Berta Navarro de Clascá

Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing series profiling the Board members of ReCII, a new kind of Rotary eClub led by professionals - many of whom had never set foot in Rotary before stepping into leadership.

Each piece offers a candid look behind the scenes: the responsibilities, the surprises, the challenges, and the deeply human rewards. It’s written in the hope that others might see a little of themselves in these stories - and feel encouraged to take their own step forward.

Today we hear from Berta, our Club Treasurer  -  who took on the fine print, the paperwork, and the countless quiet hours needed to bring ReCII to life.

ReCII – Where Every Contribution Counts

Berta Navarro de Clascá

When I agreed to become the Treasurer of ReCII, I thought I knew what I was signing up for: 

• keep the accounts updated, 

• manage budgets, 

• and make sure everyone - members and club alike - pays their dues.

And that’s exactly what it’s been.

Numbers don’t change much. Whether a club is brand new or a century old, someone still has to balance the books.

But building a new Rotary club from scratch? That’s where things got interesting.

The real challenge wasn’t the math. It was meeting so many new people, each bringing different ways of thinking, different ways of doing. Navigating that meant keeping an open mind (and occasionally keeping my inner OCD tendencies on a very short leash!)

In the same breath, the best part has also been the people. The connections. Watching a group of complete strangers come together and start shaping something real. A club that actually does things.

Looking back, I wouldn’t say I’ve contributed anything grand.
I showed up.
I shared my opinions.
I kept the numbers moving in the right direction.

But I’m proud - especially of the projects we’re bringing to life.

The Hirschsprung Project holds a special place for me.

Hirschsprung disease is a congenital condition that affects the large intestine and can cause serious digestive challenges throughout life. For teenagers living with the condition, the physical complications are made even harder by the normal pressures of adolescence  -  rapid body changes, growing social expectations, and the demands of finishing school and building a future.

Through ReCII, we’ve been raising funds to offer young people psychological support during this critical time  -  helping them navigate not just the medical side of their condition, but the emotional and social hurdles that come with it.

Seeing the difference we've already made for these teenagers is something I’m deeply proud of. It’s a project I hope to be part of for many years to come.

I’m also excited about Proyecto Juntos, and the work we’ve started supporting through El Descanso del Guerrero  -  The Warrior’s Rest.

Proyecto Juntos is a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for chronically or terminally ill children and their families across Spain, including here in Ibiza. 

One of their most beautiful initiatives, The Warrior’s Rest, offers therapeutic respite stays for these families and their children.

Instead of hospital rooms and endless appointments, these families are given the chance to spend time together in joyful, healing - normal life! - settings across Ibiza and Formentera. 

It’s about creating positive memories at a time when they are needed most.

Through ReCII, we’ve been helping raise funds for this project  -  organising events like solidarity wine tastings, networking gatherings, and partnering with local businesses and cultural organisations.  

I hope we’ll start seeing even greater results as our collaboration with Proyecto Juntos grows.

This year has taught me a few things.

I’m not a natural leader - but it turns out I’m pretty good at organising and working inside a team. That’s not something I would have said about myself a year ago. It feels good to discover.

If I had any advice for someone stepping into Rotary leadership for the first time?
It’s simple: listen with an open mind.

As we move forward, my hope is to see even more member and associate involvement in our projects  -  and to build more momentum around fundraising activities.

We’re already an incredibly active club, especially for our first year. But with so many project teams moving at once, making sure events don’t clash has been a real challenge. Understandably, we've often erred on the side of caution.

I believe that as our confidence and scheduling grow, we’ll find ways to move faster and capture more of the opportunities that come our way  -  without losing the care and thoughtfulness that make ReCII what it is.

As for me?
I’ll keep doing what I can: working on the Hirschsprung Project, backing Proyecto Juntos, and hopefully finding a few new projects along the way to keep helping however I can.

Berta Navarro de Clascá
Treasurer,
ReCII, 2024–25