Interview with Founding President Saeko Hamada

In this episode we sit down with the Founding President of the Rotary Club Marbella Cosmopolitian International, Saeko Hamada. She explains her vision for the club from the beginning, Rotary International's focus this year on creating lasting impact, and provides insight into the club's Summer Gala. The summer gala is taking place on September 5, 2026 at the iconic Puente Romano.

What Gives You Hope?

https://www.instagram.com/professorastrel?igsh=YmV5cDg4YWtqb3Z6

https://www.instagram.com/rotaryclubmarbellacosmopolitan?igsh=MWQyN2N1ZW5laHZ3Yw==

Support in 2026-2027 from RCMCI includes recipients:

 https://www.instagram.com/fundacioncudeca?igsh=b3d6cHJ4bHRidGlm

https://www.instagram.com/asociacion_principito?igsh=cnJqNXM1d2xicmlk

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:03

I'm here with the founding president of

Introduction

Speaker 1 0:08

Rotary Club Marbella Cosmopolitan International, the accomplished Saeko Hamada. Thank you so much for joining me, Saeko.

Speaker 0:19

Thank you for having me.

Speaker 1 0:21

I am excited to sit down and see what you have planned for this year as the seated membership chair.

Plans for Membership in 2026-2027

Speaker 1 0:33

We have already grown seven plus in the first Actually going to be ten plus. Ten plus all right. So watching the growth of the club and the impact it's had in the community and projects in the past and looking at creating lasting impact for this year's theme. Tell me what does that mean to you?

What does Creating Lasting Impact Mean?

Speaker 1:00

Lasting impact. Creating lasting impact was kind of my theme for our club since we inaugurated. I was not thinking about the first year, second year. I was uh already making the plan for fifth year, tenth year, twenty years here, and the next 50 years. Yes. Uh at least until I retired, uh, I wanted to establish this club and hand over to younger members to continue our legacy. That was my plan from the start. And this is our sixth anniversary year, and uh all our members, uh, including founding members who support us since the beginning, and then new young members uh with full of motivation, willingness, and we learn so much from young people too. Uh, we are so happy now. We have this harmony, very happy uh harmony that we can say anything at the meeting that each one of us we can share our idea and opinion. That's exact uh that this is the exact club that I wanted to create for the future of Rotary.

Speaker 1 2:21

Wow, and it's a small but mighty club with a great growth trajectory. So what do you hope to accomplish with this new blood?

Speaker 2:31

Well, uh as I said, this is the sixth year,

The Future of the Club

Speaker 2:35

so it's been building up from the first year, and each one of you as a member, you bring the people that you are trust. So um obviously we trust the word of our member, and uh that's why we are meeting, uh, especially the participation of the club project, the charity project, we get to know the people who are really interested in making better changes in the world. So I think each one of us contributing in this, not only one person, each one of us, the member, bringing the people who share the same thought and the same priority in our life.

Speaker 1 3:20

Amazing. So we are about a month or so away, a little a little more than a month or so away from this year's summer gala. And I can't help but notice some new names on the sponsorship list. Can you tell me about some of these new sponsors that have come to support and build with you in the community?

2026-2027 Summer Gala Sponsors

Speaker 3:42

Yes, there are so many of them. So obviously I cannot uh mention every name, but uh we had the pleasure of sitting down with uh Royal Maison. Yes, yes, yes.

Speaker 1 3:54

Tell me about your partnership with them.

Sponsor Royal Maison

Speaker 3:57

Well, uh again, a Royal Maison, Empire de Banus, being introduced by one of our members, and uh they have uh 20 uh sorry 250 years of history in their country. So this is uh I think uh one of the first shops that they they opened in Spain here in Marebeya. So this is a family history was very, very interesting. Um and not only they have a luxury, luxurious item in their shop, they do contribute to the community in their country, Ukraina. So I was very interested to talk to the owner of the shop, the son of the owner, I mean the owner family. So the first things that he said, I'm interested, I mean, I was meeting him as a sponsor, but the first one minute he started to ask me about Rotary, and then he said, I want to be a part of Rotary, I want to be a Rotarian because my family is contributing to the community. We we done so much, my father was always helping the society, so I am interested to be part of so I think that it was meant to be, it was meant to be that they are supporting this gala. So this is not uh only for like they like to to help the charity uh project. I think they want they want to be a part of Rotary.

Speaker 1 5:27

Oh amazing, amazing.

Speaker 5:29

The trajectory, the

Sponsor Puente Romano

Speaker 5:31

And then of course Penta Romano, I cannot say the more, I cannot describe even like what benefit that we are receiving every single gala, that the the discount and hospitality and uh everything they do for us, uh I cannot I cannot uh uh thank enough. Oh wow.

Speaker 1 5:52

Wow, wow, wow, such iconic brands um joining the the uh trajectory that that the the group is headed in, uh the club is headed in. Amazing. So every episode ends with the same question, voices the hope, wants to know what gives you hope.

What Gives You Hope?

Speaker 6:13

Actually, when I wake up every morning, I feel thank uh gratitude that I am fine and I can start my life and a day. And especially here in Marabia, we have um great uh nature surround us. I hear the bird singing, sunshine, sea view. Uh this is this gives me our energy, and then also when I see people uh saying hello, good morning, and the people kind to others, uh this gives me a hope, and especially when I meet younger generation, that they are they are caring, they are aware of the the future of our planet, and not only for humans' life, they are uh very conscious about the future of our planet. So I'm very hopeful for our future that I'm quite sure that those young people, many Lotarians, I hope, will be continue uh making this planet in as a better place a better place in the future.

Speaker 1 7:27

Yes, I couldn't agree more. Thank you so much for your time.

Speaker 7:32

Thank you so much.