Yasef Romano with his partners

Yasef Romano with his partners. I was born on August 6th, 1938. I did not go to preschool. My mother took care of me. My first education was in the Ismet Pasha elementary school where I was president for 30 years. The name of the school was later changed to Shehit Asim school. I finished junior high and highschool in Edirne highschool. All were public schools. I loved social studies, history and geography most. I hated physics. I did my national service in Denizli during 1959-60. While I was in the military, I got engaged on May 27th, 1960. I returned to Edirne in 1962. Before I left for the military, I was working in my father's business. I got married and started working. I took over the business which was the sale of auto tires in 1962 completely. I still do this work. We also had a franchise for Mobil. Later my father retired. I started in the Rotary in 1977 to be of service and I am still continuing to serve. I became the founder of Edirne Rotary club. We started it with 20-25 people. When the Rotary was going to be founded in Edirne in 1977, I did not know what Rotary was. I had an older mentor, he is a lawyer. The attorney Altinel, my dear Yasef, we will take you into the Rotary, they said. We are creating it, we will take you into the founders, he said. I said let me read about its philosophy. Don't read at all, he said, let's make you a member first, you will read later. I entered without knowing, after starting it I read about its philosophy, I was really very happy. I became a secretary after it was established. I served as secretary for 13 years which can be a world record. After becoming president, I became assistant to the governor. And I am still continuing. I have been working actively since I started. This year, 2005-2006, I see as my "Golden Year". I will serve not only Edirne but all of Thrace. The biggest project in my life is establishing a center for disabled children. It was established with the name "Edirne Therapy Center for Mentally and Physically Disabled Children". You might say, what relationship do you have with disabled people. I am very socially active in Edirne.