March 22, 2004 — To celebrate the Rotary Centennial, the Rotary Club of St. Croix has been invited by the Midtown Rotary Club of Bangalore, India, to send a doll representing St. Croix for the Midtown Club's International Doll Museum.
According to Rotary Club of St. Croix President David Beck, worldwide rotary clubs are doing centennial projects in honor of Rotary's 100th anniversary on Feb. 25, 2005. "When we received the invitation from the Midtown Club to send a doll, we were going to go out and buy one. But then we thought about all the talented people here on St. Croix and decided to have a doll-making contest instead. This is a wonderful opportunity to share St. Croix's history, culture and artistic talent with the world."
The dolls must represent St. Croix historically and/or culturally and cannot be more than 18 inches tall. Pairs of dolls can be submitted as one entry (i.e., a pair of quadrille dancers). People can enter as many dolls as they wish, and a description, no more than one page, must be included with each entry.
The judges for the contest will be local historian George Tyson, cultural icon Wayne James and three members of the club.
Prizes are $400 for the first-place doll, $200 for second place, and $100 for third.
"The first-place doll will be sent to the Midtown Club in Bangalore, and we will be giving the second- and third-place dolls to the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts," said committee chair Paula Cumbermack.
The remaining dolls will be sold at a silent auction at the museum center during Sunset Jazz on April 16. Proceeds from the auction will be divided between the Rotary Club's centennial project — restoring the office/welcome center at Farmers in Action's Bethlehem Sugar Works — and the Caribbean Museum Center.
The deadline for submitting dolls is Tuesday, April 13, and they can be dropped off at First Bank in Orange Grove, Quality Electric in Peter's Rest or on Thursday mornings at Gertrude's Restaurant.
"In order to properly prepare the display, the committee asks that people making dolls register as soon as possible, before they plan to hand in their dolls," said Cumbermack.
To register, people can fill out the registration form that is available at the drop-off points, which are at all VP Gas Stations. Doll makers can also obtain forms from Rotary Club of St. Croix members.
People can also register via e-mail or by calling 771-0274 and giving their name, mailing address, phone number, e-mail address, and the number of dolls they will be entering.
"We began handing out flyers at Sunset Jazz last Friday, and the response was great. So many people said that they make dolls or know people that do. I know we are going to have a very successful contest and be able to send a magnificent doll to the International Doll Museum In Bangalore, India," said club president David Beck.
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