ROTARY Club of Bacolod-East president Ma. Anita's Antonette "Marinette" Torrejon urged her fellow Rotarians to help her stir the ship of Rotary service as she believes that the head cannot move without its body.
She said this during her inaugural address at the 37th Induction of Officers, Directors and new members held at Quedan Room, Sugarland hotel, July 20, succeeding immediate Past President Philip Araneta.
Torrejon said, "I cannot be as effective without your help and support. Let us come together as a team because together, we can achieve more. Let us initiate positive influence among each other and resonate it to our community so that our club will be able to reach the world," she said.
Former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael Lito Coscolluela who served as guest speaker urged the Easterners to expand their sense of community involvement to governance.
"It's time for Rotary to begin thinking what is standing in the horizon. To begin thinking what government is doing. You are doing your share in helping other people and that's very laudable. But I think it is not enough because you are the one making a difference and someone who has the influence. Let us create a civil society that is informed and assertive and can influence how the government is run because ultimately, their decision will affect all of us," he said.
He added, "Let Rotary continue with its present role and let it expand and consider the possibility of influencing the way this country is run. And the only way you can do it is to be informed and be assertive from your end."
Moreover, the other RCBE officers and directors include Elsie Jolingan, Vice President; Sonya Verdeflor, Secretary; Alberto Rafael Arceo, III, Treasurer; Philip Araneta, Immediate Past President; Ramon Delariarte, Protocol Officer and Rafael Simon Golez, Club Trainer.
The Directors are: Atty. Belinda Siason - Villa, Club Administration; Jose Lizael Lampines, Membership; Carla Cañet, Public Relations; Dr. Benjamin Souribio, Service Projects; Ricardo Albayda, The Rotary Foundation and Jesreel Maglucot.
The Rotary Exchange Students both inbound and outbound as well as rebounds also attended the induction rites.
For the rebounds (those who were outbound in Rotary Year 2018-19 and have returned were Avi Arceo who went to France, Gio Octaviano to Switzerland, Ali Antonio to Spain.
Outbounds for Rotary Year 2019-20 are Aman Arceo to Germany, Myza Bantug to Spain, Matthew Tsai to Germany.
And the inbounds are Marta Lutzkendorf from Germany, Vincent Woggon from Germany, Helena Gelabert from Spain.