Montevideo - Uruguay.

President, Rotary International

1953-1954

Joaquin Serratosa Cibils is President of Rotary International for 1953-54. He is President of the firm of Serratosa & Castells, S.A., of Montevideo, representatives in Uruguay for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Export Company, Westinghouse Electric International Company, and other North American and European companies. He was born in Montevideo and was educated at the University of Uruguay.

Mr. Serratosa Cibils has been a member of the Rotary Club of Montevideo since 1921 and is a Past President of that Club. He has served Rotary International as Vice-President, District Governor and as chairman and member of numerous committees.

Since becoming President of Rotary International on July 1, 1953, Mr. Serratosa Cibils has traveled around the world, visiting Rotary Clubs in more than 20 countries. Among the many honors he has received are decorations from Chile, Ecuador, Lebanon, Peru and Syria.

Mr. Serratosa Cibils is a member of the International Olympic Committee, and its delegate in Uruguay, Chairman of the Uruguayan Commission to Combat Tuberculosis and Cancer, and a Director of the Italian Bank of Uruguay.

He has served as Chairman of the Import and Export Commission of Uruguay, President of the Commercial' Association Uruguay, member of the Inter-American Commission of Commerce and Production, and a Directory of the League of Cultural Relations between Uruguay and the U.S.A.

From Rotary International,

35 East Wacker Drive,

Chicago 1, Ill., U.S.A..

March 1954.

Joseph A. Caulder

Remembers

JOAQUIN SERRATOSA CIBILS

Another fine representative from South America. He comes from that great little country of Uruguay which is recognized by all South American people as having the best and most stable government in South America. It is sandwiched in between big rich Brazil (Portuguese) and Argentina which is very large and very rich in natural resources but has a unstable government.

Uruguay has not a natural resource except a lot of good land and a hard working frugal people. This government has been "Anti Christian" or perhaps "anti denominational" but still has honesty in public life as a fundamental principle.

Montevideo is surely one of the world's most modern and beautiful cities. I spent a full day with Joaquin in February 1956 and one only has to have lunch with him at his club to realize how popular he is in his home city.

Once again, and as usual, Rotary had chosen an outstanding citizen and one who has contributed much to his country to head its world organization. Uruguay with scant resources has very advanced social laws with free hospital and medical care for all and liberal pensions after a citizen has worked 50 years. Of course, as always, it is not free but everyone is sure of the best of care regardless of social standing and illiteracy is unknown in this fine South American country.

J.A.C.