April 19, 2004 – The judges have made their decision in the Rotary Club of St. Croix Centennial Doll Making Contest — and it wasn't easy.
According to the club president, David Beck, all of the entries "were absolutely astonishing, very creative and a great representation of St. Croix and the talent of many Crucians."
First place with a prize of $400 was awarded to Marcella Heywood for her mocko jumbie doll.
Second place, with a $200 prize, went to Jacqueline Maynard for her quadrille dancers
Third Place, worth $100, went to Mary Joachim, for her "Carmen & Brian Quadrille Dancers."
Heywood's doll will be sent to the Midtown Rotary Club of Bangalore, India, to be placed in the club's International Doll Museum, its Rotary Centennial Project. For more information about that project, visit the Centennial Doll Web site.
Paula Cumbermack, Rotary of St. Croix contest committee chair, said club members were amazed at the creativity and workmanship that went into the locally made dolls. "We thank everyone that entered dolls and thank the judges for their difficult task of choosing winners," she said.
Beck said the Caribbean Restaurant and Retail Association and the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce have given the club promotional materials to send to Bangalore along with the winning St. Croix doll.
"CRRA has given us enough St. Croix Guide Books and other materials to distribute to every member in the Midtown Club, and the chamber has given a number of publications for the club to share," Beck said. "We see this as a wonderful way to promote St. Croix [and] encourage Rotarians from around the world to visit."
The association and the chamber also plan to provide club members with materials to take to the Rotary Centennial Convention next year in Chicago, Beck said.
The convention is expected to attract more than 20,000 Rotarians with their spouses and families, and "with the help of these organizations and all Crucian Rotarians, everyone will know about St. Croix," Beck said.
All of the contest entries were displayed on Friday evening at the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts during the monthly Sunset Jazz in Frederiksted concert.
The second- and third-place dolls are being donated to the museum. All of the other dolls were for sale to the highest bidders at a silent auction held during the jazz concert, Cumbermack said.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
