The Grand Council of the Independent United Order of Mechanics, Friendly Society of North, Central and South America, Islands of the Seas and the Entire Western Hemisphere, Inc. on Sunday bestowed special honor on Jamaican Karl A. Gayle, naming him “Volunteer of the Year.”
The Grand Council presented a “Certificate of Appreciation” to Gayle, Loyal Perryman #3, Pink Degree, Alpha District Lodge #1, Inc. (NY), during the Council’s Annual Luncheon at the Mechanics World Headquarters on Putnam Avenue in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn.
The Grand Council said the award was “in grateful recognition and appreciation for time, talent, expertise and extraordinary support with repairs at the Mechanics World Headquarters.”
“We salute you as ‘Volunteer of the Year’”, the certificate reads.
Gayle, a Brooklyn resident, who hails from the Parish of Westmoreland in Jamaica, told Caribbean Life afterwards that he was “very grateful for the recognition.”
“It was priceless,” he said. “I’m looking forward to be of service wherever and whenever my service is needed.
“I was overwhelmed with all the warm congratulations I received tonight from brothers and sisters, and even my family gave me a round of applause, when I got home,” Gayle added. “Looking forward to be of service in the future.”
Gayle, 57 – who retired from the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Department at the New York City Transit Authority, after 33 years of service — currently owns his own HVAC business, Linelectrix HVAC Services.
A graduate of George Westinghouse Vocational School, Brooklyn College and New York City Technical College, majoring in electronics, Gayle said he was not initially interested in doing boiler or air conditioning work outside of his day job when Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast.
“(But) I began to help friends and relatives to recover heat and hot water,” said Gayle, who also serves as an elder and head of the Men’s Ministry at Philadelphia Church, and teaches, on YouTube, a 30-day mental diet for PCUB Brooklyn.
“While doing that, neighbors started to approach me for help,” he added. “This is when I decided to start my HVAC business.
“Service is in my blood; my father, the late Hubert Gayle, held the highest office in the Rosicrucian Order,” Gayle continued. “He also was an electrical engineer, who was constantly rebuilding after hurricane damage on the island of Jamaica.”
He said that when he was approached to joined the Mechanics, “someone mentioned that the boiler was not working properly.
“So, I said, ‘let me just take a look,’” Gayle said. “I realized the problem, but I couldn’t fix the problem on the first try. Voltaire once said, ‘No problem can withstand the onslaught of sustained thinking’.
“I downloaded the manual and read it, and realized what needed to be done,” he added. “I don’t like the cold, especially a cold building. So, I went to work to resolve the issue. I must say that I did get a lot of support from my business partner, Gary Morris, and Brother Greene helped with wiring the thermostat.
“We are here on earth for service,” Gayle continued. “It was in my power to do this service. So, I couldn’t, in good conscience, ignore the situation that the Headquarters had no heat.
“As a member of Loyal Perryman Lodge, this was my new home,” said Gayle, who is married to Shirley. The couple has four children: Ashley, Alexandria, Joelle and Solomon. “Your home should be warm and cozy in the winter. I hope more brothers and sisters will be motivated to do even more service.”
Jamaican-born, the Most Worshipful Grand Master, the Rt. Hon. Errol G. Collins, described Gayle as a “very humble brother.”
“In today’s world, it’s very rare that you find human beings who serve other than themselves,” he told patrons. “And, it’s good to show our appreciation to Bro. Gayle. This is a brother who cares.”
Grand Master Collins also thanked Mechanic Shelley Thorpe, a Barbadian-born breast cancer survivor, who decorated the Headquarters.
“We thank you for supporting us in our humble abode,” he told patrons, adding: “I cannot emphasize enough that you do your screening for breast cancer. It might surprise you, but men have breast cancer, too.”
The Rt. Hon, David Williams – the Grenadian-born commissioner and chair of the Resource and Finance Committee, which coordinated the event in conjunction with Sis. Hyacinth Robinson-Goldson, the Jamaican-born community liaison of the Grand Council Executive Committee – also thanked patrons for supporting the gala affair.
“I want you to enjoy yourself and continue to support the Independent United Order of Mechanics,” he said.
Eltion Allen, Grand Deputy Master, New England District Grand Lodge #1, one of the District Grand Jurisdictions in Hartford, Ct., served as Master of Ceremonies.
During the Butler-Style, Cocktail Hour, Grenadian-born saxophonist Brian Hurst entertained patrons with “Roots Rock Reggae”, “She’s Royal”, “Once in My Life”, “Soulful Strut”, “Waterfalls”, “One Love”, “Simply the Best”, “Blank Space” and “Three Little Birds”, among other popular hits.
