Rotary - District Croatia

Rotarians promote tolerance, friendship and peace

Rotarian movement, founded in 1905, represents a mini model of a peaceful world which could serve as an example to all nations. "Rotarians believe that it is possible to achieve what each person yearns for, like tolerance, friendship and world peace.” With these words Paul P. Harris, the Rotary’s founder described the purpose and actions of the huge Rotarian family. The Statute of the Rotary Club Zagreb, first Croatian Rotary Club in the Republic of Croatia and a member of Rotary International defines that “the purpose of all Rotarians is readiness to help other people in everyday life”, which is achieved by:

1.) cherishing friendship;

2.) following high ethical principles in private and professional life and taking actions of importance for the entire community;

3.) developing responsibility in private, professional and public life of all Rotarians;

4.) cherishing mutual understanding and promoting peace among all nations in the world, united in the world community of specialists guided by the idea of serving” (Statute, cl. III, 1- 4).

Serve others without personal gain is not just a Rotarian motto but also the characteristic of the ring connecting today more than a million of Rotarians in 25,000 clubs in 160 countries of the world. To this great family belongs from 1990 also Croatia with its first Rotary Club Zagreb, founded after Croatian people had voted in democratic elections its freedom and independent Republic of Croatia. Today, Croatian Rotarian family is active in almost all major towns of the Republic of Croatia. During aggression on the Republic of Croatia Rotarians organised a series of humanitarian and charity activities for the benefit of refugees and children who in the Homeland War lost both parents. Although each Rotarian has private reasons for his/her religious and political view of life, it is still expected from Rotarians to be faithful patriots and openly uphold their religious belief.

Rotarian movement was initiated on 23 February 1905 when Paul Harris, a young attorney, met in Chicago with three of his friends: Silvester Schiele, coal dealer, Gustav E. Loehr, mining engineer, and Hiram Shorey, tailor, and founded the association of business people connected by friendship and readiness to help in their field of specialisation. The meetings were held each time at somebody else’s place. They began to rotate and thus the club got its name - Rotary Club. The four founders were of American, German, Swedish and Irish origin and belonged to protestant, catholic and Jewish religion. First Rotary Club had 30 members. The new association soon found many enthusiastic supporters in America and in Europe and then also in other parts of the world. The first Rotary Convention took place in 1910 in Chicago in the presence of 16 clubs. The idea of service is expressed in the motto “He Profits Most Who Serves Best” and “Service Above Self” and became official Rotarian motto which was also confirmed at the Convention in Detroit in 1950. First Rotarian periodical "The Rotarian" links today all the Rotarians in the world, and it was first published in 1911. During their history the Rotarians were present everywhere where people needed help. Thus, 50 Rotarians participated at the founding conference of the United Nations in 1945 and in the first 12 years 5 Rotarians were UN general secretaries.

The symbol of Rotary clubs is the moving wheel symbolising civilisation and constant movement contained in the saying of the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclites “panta rhei” (everything flows). Rotarians are forerunners of some later founded and similar clubs such as: Kiwanis (1915), Lions (1917) and Optimist (1919). Rotarians also laid foundations for some other world organisations: “The International Society for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Children” (1922), today "Rehabilitation International" and UNESCO.

Today, Rotary International is a world organisation of prominent individuals from professional, business and cultural life, dedicated to human goals, who appreciate high ethical principles in public and private activities. Rotary Club Zagreb was founded in 1926, it was abolished by the government decree of the Independent Croatian State in 1941 and from 1945 to 1990 their activities were also prohibited since the clubs with such ideas were considered decadent and unnecessary in the society which allegedly was building socialism and communism. Rotary Club Zagreb was again founded on 29 April 1990 and together with Rotary Clubs in many Croatian towns today successfully develops its activities.

Juraj Kolarić