There are people whose service is a quiet revolution- those who lift others without fanfare, whose example becomes an invitation for all of us to do more, give more, and become more. Richard Carlyle Thomas is one such person. As the current Director of Service Projects for the Rotary Club of Central Port of Spain, he embodies the Rotary spirit in all he does.
From First Meeting to Lasting Commitment
Richard’s Rotary journey began when Annette Awuku introduced him to the Club. He recalls that very first meeting as an eye‑opener. The professionalism and warm fellowship: a Sergeant-at-Arms bringing order with humour, gently collecting fines from those who disrupted, Richard likened it to giving sweets to children, then coaxing back a share. That blend of discipline, laughter, respect, and joy struck him. He left that day knowing he wanted to be part of it.
Now, nine years later, he never doubts that decision. Rotary has been “a good fit” for him, because for Richard, serving others isn’t a duty but a calling. He lives by Service Above Self, and he has found in RCCPOS a home for expressing that belief.
A Path Marked by Service, Leadership, and Growth
Richard didn’t just join; he stepped up. His first leadership role was as Membership Chairman. After that, he served three years on the Service Projects Committee. Today, he is in his third year as Chairman of that Committee. Each role added layers of experience, insight, and deepened his sense of purpose.
He remembers his first club event: the handing‑over ceremony. What struck him wasn’t just the formality, but the care: how well organised everything was, how everyone was included, how fellowship was not an afterthought but the foundation. Over the years, he’s observed that RCCPOS infuses this same warm, welcoming spirit into all its events, and this culture has meant a great deal to him.
Overcoming Adversity, Building Expertise
Richard’s journey toward leadership and service was not without challenge. Losing his father at age seven altered the early course of his life. His initial dream was teaching; for that, he tried student‑teacher training, but it didn’t work out. Undeterred, he embraced apprenticeship as a machinist with Carib Glassworks. Though the usual duration was longer, Richard completed his training in three years. That early success was a signpost of his tenacity.
From then on, he moved through Metal Box Trinidad, joining Electrical Industries early when it was starting up production. He chose the path of production supervision, and over 38 years, he rose swiftly: abroad for training, supervising, managing, and eventually factory manager. Along the way, he gained international exposure, UK, USA, Germany, Colombia, and attended global trade shows for decades. He also devoted many years to credit union service, practical philosophy study, and learning in motivational management and leadership.
All this adds up not just to credentials, but to lived wisdom: how to lead projects, how to build teams, how to solve unforeseen challenges, how to balance efficiency with empathy.
Harmony in Thought, Word, and Deed
One of Richard’s favourite quotes is from Mahatma Gandhi: “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” For him, becoming and being a Rotarian has meant striving for that harmony. It means aligning his beliefs, his words, and his actions around service: not just in word, but in projects, in fellowship, in the moments when help is needed.
Under his leadership on the Service Projects Committee, RCCPOS has benefited from someone who can turn vision into action. He brings both structure and heart. His work has helped ensure that service is not only impactful but also done with care, inclusion, and integrity.
What Richard’s Journey Reminds Us To Do:
- Cherish first impressions: sometimes the first meeting teaches us more than we expect.
- Take on roles: leadership is often built one step at a time; each responsibility helps us grow.
- Overcome adversity: early life setbacks do not define the end; resilience and effort can shape the future.
- Live in harmony: when beliefs, words, and actions align, service shines brightest.
- Serve both humbly and boldly: humility ensures we stay grounded, boldness ensures we dare to lead change.
In Richard Carlyle Thomas, the Rotary Club of Central Port of Spain has more than a director of Service Projects; they have a living example of what it means to commit, to grow, to contribute, and to lead- all rooted in the idea that true service springs not from prestige, but from purpose.
May all of us be inspired by his journey, and may we each carry forward the Rotary ideals with the same steadfastness, warmth, and heart that Richard displays.