Club One Fitness Centre Mother and Daughter

Saturday 26th May 2012  2:00 PM

Club One Fitness Centre Mother and Daughter Fitness Challenge Each Saturday within the month of May join us at 2:00pm-3:00pm Prizes: Spa Packages, Gift Certificates, one day excursion for 2 Club One (formally Bally Total Fitness) is committed to providing our members with the best possible means of achieving their fitness and lifestyle goals by providing the highest quality service, facilities and products in a fun, safe and welcoming environment.

GLOW The ultimate Mother's Day Dance Party

Monday 21st May 2012  6:00 PM

GLOW The ultimate Mother's Day Dance Party Monday May 21st 2012 6:00pm-8:00pm Lights, Music, Dance 2 Hour Dance Party ZUMBA Club One (formally Bally Total Fitness) is committed to providing our members with the best possible means of achieving their fitness and lifestyle goals by providing the highest quality service, facilities and products in a fun, safe and welcoming environment. Click HERE to view Club One's listing page

Hotel union boss: Bahamas needs service culture reform

By REUBEN SHEARER
Tribune Staff Reporter
rshearer@tribunemedia.net

ON the heels of her recent election to the office of president of the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union, Nicole Martin this week unveiled her plans to refocus the union's priorities on improving its members' service in hotels.
Ms Martin, who secured a landslide win in May, said at a gathering for the Rotary Club of West Nassau on Thursday that the union has begun the process of achieving its goals this year.
"As is the case with many organisations, we have had our fair share of challenges," said Ms Martin.

"Our challenges include, but are certainly not limited, t ...

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Club One Fitness Centre Mother and Daughter

Saturday 12th May 2012  2:00 PM

Club One Fitness Centre Mother and Daughter Fitness Challenge Each Saturday within the month of May join us at 2:00pm-3:00pm Prizes: Spa Packages, Gift Certificates, one day excursion for 2 Club One (formally Bally Total Fitness) is committed to providing our members with the best possible means of achieving their fitness and lifestyle goals by providing the highest quality service, facilities and products in a fun, safe and welcoming environment.

Genting begins dredging in Bimini

Bimini Bay Resort has begun dredging around the Alice Town dock and constructing a new cruise ship terminal in preparation for large vessels pulling into harbor from nearby Florida.
On the heels of Prime Minister Perry Christie's announcement in the House of Assembly, Khaalis Rolle, the state minister for investments, provided further details on Genting Group's increased involvement on the tiny island of Bimini.
The official confirmed that the Malaysian-based conglomerate has not purchased the resort, but instead signed off on a managerial contract. The length and terms of the contact, however, are unknown at this time.
Genting Group's greater operational involvement is being seen as a means to ensure the success of its Resorts World Bimini Bay casino set to open in the summer.
A key aspect of the plan is an investment of $100 million in acquiring a high-speed luxury cruise ship and jet aircraft to provide dedication transportation to Bimini.
"They are doing work on the new terminal right now, at Alice Town's dock. That involves dredging and the construction of a new terminal," Rolle said yesterday. "It adds a new dimension to our tourism product."
The state minister for investments was quick to point out that Genting Group owns 50 percent of Norwegian Cruise Line.
"They all access to all of the resources and assets of a major cruise line," he told Guardian Business.
Michael Weber, the general manager at the Big Game Club, said Genting Group's "deep pockets" will ensure Bimini Bay Resort is successful.
Big Game Club is the second largest resort on the island, and while Bimini Bay is technically competition, the general manager felt the move could elevate the entire destination's profile.
"They will make the right moves as a company and it will bring more business here. It should be in everyone's best interest," he explained. "As long as they don't hurt the environment. It is a sensitive issue here. Otherwise it is very positive for the island."
Funds were always tight at Bimini Bay Resort, he noted, and it is difficult to run a resort of that size without significant access to capital. Weber estimated that Genting Group will need up to 1,000 people every day to make the 10,000-square-foot casino a viable operation.
In addition to existing ferry service and direct flights from the U.S. and Nassau, a cruise ship terminal should go a very long way to achieving this goal.
"They'll spend the money to get people here. They can build that cruise ship terminal and we won' have to spend any money. We will benefit in the end. The people on the cruise ship can come here as well," according to Weber.
Looking at the bigger picture, Rolle said Genting Group is a "natural" partner for a number of industries.
In the House of Assembly on Monday, Christie made reference to partnerships in agriculture, power production, health care and even oil and gas exploration as possible avenues for further investment.
When asked if the government is considering Genting Group as a possible partner for oil exploration, Rolle said: "I can't comment on whether they would be a competitor to Bahamas Petroleum Company. All of those sectors are available for potential investment."
Genting Group is a publicly traded company with a total market capitalization of around $46 billion.

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A young lady with lofty goals

Mikell Butler has dreams. She wants to become an oncologist and is taking steps to ensure that her dreams come true in her first year studying bio-chemistry at The College of the Bahamas (COB), with plans to move on to study medicine at the University of the West Indies in August. She has the money needed for her studies, with an $80,000 government scholarship to be disbursed over four years at the college of her choice.
With lofty goals, the 18-year-old says knowing her limits and realizing when it is time to step back and stop worrying is a lesson she has learned, and will put into practice as she continues on the second phase of her academic life. The 2011 C.V. Bethel High School graduate says stressing over grades is not the way to go if one wants to succeed academically. There are people who would disagree with her, after all, she graduated high school with a 3.67 grade point average. She also had the best Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) results, seven A grades in Math, History, Combined Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Language, and two B grades for Spanish and Literature. She was also her school's valedictorian.
With all of her accomplishments, people would think she always had her head in her books and studied non-stop to accomplish what she did but she says quite to the contrary.
"When it comes to studying and preparing for exams you have to understand that they are only tests. They may greatly assist you later in life, but they don't determine who you are or what you can do. Success comes in many ways and it is easy to fall short of your full potential by overtaxing yourself and not just living," says Butler.
She believes that many academically gifted young people are too competitive and absorbed in their own worlds so much so that they let life pass them by, and don't take time to see that there are others out there that could use a hand.
Besides obtaining her medical degree, she wants to create a program for high school students that would not only provide tutoring services for people that need it, but also incorporate professional people mentoring students.
"To me, the true test of one's mastery of a subject is when he can teach what he knows to his peers. This is why I really want to create a program where students help students, but they are also introduced to the 'real world' by having mentors in the fields they want to get into. It would do some good to really get a good idea about the field of work you want to get into and really understand if you like it before you spend years in school studying it. I want to do something that can really positively impact students because so many of us are disserviced and have no real path to follow once we finish school."
The over achiever says her desire to work with high school students arose from her own experiences and desires that things could have been different for her during her high school years. While she was able to assist other students and get help as well, she says it was in a very limited way. When it came time to decide on a career path, she had already chosen medicine, but says there was nothing in place for her to be mentored by professionals in the field, so that she could know specifically which specialization she was interested in. This is something that she hopes will not have to happen to future students.
"I know there is a guidance counselling department in most schools, but I do not feel they often do enough to prepare students for their future. They do a great job bringing in persons from the community from different careers of course, but this is also very limited and not all careers of interest are represented. Many times students enjoy what they see but there is no way to keep in contact with these guest speakers, which is frustrating to students. Furthermore, finding a job after spending years in school is hard sometimes and it helps if you already know someone in the field and they can guide you. So I am really looking forward to getting this program off the ground in another year or two."
In the meantime, Butler encourages students to work with what they have and work hard to make their own way in the professional world. She says finding support wherever you can is just as important. For her it was her family, community and friends that were the driving force behind her success to date.
"While tutoring and mentoring are important, other elements like familial support and community involvement are also important to a student's success. My reasons for pushing the mentoring program is because so many students don't have the home support, drive or means to explore the field of work they wish to enter themselves. Because of this they need a push. But even so I think the best push of it all is when the family and community is involved."
The student said her parents, Michael and Gayle Butler, ensured they were there for her for, whether she was receiving a certificate or a trophy. She said they made sure they never missed anything that she was honored at.
She also encourages parents to be more active in their children's academic life because she believes the best tutor of all is found at home. In primary school and junior school she remembers her mom really pushing her and helping with her school work. By the time Mikell got to high school she was responsible for her studies, but she said she had the right foundation to excel on her own. She recognizes that no matter how many outside tutors she had, if she didn't have support at home she may not have achieved as she did academically.
"Although I am sure my mentoring program will be successful in many ways it will not be as useful if students don't have a foundation to build on. They can have lofty dreams but if there is no work ethic or people who are proud of them, many students tend not to care. This is why I believe the best tutors or mentors are first and foremost a student's parents and community. If they have support in the places closest to them they can use the support they find elsewhere like at school a lot better."
The COB student said it is also important for students to be proactive and discover their strengths and weaknesses early in their academic careers. This way she said they know what they are good at and what they need help with. She said they will also be able to find methods that work for them when it comes to studying. She added that students need to realize that what works for one person may not work for another, and that they should not keep trying to compare themselves to other people. Not being realistic about their abilities, and burning themselves out due to stress, she believes causes many capable students to fall short academically.
If she was able to speak to her peers, she said she would advise them to pace themselves and stop worrying about achieving perfection. For students on the other side of the spectrum, who just don't believe in themselves academically, she advised them to challenge themselves and seek the help they need to succeed.
"It's all about knowing yourself. I don't think many students are conscious of their actual capabilities. Some overshoot and others underestimate. I think spending time calculating what you will need to do per class, and how much time you have to give to each subject realistically in order to succeed, is something students need to do. It's better to succeed at the eight subjects you know you can do well in and have the time to study, for than to push for 10 subjects knowing that you need more time to prepare for them than you have, and as a result do a mediocre job across the board. On the other hand, some students don't test themselves and will settle for the bare minimum. These students need a challenge and should push themselves a bit harder. But like I said you have to know what you can do and work accordingly."
Even when succeeding academically and being on the right course for future success, the young lady said it is also important for students to be involved in their communities and do things just because they want to. She said finding a balance in life with academics and extracurricular activities are key in a person's holistic success.
"As a person your life will not always be about studying, so you have to get used to interacting and networking with other people. You cannot be a completely balanced or well-rounded person if academics are the only things you care about."
During high school, Mikell was involved in numerous activities, from science clubs to the Governor General Youth Award program and Junior Achievers. She said she had a lot of things she needed to study, but always made to time for life.
As she begins her journey to make her dream of becoming a doctor reality, Mikell advised her peers to continue to work hard, but to not over-stress themselves about examinations, and to always make time for fun activities, if not just for their college resumes then at least for themselves. Doing well she said is always a plus, but taking the time to appreciate life and make lifelong friends along the way is invaluable.

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Club One Fitness Centre Mother and Daughter

Saturday 19th May 2012  2:00 PM

Club One Fitness Centre Mother and Daughter Fitness Challenge Each Saturday within the month of May join us at 2:00pm-3:00pm Prizes: Spa Packages, Gift Certificates, one day excursion for 2 Club One (formally Bally Total Fitness) is committed to providing our members with the best possible means of achieving their fitness and lifestyle goals by providing the highest quality service, facilities and products in a fun, safe and welcoming environment.

Settling for nothing less than the best

For most kids a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.60 is something to "crow" about, but for 15-year-old Selandia Toote, it's a source of embarrassment. Excellence to her means a grade point average that is above the 3.80 mark.
"I think my failure to get above my 3.80 mark is due to my procrastination and not completing my work as well as I should have last semester," said the Queen's College 10th grade student. "It also didn't help that I was transitioning to high school and the work is harder and there are more demands. This is the time I should have been more focused than ever, but I wasn't, so there is no excuse for not achieving above a 3.80 like I usually do. I am working harder to just stay on track and do what I know I should be doing this time around."
Toote is now making the adjustment, and now aspires to not settle for less than the best and has her sights set on achieving a 4.0 GPA. To accomplish this she knows she will have to "pull up her socks" in all of her classes -- particularly Language Arts and Literature, which she considers her weakest subjects. Right now she is even taking extra evening classes to strengthen herself in her weak areas, and tries to be even more focused and creative when doing assignments.
Some people would think Toote is being too hard on herself, taking into consideration the fact that she had the best overall and independent Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) results in the country in 2011. She was graded at A in Math, English, Social Studies, Art, Religion, Health Science, General Science and Home Economics and a B in Craft. She still believes she could have done better.
"It was a great feeling to have accomplished what I did for the BJCs. I was surprised when I was told I got the best grades overall in independent schools and the country. It was even nicer to get an award and prizes like $1,000 and a laptop as well, since I never had a personal laptop before, but I try not to focus on that too much. I still have a long road to go if I want to accomplish my dreams. I still need to be focused and really push myself to do even more. It's not good to keep looking at what you did. You still have to keep your eye on the prize and work even harder to achieve all you can at the end, so that is what I am doing," said the overachiever.
Unlike many students who may rely on their parents to push them, Toote believes that the key to her success lies greatly in her own academic independence. She said that at this stage in her education her mother, Edith Toote, a teacher herself, does not heavily assist her in her schoolwork. The high school student said she was made to be responsible for her own successes and failures. The responsible attitude her mother instilled in her, she said, has made her realize how important it is to be self-reliant. If she doesn't accomplish a goal, she said she has no one to blame but herself.
The high school student is keen on finding new strategies to self-motivate herself academically. So far she said her study schedule tactics and incorporation of extra-curricular activities to break up the humdrum existence of schoolwork has worked well for her, keeping her on the honor roll consistently. She was also given the distinction of being named salutatorian of her primary school graduating class in 2008.
As she adjusts to life in high school, young Toote is preparing herself to get ahead academically by preparing to sit the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) Art exam in eleventh grade.
Despite what she says, Toote is definitely one of the smart kids. While she has set a rigorous course of study for herself, because she says her studies are important, she said for someone like herself, it's also a must that she make time for the extra-curricular activities like soccer, volleyball and softball, which she loves.
She also plays the flute and clarinet, and is a member of the New Testament Baptist Church band, as well as the New Bethlehem Baptist Church Band. She is also a member of the National Youth Orchestra.
Toote is also a member of the Student Christian Movement and the Modern Language Club at her school. A young lady with a "civic bone" in her body, she does work with the Red Cross as well.
She said her extra-curricular activities are a way for her to relax, deal with the pressures of schoolwork and just have fun. Toote said they keep her from being bored or easily distracted. Once she commits to a schedule in which her school and social life are balanced, she said she knows she has to utilize her time wisely, which makes her better at time management.
"I have a lot of things I do, so when I slot in to study, I try not to stray away from that plan. I get the hours in, ensure I understand what I am doing and then move on," said Toote.
She doesn't like a quiet corner to do that studying in either. She likes to study with music playing. She said it makes her calmer and helps her to focus better.
"I know I have to make the most of whatever time I schedule, no matter the activity, and this has worked well for me I believe. The times when my study time is cut back I make up for it, but I don't like to do that. School is still the first priority."
Toote has a pretty packed life, but she said all of her extra activities make her a more well-rounded person.
"I have dreams of being headgirl at my school one day too, so I like it when I have opportunities to be in leadership, which is why I am glad my peers chose me to represent my class (Grade 10 Rogers) on the student representative council. I think it is absolutely important to be as involved in different things as you can be."
Young Toote hopes that her dedication to her schoolwork will earn her the chance to attend Liberty University in Virginia to study art and design, even though she's still uncertain of what she wants to do in life. It is an institution that she likes and knows that her mother would be proud if she attended it.
One lesson young Toote said she has learnt well over the years is that putting God first in life is essential to success. She said being driven by God's will gives a greater academic purpose and opens the mind to unknown possibilities.
"As a student you need to have a focal point. You have to have a reason for what you do because otherwise studying and working so hard doesn't make sense. God is the best focal point to me. He gives you a purpose that you will never lose."
This smart kid also advises other students to remember that time is precious and that tomorrow is closer than they think. She believes it is best to take advantage of whatever comes your way, because assuming it can be done later is a mistaken way of thinking.
While she wants to excel academically, she also has plans to travel the world in her more youthful years, because she said it may be a luxury she may not have later in life. Toote said she never wants to be one of those people that have to imagine, "What if ...?"
"It is important to be open to new things and embrace the world around you. Life does not end in the classroom. It is beyond those walls and it's good to get a taste of it. Education happens everywhere, so I encourage other students to just be adventurous."

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Local gymnastics talent meets opportunity

One of the goals of the organizers of the BGPBC-Bahamas Star Gymnastics (BSG) Invitational, hosted on Saturday, April 14, was to provide a platform for local gymnasts to gain exposure to the rigors of the competitive environment. Clubs from Freeport and New Providence converged on the BSG facility to face off for the first time in a local meet to compete in Women's Artistic Gymnastics events. The official for the event was Suzanne Carmona, a level 10 USA gymnastics certified judge based in Illinois, USA.
New Providence based clubs, Nassau 'Nastics and Bahamas Star Gymnastics, have been on the radar of the local sports community for several years now. Now, the Freeport based Georgia's School of Dance made its debut showing. The three clubs were represented by nearly 40 athletes who competed to the delight of their community base of supporters cheering from the sidelines.
Gymnastics Federation of The Bahamas President Barbara Thompson, who was on hand to present awards, issued a statement after the event:
"The Gymnastics Federation of The Bahamas wishes to commend the Bahamas Star Gymnastics and BGPBC for their successful clinic and competition this past weekend. It was a very important first in the sport of gymnastics here. This competition brought in Bahamian gymnasts from outside of New Providence to test their skills against some of Nassau's finest. Fourteen gymnasts from the Georgia's School of Dance, situated in Freeport, competed against the local teams - Nassau 'Nastics and Bahamas Star. It was a spectacular sight indeed. Everyone was a winner!
"The gymnastics federation has been striving to spread this sport beyond the shores of New Providence. In September of 2011, a clinic was held with the assistance of the Olympic Solidarity movement. Coaches from Eleuthera and Grand Bahama joined those from New Providence to be brought up to speed on the latest in Level 1 artistic gymnastics training. Hopefully, this is an indication of more to come. Our kids have the talent - we need only to give them the opportunity."
The invitational event showcased the largest number of local novice gymnasts to date. Freeport athletes competed on the floor exercise only, as they have no access to the three remaining devices required for Women's Artistic Gymnastics. Their shimmering lime-green leotard clad squad all scored above 8.5 on the floor exercise to record the highest scores for a novice team in The Bahamas. The two more experienced teams from New Providence battled it out on the other events - vault, balance beam and uneven bars.
Highest scorers in the all-around were Level 1's Sanaa Saunders, BSG; Level 2's Alexis Mayet, BSG; Level 3's Zoe Deveaux, Nassau 'Nastics; Level 4's Sydney Wells, BSG; and Level 6's Athalia Swann, BSG. Levels 5, 7 and 8 defaulted to single competitors, namely Caitlin Cash, and Toni and Toneka Johnson respectively. Level 2 was especially competitive as Alexis Mayet edged out fellow BSG teammate, Savannah Lightfoot by .05 to capture the top award. Mayet's score of 37.75 was also the highest all-around score for the entire meet.
Honorable mention is deserved for Freeport athletes who cracked the 9.0 (of 10) barrier which alludes many novice competitors, namely Level 1's Lauryn Hanna (9.55) and Danae Rollon (9.05) Level 2's Damia Williams (9.40), Jaiden Outten (9.15), Level 3's Gerniqua Smith (9.05) and Lynisha Russell (9.1), and Level 4's Mischa Moxey (9.0).
Host club Bahamas Star Gymnastics swept the team awards for having the two highest scores in their respective levels.
All-in-all, the meet directors and participating clubs were extraordinarily pleased with the opportunity which the local talent was able to access. U.S. based gymnasts can access as many as four meets per month by simply driving to a different city each weekend, for instance. The frequency of exposure to competitive meets is part of the reason for the phenomenal success that American athletes are achieving on the international level. Bahamas Star Gymnastics and Bahamas Gymnastics Parent Booster Club (BGPBC) aim to increase the opportunities for competitive meets, clinics and other events to enhance our local gymnasts' shots at success.
Many participating gymnasts discovered how delightful a moment of success feels as they mounted the awards podium to "present" themselves after investing grueling hours of preparation for the first inter-island and inter-club competition. If the fruit of success is "juicy sweet" then the after taste that many left the event with is "next time I'm determined to win it all". Complacency is the cancer of any sport and competition is its cure.

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Roker Point invests 2M in 'dusting off'

JFB Limited Developers is "dusting off" Roker Point Estates, a shelved project on Exuma, and is investing nearly $2 million in a model home and "hill hiker" amid its renewed marketing effort.
The 91-unit development in Emerald Bay is riding a wave of recent activity on the pristine island, including the success of the $80 million Sandals Emerald Bay resort and the resurgence of Grand Isle.
John Goldsworthy, head of sales and marketing, Roker Point Estates, said the time is right to revisit development on Exuma. With millions already invested in infrastructure, including roads, a marina and utilities, he told Guardian Business "the table is set, now people just need to show up for dinner".
Development, he added, came to a grinding halt in 2008, but JFB Developers believes the worst of the recession is behind it.
"With the recent activity with Sandals, and in particular achieving more airlift, investment and exposure, we felt the time was right to dust off the project," he explained. "We have investors right now. We have finished the floor plan, we have costed it out, and plan to break ground soon."
Roker Point is now selling lots for $325,000. Goldworthy said prices have been reduced a whopping 60 percent to entice international interest from second-home buyers. With homes perched on 30 to 35 feet of elevation, the developers have just built a "hill hiker" to allow residents to access their individual slips down below.
The contraption, a first of its kind of The Bahamas, is part of the exhibit soon to be on display with the model home.
Goldworthy told Guardian Business the development hopes to achieve a number of sales this year, feeding off the momentum and investment now pouring into Exuma. He said several parties are already interested in purchasing lots, "but must carry out their due diligence first".
Executives from Roker Point are now attending boat shows and other exhibitions in Canada and the U.S. to spread the word about the revitalized project. The goal, Goldworthy said, is to house a population within five or ten years that works in tandem with its neighbors.
Guardian Business can confirm that Roker Point is now in talks with Grand Isle to possibly contribute to its $5 million expansion to amenities, including a new restaurant and beach club. In fact, Roker Point's office is now located in the penthouse villa believes this collaboration with Grand Isle and Sandals will be integral to the success of Exuma and the economy at large.
Last month, Grand Isle revealed to Guardian Business that it is targeting $25 million in sales after a Canadian investor ended its financial woes.
After going into receivership in 2010, the investor bought out 31 villas at Grand Isle and erased the debt.
A total of 47 homes are now privately owned, with the remaining 31 being sold off over the course of the next year or two, according to Michael Marco, a spokesperson for the project.
"When the developer went bust, they placed a dark cloud over us," he said. "But we have turned the corner since then. We paid off all the debt and the receivership has been resolved. The owners are now taking an active role in promoting [and] marketing the development."
Meanwhile, Sandals Emerald Bay, representing around $80 million in investment, has continued an aggressive marketing push to stimulate interest in the getaway, such as hosting the popular game show Wheel of Fortune and appearances on other programs.
A number of airlines now fly direct to Exuma from gateways in the U.S. and Canada.
Adam Stewart, the CEO of Sandals, aims to make the resort profitable by 2014.
"Do I think 2012 will be the year we break the back of it? Yes I do," he told Guardian Business.
"We will have a fairly good winter and our reputation in the marketplace is getting better. With a little luck, the world economy will start to behave. 2013 and 2014 will show that was a good buy and it will contribute to the bottom line."

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