International Toast
Dobro verci (Good evening)
Moya ima et Graeme Rogan za Maryborough Rotari Klub Victoria Australia.
(My name is Graeme Rogan of the Maryborough Rotary Club Vic Aust.)
(My name is Graeme Rogan of the Maryborough Rotary Club Vic Aust.)
Nozdravi u Rotari Klub Beograd Metropolitan Serbska Yugoslovenka
(Welcome to the Rotary Club of Belgrade Metropolitan Serbia –Yugoslavia)
(Welcome to the Rotary Club of Belgrade Metropolitan Serbia –Yugoslavia)
Chartered in 1928 in District 77, Rotary Club Belgrade Metropolitan as one of two first founded Rotary clubs in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians (known as the Kingdom of Yugoslavia until 1941.).
Under the Communist Government rule and the effect of war in Europe activities of Rotary in Yugoslavia were closed at the beginning of World War II.
I visited Yugoslavia in 1980 and was amazed that “as a very free” communist country how harsh the actual rule was. Therefore it was much more severe in places like Russia and East Germany etc. countries regarded as true communist.
The club re-established in 1992 after a long period mainly due to the idea of Rotary as a "western" organization were not accepted by the former authorities.
Rotary Club Beograd was registered as a civic association on 7th May 1992 by a decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, and was adopted by Rotary International Board of Directors 8 May of the same year.
Has swapped districts several times (Due to wars such as Bosnia Conflict 1992-95)
Rechartered in 1992 in District 1910, in 2000 in District 2480, in 2007 in District 2481, since 2011 – 2012 in District 2483 Serbia and Montenegro
Rechartered in 1992 in District 1910, in 2000 in District 2480, in 2007 in District 2481, since 2011 – 2012 in District 2483 Serbia and Montenegro
Reopening of the Rotary Club of Beograd, the first one in Serbia after the Second World War, was not easy and simple. Difficult political situation, the breakup of Yugoslavia, and finally the war that engulfed some parts of the country, hampered the work of enthusiasts who have worked on the restoration of Rotarian movement.
In addition, there was a general view that RI, with due caution, will reopen the clubs in the so-called Eastern Bloc countries, which in those years, experienced dramatic changes.
As of February in 1991 the Club began to meet regularly on Thursdays at 2.00 pm at the Hyatt, and the Rotary Governor on 20 June 1991 granted a status of the “Provisional Rotary Club of Beograd”.
Application for Membership was submitted on 21 March 1992 and officially Chartered on 8 May 1992.
Rotary Club of Belgrade is under Rotary District 2483, which now consists of more than 60 clubs in the Republic of Serbia and Republic of Montenegro.
However the Rotari Klub Beograd Metropolitan (Belgrade) Club is the oldest Rotary Club in the area.
The 24 Members of the club, are mainly owners of successful small and medium-sized companies a wide range of activities (construction, architecture, engineering, transport, computing, telecommunications, chemicals, media, etc.), the directors and managers of large national and international companies, bankers, prominent lawyers, consultants, cultural and sports professionals and others.
Club celebrated 20 years anniversary of the foundation in 2012, has six Holders of Paul Harris Fellowship Award
RC Beograd founded the Rotaract Club of Belgrade in 1994. (Rotarakt Klubom Beograd Metropolitan)
Fellow Rotarians and guests please raise your glasses to the Rotary Club of Beograd Metropolitan (Belgrade) Serbia - Yugoslavia.
“Zivoli” (Cheers)