Warm New York reception for launch of CAC 2004 home coming
Stabroek News
January 23, 2003
Despite the freezing temperatures outside, It was a warm and home-like atmosphere in the XGDF Association hall in Queens, New York, when the Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding Federation launched its promotional CAC 2004 Homecoming. The audience comprised a cross-section of the USA-Guyanese community - bodybuilders and ex-bodybuilders, doctors, managers, businessmen, attorneys, flight attendants hoteliers and others.
The event was declared open by Mr. John Sampson who is born of Guyanese parents and is the Senator of the 19th district in New York. GABBFF President Yale Holder then gave a brief welcome, followed by a message from Mr. Billy Braithwaite, manager of the North American Airlines Guyana operations. The eager audience was then shown a Power Point presentation and video that highlighted the GABBFF’s plans for the CAC 2004 Homecoming (September 28 - October 3). The presentation disclosed the week of `events for every taste’ that would climax in the CAC Bodybuilding Championships. These events include visits to Tourist resorts, a soca night-cruise, an El Dorado shopping experience, trips down memory lane and the viewing of the Region’s best male and female fitness and bodybuilding competitors.
Members of the audience then advanced suggestions regarding extending the promotion in New York of the CAC 2004 event. Some recommended promotional initiatives at the Father’s Day and Brooklyn Labour Day events, while urging close attention to security considerations at home. A two-person steering committee (Reuben Granger and Nikki Zammett) was then convened to plan for the holding of a Mr. and Miss USA-Guyana Bodybuilding contest early in 2004 as a fund-raiser for the local federation. A plaque was then presented to Mr. Hugh Ross in honour of his outstanding contribution to the development of bodybuilding in Guyana.
The night’s event realised over US$2,800 in pledges, actual cash and sales of CAC 2004 souvenir material.
