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Histories of Clubs Hosting RI Conventions

Rotary Club of Vienna, Austria - First Club of Austria 1925

Rotary International District 1910

Host of the Rotary International Convention of 1931

 

There are several possible founders of the Rotary Clubs in Vienna, Prague and Budapest, but one name and one club appears in every account .  These names are Frank Molloy (also found at www.earlyleaders.org)and the Doncaster Rotary Club from England.  In the records for Vienna, Molloy is called the ‘Grundungsbeauftrager’  (foundation agent)  and the Doncaster Club the ‘Patenclub’.   It was recorded in the club’s annals that Molly “had been selected by Headquarters to pay a visit to the Continent and to inaugurate the Rotary Clubs of Budapest and Vienna.  It is not clear whether the headquarters was of RI or RIBI.   The charter was presented to Vienna on October 19, 1925 by RI Commissioner Willem de Cock Buning.  Besides Molloy, there were 2 other Doncaster members as well as members from Barnsley and Rotherham.

In 1990 at the re-chartering of the Budapest Club, a brochure told of a large party of British Rotarians, many from Doncaster, attended the inaugural meeting of the Budapest Club on October 30, 1925.   Prague also noted the work of Molloy at their inaugural meeting.

A year later, another group led by Molloy toured Europe visiting the same three clubs and establishing youth exchange and other joint activities.  When Paul Harris attended a major rally of Rotarians in 1928, Dr Hyka a Vice President of the Prague Club was among those who came to meet him.  The Doncaster Club about the same time presented all three clubs with Presidents’ Chairs and Vienna and Prague with Presidents  Jewels.

 
Edited by Basil Lewis from 'The Beginning' the 75th anniversary booklet of the Doncaster RC put together in 1996 by club archivist, Ken Emmott.

 

Pictures of the 5th Rotary Redoute in Vienna on May 24 in the Hofburg, (left) where the Empress of Austria, universally known as Sissi, lived. Today I was informed, that during this charity event € 40,000 were raised and donated to Polio Plus.

The Redoute, organized by the Vienna clubs, takes place in May every year an is attended by a few hundred Austrian Rotarians. It resembles the famous Opernball, but is a smaller, less expensive and more charming event. Unfortunately it has very little international attendance, though your non-Rotarian friends are also welcome. Wolfgang Ziegler

Ballet Dancers The Musicians The Polonaise
Official Crest Beautiful Flowers Franz Joseph
a Waiter Eva and Dr. Ziegler  
 
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