The Bahamas, South Florida, to raise funds for the association’s Scholarship Foundation.
The entertaining and exciting function “Dine and Dash” has become the holiday event of the season within the south Florida Bahamian community. The evening provides an evening of fun, food and fellowship, but also serves as a fundraiser for the NAB towards its scholarship fund. Each year, the association awards financial assistance for Bahamian students, excelling in their course of study at Colleges mostly in South Florida, but other parts of the U.S. and even The College of The Bahamas.
The concept of “Dine and Dash,” borrowed from a popular holiday event in Nassau, allows guests the opportunity to dine lavishly at three different opulent homes in the Florida area. Guests arrive at a designated location and are transported to three or four different homes to enjoy the different meal courses - appetizers, soup and salad, dinner, desert and dancing. In addition to the extravagant meals, and enjoying the luxurious homes, entertaining comedy is enjoyed on the bus en route to each stop.
The final stop of this year’s event held special significance to the group. The home chosen was that of a beloved member of the community recently deceased, Mrs. Donna Jean Munnings-Turnquest. Upon arrival at the home, party goers paused for a moment of silence and to light a candle in remembrance of the former member of the Association. Following the brief memoriam, Jeff Turnquest host of the home, on behalf of his family, encouraged the group to “have fun, and enjoy the evening,” and not allow the event to become a sad or somber occasion.
Commenting on the event, founder and president emeritus of the National Association of The Bahamas, Mr. Earl Miller, advised that the success of the venture is due in great part to the faithfulness of those who attend each year and bring others with them. He also noted that the association is totally appreciative of the overwhelming generosity displayed each year by persons volunteering to open their homes to host the event.
“Dine and Dash” is the Association’s second largest annual fundraiser. The major annual event is a Black and White Gala. The Annual Gala for 2011 will take place February 19th.
The National Association of the Bahamas was formed some fourteen years-ago within a community of Bahamas tourism industry professionals and their Bahamian Hospitality Industry partners in the South Florida area including Dade and Broward Counties. The formation of NAB was the brainchild of Mr. Miller, a manager with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation Florida, assisted in great part by then, Bahamas Consul General, Florida, Mr. Winston Munnings. The staff of the Bahamas Tourist Office, Florida; The Bahamas Consulate, Florida; Bahamasair, Florida based staff; Bahamas Reservation Center, and Bahamas Promotion Boards, were the nucleus of the organization. The Association was immediately opened to embrace Bahamians in the South Florida area from all walks of life. The group is currently under the leadership of Mrs. Rosamon Gomez, and boasts a membership database of some 500.
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