![\"Jamaican-born](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_1499-rotated-e1787244978664.jpg\")
Jamaican-born Right Hon. Errol Collins, Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Order, addresses event.Nelson A. King<\/p>\nThe Brooklyn-headquartered Independent United Order of Mechanics, Friendly Society, Western Hemisphere, Inc. (IUOM) held its day-long, annual Family Day Picnic at the picturesque Glen Island State Park in New Rochelle on Saturday, Aug. 8.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe weather is perfect,\u201d said Hon. Herald Saunders, Sr., the Jamaican-born District Grand Master of the Composite District Grand Lodge #2 and host for the 2026 Family Day Picnic, sponsored by the IUOM Executive Committee of Grand Council.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a wonderful time last year\u201d, said Saunders in welcoming members of the Order, families and friends, who attended the event decked out in their district colors. \u201cRight Hon. Errol Collins, (Jamaican-born) Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Order, has seen it fit to have Composite District as the host once again for this annual affair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year, we have lots of games, trophies, medallions and other prizes, and surprises for the young and the young at heart,\u201d he added. \u201cWe want you to enjoy the day, the food, the music, (and) meet and greet the brothers and sisters and their families \u2013 those whom we have not seen for a long time \u2013 and let us have a real fellowship.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Glen Island Park said on its website that it is now a 105-acre waterfront recreational area, with a \u201crich history\u201d dating back to the late 19th century. Originally part of a larger 130-acre site, created by merging the main island with fill areas, Glen Island Park said it was once one of the first theme parks in the United States.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Saunders said members from all five District Grand Jurisdictions in New York City attended the event and supported it by appointing members from their jurisdiction to serve on the planning committee.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Besides himself, Saunders said those present were Jamaican-born District Grand Master Sylvester Gibson of Alph District Grand Lodge #1; Panamanian-born District Grand Master Federico Beaumont of the Ben Hur District Grand Lodge #1; and Guyanese-born District Grand Master Hon. Myrthland Ince of Brooklyn District Grand Lodge #1.<\/p>\n
Saunders said Hon. Kenneth Ponder, the Panamanian-born District Grand Master of King Solomon District Grand Lodge, was absent because of family matters.\n<\/p>\n
Members of the Planning Committee included Hon. Eddie Radix, the Grenadian-born chairman, who noted that members were \u201cclearly identified\u201d in white T-shirts, with the Order\u2019s logo \u201cvividly imprinted.\u201d<\/p>\n
In thanking Planning Committee members, Saunders said they extended themselves \u201cbeyond the call of duty,\u201d making special mention of the sisters, Wilkie, Charles, Robinson-Goldson, and Hodges-Griffin.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Rt. Hon. Glenver Jones, the Jamaican-born Grand Deputy Master of the Order, commended Saunders for planning another Family Day event.\n<\/p>\n
Jones said he looked forward to enjoying himself, as always.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems as if the gathering this year is much bigger than last year, as we have three buses coming in from Brooklyn,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Collins said, \u201cIt has always been a pleasure to take time out to fellowship with fraternal brothers and sisters, their families and friends.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel a sense of gratitude knowing that, during this administration, we have been able to consistently host this Family Day for our brothers and sisters, families and friends to enjoy,\u201d he said, lauding\u00a0Saunders and the other District Grand Masters of the New York Metropolitan area.<\/p>\n
Jamaican-born Right Hon. Errol Collins, Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Order, addresses event.Nelson A. King<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel very proud to share this day with you all, as this is the last family day for the current administration of the Executive Committee of Grand Council,\u201d Collins added, urging members to begin planning for the next triennial international convention to be held in Belize in October.<\/p>\n
\u201cMay you and your family and friends all have a wonderful day, and may the Great Geometrician of the Universe continue to bless and keep us all,\u201d he continued.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mouth-watering Caribbean dishes \u2014 including roast breadfruit and saltfish, barbecue and jerk chicken, rice and peas, spinach and carrot rice, and souse \u2014 were\u00a0 served from the Community Table headed by St. Lucian-born Sis. Cynthia Wilkie, Grenadian-born Sis. Jerrel Radix and Wendy Charles.<\/p>\n
Adults and children participated in several activities, including Sack Race, Egg and Spoon, Track and Field, Hula Hoop, Domino and the \u201cBig Belly Man\u201d contest.<\/p>\n
Hon. Federico Beaumont of the Ben Hur District Grand Lodge #1 again won the District Grand Master\u2019s Walk.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
An added attraction and the most popular game this year was \u201cWhere is My Tail.\u201d In this game, adults and children participants were blindfolded, while they tried to identify the donkey\u2019s tail with a number, dancing to wide musical genres played by Grenadian-born Bro. Wayne Augustine, owner of \u201cMaster Mix Gus.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Hyacinth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_1489.jpg\")
Hyacinth Robinson-Goldson, right, gives direction to a participant in the game, \u201cFind the Donkey\u2019s Tail.\u201dNelson A. King<\/p>\n
They included pop, rock, hip hop, R&B, jazz, salsa, reggae, calypso and African music.<\/p>\n
Sisters Wilkie and Radix, members of the Order, once again won the Domino competition, receiving trophies donated by Hon. Irving Turtin of the Brooklyn District Grand Jurisdiction and Hon. Anthony Bonnett of the Alpha District Grand Jurisdiction.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Second Runners Up in the Domino Tournament, Venerable Fred Bob and Ms. Hernias, guest of Venerable Cardew, received trophies donated by Hon. and Sis. Hector Hemans of Brooklyn and Composite District Grand Lodge #2 and Hon. Marlon Madden, also of Composite District Grand Lodge #2.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Venice Brydson, non-member of the Order and wife of Hon. Michael Brydson, district Grand Deputy Master of Alpha District Grand Lodge #1, received a special presentation.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Venice](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_1508-rotated-e1787245067105.jpg\")
Venice Brydson, right, non-member of the Order and wife of Hon. Michael Brydson, district Grand Deputy Master of Alpha District Grand Lodge #1, receives a special presentation from Hon. Herald Saunders, Sr., the Jamaican-born District Grand Master of the Composite District Grand Lodge #2 and host for the 2026 Family Day Picnic, and Hyacinth Robinson-Goldson, the Jamaican-born IUOM Community Liaison Officer.Nelson A. King<\/p>\n
In making the presentation, Saunders thanked Mrs. Brydson for assisting, for the second year, Sis. Robinson-Goldson in coordinating the games and activities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour skills would do well in our organization,\u201d he said, urging her to consider becoming a member of the Order.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Winners and participants in the games and other activities were presented with trophies and medallions. Presentations were made by members of the IUOM Executive Committee of Grand Council.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is great! I am having so much fun,\u201d exclaimed the grandson of guest Charmaine Williams, who drove from Brooklyn with her two daughters and granddaughter. \u201cLook \u2014 I won two medallions!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Children also received free give-a-ways of back-to-school supplies.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was another labor of love,\u201d Robinson-Goldson, the Jamaican-born IUOM Community Liaison Officer, told Caribbean Life about the Family Day. \u201cEvery year, we try to incorporate additional games to enhance and improve our activities.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Hyacinth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_1511.jpg\")
Hyacinth Robinson-Goldson, the Jamaican-born IUOM Community Liaison Officer, right, front, with recipients of trophies and medallions with their children.Nelson A. King<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year, I think the most enjoyable ones were the \u2018Big Belly Man Contest\u2019 and \u2018Find the Donkey\u2019s Tail,\u2019\u201d she added. \u201cThis is the Order\u2019s way of giving back to our community and expressing our gratitude to the families and friends who have supported us throughout the year.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel very grateful to my brothers and sisters, who have stepped in this year as sponsors of some of our trophies and medallions,\u201d Robinson-Goldson continued. \u201cMy thanks and appreciation to the committee members who have made sacrifices and commitments during the planning and execution of this event.\u00a0 It is truly a team effort.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The IUOM is a 269-year-old international fraternal organization, with branches in 28 countries, including the US (primarily in New York, Florida, Connecticut and Massachusetts), Canada, England, Holland, Suriname, Jamaica, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, St. Lucia, Belize and Cayman Islands.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Brooklyn-headquartered Independent United Order of Mechanics, Friendly Society, Western Hemisphere, Inc. (IUOM) held its day-long, annual Family…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":325968,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[98,100,99,9,24,63],"class_list":["post-325967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-brooklyn","tag-brooklyn","tag-brooklyn-headlines","tag-brooklyn-news","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/325967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=325967"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/325967\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/325968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=325967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=325967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=325967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}