Her name is Marge Aberásturi, and she is the Rotary Club of Ibaan’s Hope Creating President.
She is also known on cyber as The Happy WAHM.
And if you ask ChatGPT, this is what it has to say….
Far from being “popular” and a “notable figure,” Marge leads a simple and happy life with his husband of 24 years and three children, one of whom is also a Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow like her mom.
She’s a happy, and fulfilled, work-at-home, homeschooling mom. She was pushed to become a WAHM after her third child was born prematurely.
Before she became a WAHM, she worked as a middle management executive in a conglomerate. She rose from the ranks and became a regional manager for credit management in a telecommunications company. Her goal was to be the division’s next vice president, but God has better plans.
Her son is now 18 years old, and she’s still very much passionate about the career that she started right beside his crib.
She usually works at home, but she’s also been known to work outside the doctor’s office, in the car, at the piano teacher’s house, and in restaurants.
As a Virtual Assistant with an entrepreneurial mindset, Marge is resilient, resourceful, and solutions-oriented. She sees challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, and what really keeps her going is knowing her “why.”
Her road to presidency is not what the usual presidents take, as she details in her inaugural address.
But Marge is committed to make it work, knowing that she has the support of her husband and their three children.
Her four words for 2023 will carry her through her term to 2024:
- Connection
- Creation
- Gratitude
- Service
Thank you, my favorite middlechild, for the introduction.
Good afternoon, fellow Rotarians! Protocol observed.
I stand before you today with a heart filled with gratitude and apprehension, humbled by the trust bestowed upon me as the Hope Creating President of the Rotary Club of Ibaan.
I am grateful for the confidence you have in my capability to lead, but apprehensive in the most part because you see, mine is not the usual journey that one takes to a Rotary Club presidency.
In Rotary, you first get to be elected as a president nominee designate. After a year, you get elevated to become the president nominee. Then on the third year, you become the president elect. Only on the fourth year will you get the honor of finally becoming the leader of your club.
So each president has 3 years of preparation, in mind, body, and finances.
I was given 7 months.
It was a week before the PrePETS when I was cajoled (or should I say budoled?) by past presidents Allan Caringal, Gilbert Kalalo and Rodel Abogne to accept the president elect position from our then sitting president elect, twice past president Cesar Marasigan, who expressed his desire to relinquish the position to someone younger.
With the promise and commitment that they will contribute to The Rotary Foundation if I accept the position, I directed them to talk to my husband.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, my husband readily agreed.
So here I am, and believe you me, PP Allan, PP Gilbert, I will collect on those promises.
Your confidence is not just a validation of my commitment to this incredible global organization but also a testament to the inherent potential for growth and progress we have as a collective.
Let us not forget the foundation upon which our club stands: “Service Above Self.” These three words are not just our motto; they are the pillars that have guided us for over a century. It’s about looking beyond ourselves and understanding the true value of giving. The endeavors we undertake, the projects we set out to complete, are all driven by this guiding principle.
We are a global network of neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. And as your Hope Creating President, it is my duty and my honor to lead us towards this vision, to create hope in the world.
During my term, I intend to further our commitment to creating a positive and lasting impact. I believe that every small step we take today will lead to a significant change tomorrow. With that in mind, I would like to express my support to the district’s goals and thrusts, beginning with its legacy project for the Rotary Year 2023 to 2024, which is to develop sustainable income generating projects in and for the community. Our club’s projects will also give heavier focus on community and economic development, basic education and literacy, maternal and child health, environment, and disease prevention and treatment, but we will not neglect our commitment to peace and conflict prevention, and water, sanitation and hygiene.
In the spirit of our four-way test, we will approach every project with integrity and strive to build goodwill and better friendships.
Moreover, we will seek to strengthen our partnerships and collaborations, both locally and internationally. We will engage more fully with the community around us, building relationships based on mutual respect and understanding. We will strive to be a club that is known not just for its deeds but also for its heart.
The world around us is continually changing, and we must be ready to evolve with it. To this end, we will strive to leverage the latest technologies and innovative ideas, ensuring our projects remain relevant and impactful.
This club is built on the hard work and dedication of each of its members. And so, I invite you all to join me in this endeavor. I encourage you to share your ideas, to volunteer your time, and to actively participate in our projects. Let us work together, let us learn together, and let us serve together.
I want to conclude by saying, being chosen as your president is an immense honor. I promise to serve with dedication, to lead with integrity, and to always keep the principles of our great Rotary Club at the heart of everything I do.
Here’s to a fruitful year ahead, filled with service, friendship, and impact. Together, we can create hope in the world.
To my family, thank you for the love and support. Jojo, you are the wind beneath my wings. You are my number one fan and you are my perfect pair. Without you, I can’t do all the things I’m doing. Xia, Bea, Jude… thank you for rolling with all the punches. You know I love you to GN Z11, with a few trips round and back.
To everyone here tonight, thank you, and good evening.