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Der Rotarian Magazin

For our German “Rotary Magazin”, I have written a few articles, which are also posted on our website.

The main topic of the September issue was “The Underestimated Giant, World-power India”. The editorial, written by our friend and editor of the magazine, Matthias Schütt, reads:

Dear Reader,

When the conflict in the Far East flares up again, it is hard to concentrate on India. […] [but] the production cycle of a monthly paper is too long to react to unforseen developments.

Nevertheless, this issue brings a contribution about the Far East, too, and here it is: In The Rotarian, October, 1944, RIP Richard H. Wells looks back on the difficulties of founding a club in Jerusalem. When Claire Martin tried to found a club in 1928, he was confronted everywhere with scepticism: a Rotary Club is a fine idea, it was said, but in the current racistic atmosphere unfortunately impossible. However, Martin was not discouraged, searched for 15 candidates, informed them about Rotary, and invited them for dinner. This evening, every guest was astonished to find other gentlemen in Martin’s house, citizens like himself, Arabs, Jews, Christians. The host excused himself at first, so everybody was standing around uncomfortably, wondering what will come next. After some embarrassment their natural courtesy began to assert itself; they met each other, introduced themselves, and shook hands. This was the moment their host had been waiting for; he entered the room and declared the first session of the R.C. Jerusalem opened. […]

This story we owe to Wolfgang Ziegler, R.C. Ammersee, who evaluates the issues of The Rotarian from 1911 – 1960 for the Rotary Global History (www.rotaryfirst100.org). The Rotary Magazin has repeatedly profited from his findings – in this issue also on page 8. In addition, this time he has brought a friend with him, Basil Lewis, who with his sophisticated British humor explains to us the variety of Rotary (page 5).

We see these excursions into history of our organization as an enrichment for our Magazin. You too?

Matthias Schütt