Pilot Club of Nassau History

Pilot International was founded and chartered in 1921 in Macon, Georgia and today is one of the classified service clubs for executive, business and professional persons, working together to improve the quality of life in communities throughout the world, by serving those with brain-related disorders and disabilities.

The name Pilot, chosen for its meaning “leader and guide” is symbolized by the riverboat emblem, which represents a steady course. Pilot International has approximately 25,000 adult and youth members worldwide. Members can be found in countries such as The Bahamas, Canada, Japan, Singapore and the United States. Pilot International emphasizes a diversified international membership.

Pilot International has raised millions of dollars in financial support of charities and organizations benefiting brain disorders and disabilities and the Foundation has funded grants to Pilot Clubs to activate the Brain Minders public service campaign in their local communities. The Brain Minders Campaign will expand each year to broaden the educational programmes and public service opportunities and its primary goal is to dramatically decrease the number of brain injuries worldwide.

Sponsored by the Pilot Club of Miami Shores, Florida, the Pilot Club of Nassau received its charter in June, 1974. Sister clubs were established in Freeport, Grand Bahama in May 1979, Marsh Harbour, Abaco in April 1998, Lucaya, Grand Bahama in February, 2002 and South Abaco in May, 2002. The Luncheon Pilot Club of Nassau was established in May 1999 and The Downtown Pilot Club of Nassau in February 2000. Two charter members are still active in the Pilot Club of Nassau, which also has two honorary members, Lady Marguerite Pindling and Lady Zoe Maynard.

For almost thirty years, the Pilot Club of Nassau has been visible in charitable work in The Bahamas. During that time, over forty thousand dollars have been donated to local charities and over one hundred thousand dollars to the Drug Rehabilitation Programme, the Persis Rodgers Home for the Aged, The Princess Margaret Hospital Special Care Baby Unit, Sandilands Outpatients Ward, Eloise Penn Ward and Geriatric Ward, The Bahamas Association for the Disabled, The Cancer Society of The Bahamas, Stapledon School, Drug Action Service, Girls and Boys Industrial Schools, the Bahamas Family Planning Association, BASH, the Ranfurly Home for Children and a number of other homes for children and the elderly, including the Children’s Emergency Hostel, Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home, Tynes House, Unity House, Elder Butler Mission and Sutton Street Home. The Pilot Club of Nassau continues to reach the community by providing food and clothing packages to the needy, as well as donating to the soup kitchens at various churches.

During its tenure, the Pilot Club of Nassau has established Anchor Clubs in six High Schools in New Providence….St. Anne’s, St. Augustines College, C.C. Sweeting, C.R. Walker, Queen’s College and Government High School. Anchor Clubs provide service and leadership opportunities for young people in their schools and communities and members support activities and projects organized by Pilots.

The Pilot Club of Nassau currently has a membership of sixty dedicated women.