Irmgard bids a Fond Farewell
Her life with Rotary is Leading her to Ecuador

Posted by Laurie Johnson

Embarking on a new chapter in her life, Irmgard LaFrentz said a fond but sad "Goodbye" to Cupertino Rotary at our meeting on November 30. Irmgard has closed her business here and is moving to Ecuador in early December.

A Cupertino Rotarian since 2007, Irmgard leadership of the Club Youth Exchange program led her to helping exchange student Carolina Tamariz Malo from Ecuador in 2011. This led to a friendship with Carolina's family family. Over the last five years they have visited with Irmgard here in the Bay Area and she has visited them in Ecuador.

The Tamariz Malo family introduced Irmgard to Cuenca, their beautiful city in Ecuador highlands. For Irmgard, with a need for something new and an energetic and extremely curious outlook, the connection is an opportunity to build a new chapter in her life.

She will be staying with Carolina's family initially as she continues learning Spanish and acclimates to her new life. She will then move into her own apartment.

Irmgard hopes to join a local Cuenca Rotary Club that accepts women and connect the community of American expats there with volunteer opportunities in orphanages, schools, and to help eliminate poverty. She is excited to enjoy a slower pace of life and to immerse herself in a new culture.

She promised to stay in touch and give us updates. You will be missed, Irmgard!