Hope Markes is Kiwanis Eastern Canada/Carib governor-elect

JAMAICAN HOPE Markes has been selected as governor-elect 2012-13 for the Kiwanis Eastern Canada and Caribbean District (EC&C) after she won the election by a landslide victory during the district's 95th convention, held in Barbados recently.

This was a major setback for the gubernatorial aspirations of her French Canadian opponent, Serge Viau.

Markes will be the second Jamaican female to serve in this capacity, and the fifth Jamaican to do so overall. The first female was Sheron Cameron-Dunn in 2008-2009. Other Jamaicans who have served in this capacity are Godfrey Dyer, Carlton Levy and Trevor Dunn.

She is self-employed and a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Hopewell, where she has served in several capacities over 12 years. Eight months into her tenure as club president, she accepted the nomination for the post of Lieutenant Governor for Division 25, and became one of the EC&C district's six lieutenant governors to be awarded the distinguished status in 2004. She was also given the Award of Merit in 2008 for being selected the most efficient club secretary in the district.

Highest honour

In March of this year, her club presented her with the Hixson Fellow Award, one of the highest honours given by the Kiwanis International Foundation, making her the 36,119th Kiwanian in the world to receive this award.

Markes is a Justice of the Peace for Hanover and the chairman of the Sandy Bay Primary and Junior High School.

In response to the question, what is the formula for achieving the level of success she has had in Kiwanis, Markes replied: "I am very performance driven, and I enjoy leading. I make my mark by keeping my basic principles, morals and values. And Kiwanis gives me the opportunity to be myself while making a difference and changing lives. Nothing rewards me more than to make a difference in the lives of our youths."