First quarter 2009
DAAS received donation of shirts from Craig T Downs of a Miami law firm valued at (US$2000), books from Edmund Delsol and a church in Wilmington, DE and children's clothing from Gillian Shillingford (DAAS President's daughter)
During the month of March, 2009 DAAS donated clothing to Operation Youth Quake, a community based rehabilitation service for deprived delinquent and disturbed youth; reading material , clothing and shoes to Action for Children, Dominica (EC$3250); books for the Dominica Public Library (EC$3750); books for the Dominica State College (EC$5000) . Total value of all charitable donations EC$12,000
DAAS also received a used piano from Dr David Lee, a professor at Florida International University valued at US$2000. This was gifted to the Division of Culture in Dominica in consequence of their request.
August 25/2009 - DAAS Donates Much Needed Equipment to the Gardens
As part of its interest in rehabilitating the Dominica Botanic Gardens, the Dominica Academy of Arts and Science (DAAS) today handed over several pieces of light equipment, valued at EC$5,400, to the Dominica Forestry Division, for maintenance of the Gardens. This effort was spearheaded by Dr. Davison Shillingford, Coordinator of the DAAS Botanic Gardens website. Dr. Clayton Shillingford, President of DAAS did the handover. Receiving the equipment on behalf of Forestry was Mr. M. Burton, Director of the Forestry Division, and Mr. David Williams, Dominica's Superintendent of National Parks and Curator of the Botanic Gardens. Also in attendance were Mr. Cyril John, Manager of the Gardens, Dr. Henry Fagan of the local DAAS chapter, and Mr. Rupert Sorhaindo of Friends of Botanic Gardens. (Full Release)
October 22, 2009 - DAAS/DeFilipps Scholarships
Two scholarships, one young woman and one young man. were awarded for attendance to the Dominica State College for studies in the plant sciences. Ms Agnes Esprit, member of the DAAS Local Chapter Executive assisted with the interviews. The candidates chosen for the DAAS/De Filipps scholarships are:
1. Shawn Francis of Corona Yr.1 student of Agriculture of the Faculty of Applied Arts & Technology
2. Melissa M Jno.Lewis of Petite Soufriere ("residing" in Roseau) Yr.1 student of Biology/Psychology of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences
October/November 2009 - DAAS Donations
1. DAAS President, Dr Clayton Shillingford did the hand over of a piano to the Cultural Division at a ceremony celebrating the end of the Children's Summer Arts programme at the Old Mill. The piano gift was obtained by DAAS from Dr David Lee, professor at Florida International University, Miami through intercession of Dr Shillingford's daughter Gillian Shillingford-Palacios. The gift was accepted by Raymond Lawrence, Head of Cultural Division and Ms Pearle Christian.
2. DAAS donated six wall fans to the Dominica Cultural Div at the Old Mill. The fans were installed in the auditorium which suffered from poor air circulation and could be uncomfortably hot. The fans were purchased locally from Burton & Co Electrical Contractors who provided a significant discount on purchase price and installation. Photographs were provided to webmaster, Ragland Riviere to be shared.
December, 2009 - DAAS Contribution to Special Awards
On behalf of the National Youth Council of Dominica Inc. DAAS paid EC$625.14 to cover costs of special recognition awards to Ms Gloria Augustus and Fr Franklyn Cuffy for their invaluable contributions to Youth Development in Dominica.
July 3, 2010 - DAAS Meristem Project
DAAS received seven banana and four plantain high yielding and improved cultivars with tolerance/resistance to Black Sigatoka a more virulent leaf disease that now threatens production to existing cultivars in the region. The cultivars were received as test tube meristem tissue plantlets. These were obtained by Dr Clayton Shillingford from the Laboratory of Tropical Plant Improvement, Biodiversity International Musa Germplasm Transit Centre in Belgium.
The weaning and hardening at the Botanic Gardens were supervised by Dr Henry Fagan, member of DAAS Agriculture Committee and the Division of Agriculture staff . The cultivars are now undergoing agronomic field evaluation at the Division of Agriculture Hillsborough Experimental Station.