BRIDGE OF THE IYFR
PLASTIC FREE WATERS OPERATION
The Operation PLASTIC FREE WATERS is being promoted by the thousands of Rotarian Mariners from around the world, members of the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians, who, passionate of navigation on lakes, rivers and seas around the Planet, are very concerned about the conditions of the waters on which they carry out their activities
In 2019, IYFR formed a combined Task Force to combat pollution caused by plastic waste. It is a complex operation that sees the three IYFR Areas in action under the aegis of IYFR International Commodore Robert Burns. Each Area has its own organization but the strategic plan is only one, as one only is the Coordination of the Plastic Free Waters Operation, entrusted to the Past International Commodore Sergio Santi.
The Bridge of the Project is composed of six Rotarians, Members, or Mariners as they like to call themselves, of the IYFR, constantly assisted by a Staff composed of Scientists, Technicians, Chemists, Oceanographers, Legal Experts, Industrialists and very expert Sailors. Their personal and professional experiences are very different, but they are all very concerned about the extent and dangerousness of the plastic waste pollution for the planet’s waters. Hence the common desire to contribute to the transition to a world where the use of plastic is responsibly contained, and where its waste no longer constitutes a threat to the whole humanity.
SERGIO SANTI
Graduated in the Italian Naval Academy in Leghorn Italy. Flight training in Pensacola (Fla) USA. US Naval Aviator. Italian Naval Aviator and Military Pilot. Commander of Surface Vessels, Air Squadrons and Naval Air Stations as Wing Commander in his 30 years in the NAVY. Sailed in all the seas of the world. In 1988 appointed Captain of the Amerigo Vespucci, the sailing training Ship pride of the Italian Navy. Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy Special Forces and Commodore of their Naval Task Force. Scuba diver, experienced sailor and skipper of sailing and motor yachts.Directed, once retired, naval Shipyards and built yachts in wood and composite materials. Joined Rotary International, President of 2 Rotary Clubs, PHF + 8. Secretary of DG2030 and Assistant to 3 District Governors. Founder of the IYFR NW Italy Fleet in 2007. IYFR International Rear Commodore, International Vice Commodore, and then, from 2013 to 2015, International Commodore Since 2019, International Coordinator of the IYFR International Operation “Plastic Free Waters”.
Sandro D'Onofrio
A career as manager of industrial corporations, mostly in the Oil and Building fields, with long assignments abroad (Brazil, Algeria, Libya, Iraq, Nigeria).
Rotarian since 1999, President of the Club Manfredonia 2009-10, PHF +1, Rotary Benefactor.
IYFR Mariner since 2015, Rear-Commodore Fleet Italy South East.
Sailing instructor, Sailing Expert Lega Navale Italiana, Crew/Helm in sailing regattas, Race Officer of the Italian Sailing Federation, author of Astronomic Positioning course and GMDSS exams manual.
Captain of Leisure Yachts over 24m LOA.
CARLO D'AMORE
AREA 1 COMMODORE 2019-2021
An Italian citizen married to his lovely wife Judyrose and father of 5 children (2 girls and 3 boys). He lives in Spain, where he is the founder and CEO of Enabling Consulting Group, helping start-up companies to build their go-to-market strategy, help them to find financing, etc… He also serves as Board Member in a few Companies.
Carlo d’Amore started his career with Memorex where, during his 18 years reached the position of Managing Director for Spain. He then moved to Compuware where he spent 11 years as Spain’s Country Manager and later as Executive Global Account Director, then joined Bolero International Ltd where he was the Head of Southern Europe for Bolero
Carlo d’Amore holds an Engineering degree, a Masters Degree from Insead in Finance for Non-Finance Directors and another in Marketing from the Instituto de Empresa (Harvard Business School affiliate).
Carlo is an expert Sailor and Skipper of his beautiful 40’ M/S Judyrose berthed in Guardamar. In IYFR he had International Responsibilities as Regional Commodore Iberia and since July 2019 he is the Area1 Commodore ( EMEA) 2019-2021. He served also as Secretary and twice as President of his RC Madrid Norte.
ANGIE MESISTRANO PHF
AREA 2 COMMODORE
INTERNATIONAL REAR COMMODORE 2019-21
2011 entered in Maldonado Rotary Club, Uruguay. District 4980.
Member SATO committee, aide de camp to the RI President Kalyan Banerjee representative, Vice President of International Service Avenue
Rotary District Committee President 2013-2016. Rotary Leadership Institute Uruguay Division, instructor. Secretary and President of Maldonado Rotary Club. District Conference orator 2016 about International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians. District Rotary Fellowships Committee Advisor D 4980. Orator at the 90th District Conference 2017 about the importance of fellowships.
International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians
Angie has been a national champion of racing motorboats gaining a world reputation.
Joined IYFR in Rio de la Plata fleet (2011); in March 2012, Founder Commodore of the Punta del Este Fleet, Fleet Commodore 2012-2014. Godmother of Guayaquil Ecuador Fleet, Chile Puerto Varas Fleet and Cancun Ocean and Sand Fleet. South America Regional Commodore 2014-2017. Regalia Officer Area 2 2013-2014. Honorary E-Fleet World Member. President of the Organizing Committee 2015 IYFR convention Sao Paulo, Brazil. Special Assistant for South America of the IYFR International Commodore 2015-2017. Organizer of first South America Annual General Meeting 2016. Area 2 Commodore (The Americas) 2017-2019. Rotafloat magazine IYFR Editor. Designer of the booth of RI convention in Toronto, Canada. Assistant to Lisbon, Sao Paulo, Atlanta, and Hamburg, RI Conventions. International Rear Commodore 2019-2021.
JESUS E. AVECILLA
AREA 3 COMMODORE
Filipino, born and grew up in the City of Manila, Philippines in 1951, now living in the City of Makati in semi-retirement. Married to Lilia T. Avecilla, blessed with four children and eleven grandchildren. Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering, University of the East, Master of Science in Business Management at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila).
Joined the Rotary Club of Cubao West D-3780 in 2005. He attended his first RI convention in Chicago, where he got introduced and became a member of the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians (IYFR). He was elected Club President in 2009 of the Rotary Club of Cubao West and established the first Fleet in the Philippines, the Cubao West Fleet, to become its first Fleet Commodore. Had a most brilliant career: Regional Commodore after he has established three more fleets shortly thereafter. Area 3 and International Rear Commodore in 2011 and eventually International Commodore in 2015-2017, the first Asian and Filipino to hold the highest IYFR post.
As Rotarian and IYForian, an advocate of Coastal Cleanup and established ICC Philippines www.iccph in Subic Bay. International Coastal Cleanup Philippines is the national coordinator of Ocean Conservancy’s International, the world’s largest volunteer effort for the marine environment. He is presently the Area 3 Coordinator of the Plastic Free Waters Project of the IYFR. A Paul Harris Fellow +7.
An avid and passionate sailor. Skipper of Selma Star, Beneteau First 36.7 based at the Subic Bay Yacht Club. A veteran campaigner in South East Asian and Asian Yachting Circuit, he has numerous victories in both international and local regattas.