The newly elected president of the Pembroke Rotary Club said increasing membership is his top priority.

Donato Sgobba assumed the role June 26 at the yearly handover meeting but officially became the president July 1.

Mr. Sgobba was born in the Southeastern Italian town of Bari but has been in Bermuda for 25 years with his Bermudian wife Beverly and 19-year-old son, Christopher.

A Rotarian since 2000, Mr. Sgobba explained in order to become president, you have to be nominated and serve as vice president and president elect before taking the head job. He stressed the important of increasing club membership. "In order to have a healthy and productive club and club life, you need a good base of members and therefore we are trying to increase our membership. I am trying to build on what the former president, George Cubbon, started last year," he said.

Some of the projects the club is involved in include the IT Quiz which will take place at CedarBridge Academy in October. Mr. Sgobba said a past president Allan Payling is also responsible for it.