Grand Opening of Deaf Club on January 28 2006 I want to spread the great new about the Guyana New Deaf Club that Ashton and I have been planning for months and we have officially opened the Deaf Club on January 28 2006 at Flex Gym in Kitty. We have been working on the project since October as we have noticed that Deaf community don't have the place to socialise with each others and they are shattered all over town with no knowledge what happening in Deaf Community. We decided to provide one place where the Deaf people can meet and to enjoy the use of hands and the company of other Deaf people. We have been spreading the words to the Deaf community about the new Deaf club and we have reached England Deaf Community to support us in donations of Board Games, Money, and Equipments to provide to the Deaf Club to entertain Deaf people. We had a few responses from England Deaf Community that they are happy to help out by donating old games and money which we will use to support the Deaf Club in many ways. We are grateful for them to support us to make it a successful Deaf Club. The day are approaching fast, Ashton and I have been running around to finalise the preparation for the Deaf Club especially foods, drink, collect the games and getting things in order for the Deaf Club to run smoothly. I had few people to help us to ease the burden by cooking the food, bring the tables and chairs for the people to sit and to play games etc. On the day of the Grand Opening, Ashton and I have to attend the CBR Annual Retreat which it is for the CBR team coming from all over Guyana to share the experience and to discuss for the future of the CBR. Ashton and I planned to stay until Lunch time as we got few things to prepare for the Deaf club before Deaf people coming at 4pm. Ashton and Donetta cooked the food with help of our neighbours who are grateful to help out to cook huge cook up (chicken with fried rice and black peas and spices) to feed approx 50 people! I went to the Deaf club to set up the place with another 2 deaf people who lived next door to the place! We set up the chairs, tables, decorations and the red ribbon across the door, ready to be cut open for the official opening of the Deaf Club. The Deaf club is ready by 3.45pm and Deaf people started to arrive Deaf Club around 4pm and we chatted outside but had to be forced inside shortly after 4 as the weather is miserable and raining hard. By 4.30pm we had around 25 Deaf people at the club, we went outside as the weather begins to shine again and ready for the Official Grand Opening of the Deaf Club! We all are excited about having a place for the Deaf people to come and socialize together. I gave a brief speech that we are happy to have a place where we all can meet and enjoy the company of Deaf community in our own language where we couldn't do much elsewhere. Ashton also gave his speech before he pass the honor to me to open the Deaf Club. I started the count down with the Deaf people from 5...4...3...2...1... and I cut the red ribbon open and one Deaf man rushed in the Club as he want to be the first Deaf person to set the foot in Deaf Club officially! We all went in and we had photos taken and Ashton filmed the whole thing which we all made our contribution of our thoughts about the Deaf Club. We settled down and played games of Dominoes, Cards and socialize with other Deaf people. More Deaf people came in and the number are increasing to 40 people which it is amazing for the opening of the Deaf club. Everyone enjoyed the atmosphere and we all had great time and enjoyed each other company. At 5.30 the food was served on courtesy from CBR who are glad to donate the cost of the foods for the Deaf club. We all ate and socialize until 6pm. It is when I come in to make more speech about the future of the Deaf Club and what we are looking for the Deaf Club to be even more successful one. I asked around what they want from the deaf club and some of the deaf people came and share their views about what they want to have in the Deaf Club. Everyone share and agree with each others and putting in more ideas etc. It went well and I asked about the Logo for the Deaf club as I want them to enter their design of the logos and we all be the judge of the design and choose the best one to be put up as a official logo of the Deaf Club. They will have 2 week until the next meeting of the Deaf Club to design a logo of the Deaf Club. Then we all continue to socialize until around 7pm as it is when Ashton and I close up the Deaf Club and everyone helps out to pack away the chairs, tables and games to be stored until the next Deaf Club. My View of the Grand opening of the Deaf Club I am really pleased with the outcome of the Deaf Club as we had 40 Deaf people came and I haven't seen few of them before as it was really difficult to meet the Deaf Community before the Deaf Club opened as they all are shattered all over Georgetown and outside the town too. We had a great time playing dominoes which it is proven the number one game for the Deaf people and we all socialize well and enjoy the company. I am glad to see many happy faces of the Deaf people which they are really pleased with the Deaf club to be opened and they got a place to come and enjoy themselves by playing games and using the Sign Language which it is hard to come by in Georgetown. I am looking forward to the next Deaf Club on February 11th 2006 and hope to meet more Deaf people that I haven't meet yet! Reported By Steven Wynne