Last Thursday, June 20, 2024, the Rotary Club Sevilla International held its traditional Collar Change Dinner at the prestigious Real Club de Golf de Sevilla. The evening, which brought together around 30 people, was a true success, with attendance from members of other Rotary clubs and some special guests. Among them, the presence of Miguel Guevara, the Consul General of El Salvador, was notable.
The event was presided over and coordinated by Fran Guillén, who presented the club’s pennant to Consul Guevara as a token of friendship and strengthening ties with El Salvador. He also named and pinned Manuel Pozo, President of the Mar Pozo For a Child’s Smile Association, as an honorary Rotarian, recognizing his invaluable contribution to the community.
The event continued with an emotional Fran Guillén reviewing the Rotary year under his leadership, highlighting the work done for cordiality, friendship, and fun in the club, which have driven numerous projects carried out by the club, as well as the increase in the number of members. He also thanked his outgoing board, consisting of Vice President Luis Prieto, Secretary Rafael Casal, Sergeant-at-Arms Ana Garrido, and Treasurer Sebastián Morales, who each briefly thanked their time in office. Notably, Secretary Rafael Casal mentioned that the club had received the Rotary citation for achieving the goals set during the year for the first time.
The ceremony continued with the solemn handover of the presidential collar to Sebastián Morales, who will assume the presidency of the club from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. In his acceptance speech, Morales expressed his commitment to continuing the club’s flagship projects, such as collaboration with the Mar Pozo Foundation and support for the AFAR Association, as well as the continuation of the Impact Mentors impact business accelerator, along with the initiation of new projects. He also announced his new board, which will include Fran Guillén as Vice President, Gerardo Martínez as Secretary, Sara Soriano as Sergeant-at-Arms, and Francisco Martín as Treasurer.
The atmosphere of the night was one of camaraderie and joy. The post-ceremony gathering covered various topics of interest, featuring a presentation by Rafael Casal on the recent activities of the Beatriz Galindo La Latina Institute, which promotes the union among Hispanic peoples.
The evening continued with lively karaoke and dancing, where jokes and fun extended well into the night, closing an unforgettable event that reinforced the bonds of friendship and collaboration among attendees.
From the Rotary Club Sevilla International, we thank all participants and especially our special guests for making this Collar Change Dinner a memorable night. We look forward to a Rotary year full of successes under the leadership of Sebastián Morales!
