District 2350 Sweden

Sweden

Sollentuna Rotaryklubb (Sverige)
Sollentuna-Tureberg Rotaryklubb

Rotary came to Sweden in early 1926 by the advent of the Stockholm Rotary Club whose charter letter was signed on February 20 1926. Rotary had taken root in 42 countries. Sweden became the 43rd Rotary country and the Stockholm Rotary Club the 2,256th club in the world. The number of Rotarians in the world was then about 125,000. Today (ie per 2004-06-30) is the number of Rotary clubs in the world 31,603 and the number of Rotarians 1,211,723.

The initiative for the formation of the Stockholm Rotary Club, was not taken by another Rotary Club, but by American Fred Warren Teele from the Rotary newly opened office in Zurich. The club started already in autumn 1925. Its first meeting, the then Provisional club on October 28 1925. What few know is that Paul Harris unofficially visited Stockholm in the autumn of 1925 and met among others Director John Sande, head of National Cash Register in Sweden and his brother-in-law, member of the Oslo club, Jens Aspaas, NCR-chief in Norway (I have received know of John Sands grandson Bjorn Sande who was president of my own club 1997-98).

Its constituent meeting had Stockholm Rotary Club January 8, 1926 with 27 charter members. A board of 8 persons appointed by the building Josef Norén as charter president, Axel F. Enström as first Vice President and Professor Gosta Bagge as the second Vice President. It may be useful to mention that at the constituent meeting decided that the club would meet with lunch every Wednesday at 13 in Restaurant Rosenbad. Furthermore, it was decided that the entry fee would be 50 kronor and the annual fee SEK 25. As a curiosity, I might mention that when lunch cost 3:50. Charter-party took place on January 9, 1927. Among the guests were Fred Warren Teele, RI Director TC Thomsen and the presidents of Rotary Clubs in Oslo and Copenhagen.

Saturday, February 19, 1927 was crucial for the establishment of Rotary in the Kingdom’s second city.

At the request of three members of the Stockholm Rotary Club held a luncheon at the then Palace Hotel. The men traveling from the capital, said that it would certainly be of benefit and joy of a Rotary club – in that case, the second in the country – also formed in Gothenburg.

This appears in the club’s archives of documents held by the State Archives in Gothenburg.

Gothenburg Rotary Club received its charter letter Sept. 27, 1927. Already on October 5 the same year was the club celebrate its charter celebration with V. Aurell as its charter president. Attended by among others the then RI President Arthur H. Sapp and the Secretary-General Chesley R. Perry, but also representatives of Rotary clubs in Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, Aarhus and Aalborg. Of the club archive documents deserve following quoting:

At the election was used at the beginning of white and black balls but it was not so good. Always came up a black ball, so it was disturbed impossible to bring in new members. It had to be (sometime in the early 30’s) to move to another less emphatic veto procedure.

The only official visit of Paul Harris made in Sweden is a visit to Gothenburg Rotary Club August 29, 1932, when the club celebrated its 5-year anniversary at the Garden Association, which then met in summer. After the meal Paul Harris planted an American oak as a ‘friendship tree’. The event was filmed and is conserved in a video. The oak is left with a plaque, which got its present form in connection with the club
60-year anniversary in 1987. Gothenburg Rotary Club over the years have given rise to at least 17 new Rotary Clubs. The first five were Birkenhead (1930), Hastings (1932), Halmstad (1935), Tauranga (1935) and Pondicherry (1938).

In early 1927 visited Kurt Belfrage on behalf of the Stockholm Rotary Club together with the president in Copenhagen Rotary Club, Consul Erik Andersen, Malmoe and Helsingborg in order to bring about new Rotary clubs. Gisborne Rotary Club received its charter letter April 2, 1928 as the country’s third Rotary Club. Of the club’s records show that the club was invited by, among other things, Rotary International’s “Special Commissioner” TC Thomsen of Denmark and the international secretary of the Zurich office of Russell V. Williams to establish a Rotary club in Malmo. The archive documents say to Kurt Belfrage and Hugo Cedergren, who both represented the Stockholm Rotary Club, visited Malmo December 9, 1927, where they met with Kramer at several incoming charter members.

After an evening meeting took place on October 18, 1928 at the Savoy Hotel in Malmo, was the inaugural meeting in Malmo Rotary Club held Nov. 15 in the same hotel, while 22 members were included in the club who was elected as a member No 3.012 of Rotary International on December 12, 1928 with the Consul Gunnar Faxe as Charter President.

On this occasion, the Stockholm Club President, Will Council Axel F. Enström, a guestbook for the new club. Of colleagues in Copenhagen was a unique club president-gavel made of oak wood from the year 1784 built örlogsfartyget “Man”, which was sunk on September 2, 1807 by the English fleet.

Gefle root club back on the initiative of the Stockholm Rotary Club (with Josef Norén and Hugo Cedergren in the lead) and Gothenburg Rotary Club (represented by Arvid Wallin. The decision to form the club was at the Hotel Baltic January 29, 1929 whereby NEGOTIANT Gustav Delin was appointed as the club’s first president.

Unfortunately, admits the time that I go into more detail on the subsequent emergence of new Rotary clubs in Sweden. This is, however, “10-first ‘list out (along with charter date):

Stockholm February 20, 1926
Gothenburg September 27, 1927
Helsingborg April 2, 1928
Malmo December 12, 1928
Gefle March 6, 1929
Bendigo April 23, 1930
Ballarat November 5, 1930
Hobart August 26, 1931
Sundsvall February 15, 1932
Jönköping January 12, 1933

Rotary in Sweden had in the late 1920s 5 Rotary Clubs. During the 30’s was 36 clubs, over 40’s 54, during the 50’s 110, during the 60’s 85, during the 70’s 104, in the 80s 95, in the 90’s 61 and so far in 2000 Century 16 new clubs. It appears that the growth of new clubs reached a peak until 1960 and then gradually contracts, especially in recent years, which is largely explained by the fact that Sweden after Iceland is the Rotary densest country in the world. During these 80 years soon have 4 Rotary Clubs ended: Pajala (1998-05-12), Valdemarsvik (1990-06-15) Stockholm-Farsta (2001-06-30) and Avesta-Folk (2003-04-02).

The Swedish Rotary Clubs were – excluding the Russian and Latvian clubs which currently belong to the Swedish Rotary District – by June 30 in 2004 to 556. Growth is illustrated by the following table.

Number of Rotary Clubs in Sweden (December 31, respectively. Annum):

1929 5
1939 41
1949 95
1959 205
1969 290
1979 394
1989 489
1999 540
2004 556 (June 30)

As of July 1, 1933 constituted the whole of Sweden a Rotary District 78. To the District Governor was appointed Kurt Belfrage. Because of the growing number of clubs took place on July 1, 1948 a division into two districts with No 78A and 78B, the number was reduced to 84 and 85 the following year.

1952 was the number Rotary District in Sweden three (No. 83, 84 and 85). Two years later by District 95 and five years later, a fifth district, with No. 94. On 1 July 1957 to set up a sixth district, while the numbers were about to be 132, 133, 134, 136, 137, and 139 with the number sequence from north to south. On 1 July 1961 was awarded District 134 of the two (134 and 135). Since it took to the July 1, 1972 before the Eighth District back (138). On 1 July 1977 renumbered districts from 232 to 239. On 1 July 1988 added two additional districts. Since then, the number of Rotary District in Sweden ten. Current district in 240 and 241 were added to each of 43 Rotary Clubs. District 2330 for a club: Älvkarleby-Skutskär previously included in District 235 (our district). Districts in 2320 and 2340 were not affected by the new district division. 5 of the districts had to drop a total of 86 clubs. The 4-digit numbering of the districts we have today was introduced on July 1 1991.

What has evolved in the Rotary District 2350? Twenty years ago, the number of Rotarians in the district of 2.785. Ten years ago it was 3.372. And today (ie per 1 July 2004) is the number 3.797 excluding our Rotarians in Russia.

In Russia, west of the Urals, where Moscow RC was chartered June 5, 1990 as the first Rotary club was established in the 90’s 19 clubs, of which our district currently administers 12 and our neighboring districts in 2370 administers 7. In 2000’s, yet another 4 Russian clubs to come within our administrative area and in what districts in 2370 accounting for a further 11 Rotary Clubs. In addition, there are three provisional Rotary clubs, including one in our district (Yaroslavl) and two in the neighboring district (Saratov Volga and the Voronezh Central). The 16 Rotary Clubs are part of our district have been together 348 members, while the 17 clubs in District 2370 has 408 members, a club (Saratov RC chartered in 1995) ceased on 2004-04-01.

In Latvia, which belongs to District 2410, is currently 17 Rotary Clubs together with 435 members, including two clubs back in the 30s has been re chartered in: Riga (April 1933) and Liepaja (August 1939). 12 new clubs formed in the 90s and 3 new date in the 2000s.

In Poland, which belonged to the district in 2390 until June 30 1997, when the country became a separate district (No. 2230), are two clubs with roots in the 1930’s: Lodz (December 1933) and Krakow (February 1934) and one from the 80’s: Warsaw (June 1989). During the period of Poland belonged to the district in 2390, that in the years 1990-1997, formed a further 36 Rotary Clubs with a total of 1.228 Rotarians, a club (Slupsk RC) has been dissolved. Today, in Poland 65 Rotary Clubs with approximately 1.800 members.

How does the advent of Rotary Clubs in the Swedish part of our district in a chronological perspective? Here is a historic and chronological list of member clubs of District 2350 in Sweden (under the charter letters dating).

1 – Stockholm 1926-02-20
2 – Uppsala 1936-03-23
3 – Marquard 1944-03-20
4 – Bandon 1945-05-23
5 – Stockholms Västra 1948-12-15
6 – Stockholm Östra 1952-01-07
7 – Lidingö1954-03-30
8 – Stockholm North 1954-06-24
9 – Stockholm-Vällingby 1955-03-25
10 – Sundbyberg 1955-03-31
11 – Uppsala Southern 1956-01-26
12 – Solna 1956-02-15
13 – Stockholm-Essinge 1956-10-02
14 – Stockholm-Spånga 1957-06-17
15 – Sollentuna 1959-02-04
16 – Järfälla 1959-03-04
17 – Danderyd 1960-06-09
18 – Taupo 1962-09-12
19 – Uppsala Eastern 1963-07-15
20 – Stockholm-barn country 1964-11-21
21 – Sigtuna 1967-06-05
22 – Dublin-Råsunda 1967-09-11
23 – Stockholm-Humlegården 1968-09-25
24 – Stockholm-Bromma 1969-02-04
25 – Djursholm 1969-03-24
26 – Östhammar 1969-05-17
27 – Waxholm 1970-01-26 (see Sri Lanka Project)
28 – Santa Rosa 1970-06-01
29 – Indore-Long meadow 1970-06-25
30 – Tierp 1970-09-05
31 – Stockholm Vasa 1973-05-04
32 – Bandon-Trogdor 1973-09-01
33 – Uppsala North 1975-05-22
34 – Pune-Attunda 1975-09-17
35 – Stockholm-Hässelby 1976-03-05
36 – Upplands Väsby 1976-04-05
37 – Ekerö 1976-08-30
38 – Marquard Roden 1977-02-23
39 – Stockholm-Sergel 1977-06-13
40 – Österåker 1978-05-29
41 – Dublin-Tureberg 1978-06-26
42 – Stockholm-Kista 1979-10-20
43 – Stockholm-Västerled 1980-08-26
44 – Arlanda 1981-04-20
45 – Uppsala Carolina 1981-06-15
46 – Stockholm Palace 1982-04-12
47 – Håbo 1982-12-09
48 – Upplands-Bro 1983-03-04
49 – Järfälla-mill 1984-11-26
50 – Solna Haga 1985-05-28
51 – Stockholm City First Breakfast 1986-02-21
52 – Leufstabruk 1987-02-01
53 – Stockholm Old Town 1987-08-20
54 – Lidingö Milles 1987-10-06
55 – Upsala Aros 1988-04-11
56 – Stockholm-Ready 1989-02-28
57 – Stockholm, Djurgården 1990-03-20
58 – Knivsta 1990-09-04
59 – Djursholm Svitiod 1991-04-15
60 – Stockholm Beach 1993-02-09
61 – Stockholm Lunda 1993-12-13
62 – Upplands Väsby breadth 1995-04-27
63 – Stockholm Brommaplan 1997-03-27
64 – Stockholm-Järva 1997-11-04
65 – Österåker First Breakfast 1998-06-26
66 – Uppsala Linnaeus 1998-12-15
67 – Taupo Jarlabanke 2001-03-23
68 – Uppsala Glunten 2002-09-12
69 – Stockholm International 2003-05-22

The corresponding chronology for the Russian clubs in District 2350 are as follows.

1 – Moscow 1990-06-05
2 – Dubna 1993-08-24
3 – Nizhny Novgorod 1994-12-08
4 – Naryan Mar 1995-10-16
5 – Moscow-Kremlin 1996-03-18
6 – Vladimir 1996-03-21
7 – Moscow-Rossica 1996-07-15
8 – Tver 1996-09-04
9 – Troitsk 1998-02-18
10 – Moscow Capital 1998-07-24
11 – Konakovo 1999-05-20
12 – Dmitrov 1999-09-08
13 – Cherepovets-Sheksna 2000-03-02
14 – Moscow International 2001-05-25
15 – Arkangelsk 2002-03-15
16 – Moscow Renaissance 2003-06-10

Finally, I want to give you an overview of the district ‘tree’ which shows the clubs that are parent-resp. daughter club to each of the district Swedish Rotary Clubs;
Unfortunately, I do not have corresponding data for the district Russian clubs.

Rotary Club Mother Club (s) Daughter Clubs

01 Arlanda Sigtuna
02 Danderyd Stockholm North Djursholm, Pune, Vallentuna
03 Djursholm Danderyd Djursholm Svitiod
04 Djursholm Svitiod Djursholm
05 Ekerö Stockholm-Västerled Stockholm Brommaplan
06 Bandon Uppsala Anyang-Trogdor, Håbo
07 Anyang-Trogdor Bandon
08 Håbo Bandon
09 Järfälla Stockholm-Spånga Upplands-Bro, Järfälla-mill
10 Järfälla-mill Järfälla
11 Knivsta Sigtuna
12 Leufstabruk Tierp
13 Lidingö Stockholm Indore-Long meadow
14 Indore-Long meadow Manukau Manukau Milles
15 Manukau Milles Indore-Long meadow
16 Mangla Stockholm Marquard Roden
17 Mangla Roden Marquard
18 Sigtuna Dublin Airport, Knivsta
19 Sollentuna Solna Sigtuna, Upplands Väsby, Sollentuna-Tureberg
20-Tureberg Sollentuna Sollentuna
21 Solna Stockholm North Dublin, Dublin-Råsunda
22 Solna Haga Solna-Råsunda
23 Solna-Råsunda Solna Solna Haga
24 Stockholm Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki (1927-01-26), Gothenburg, Calcutta, Marquard, North West, North East,
Indore, Dublin North, Stockholm-Sergel,
Stockholm City First Breakfast, Stockholm Old Town
25 Stockholm Palace Stockholm Ladugård It Stockholm Djurgården
26 Stockholm-Bromma Stockholm Western Västerled Stockholm, Stockholm Brommaplan
27 Stockholm Brommaplan Stockholm-Bromma, Ekerö
28 Stockholm City First Breakfast Stockholm Stockholm Beach
29 Stockholm Djurgården Stockholm castle
30 Stockholm-Essinge Stockholm Western
31 Stockholm Old Town Stockholm
32 Stockholm-Humlegården Eastern Stockholm, Stockholm Ladugård country
33 Stockholm-Hässelby Stockholm-Vällingby
34 Stockholm International Moscow International
35 Stockholm-Järva Stockholm-Lunda
36 Stockholm Kista Stockholm-Spånga Stockholm-Lunda
37 Stockholm-Klara Stockholm-Sergel
38 Stockholm Stockholm-barn country Humlegården, Dublin Castle
39 Stockholm-Lunda Stockholm Kista Stockholm-Järva
40 Stockholm Northern Stockholm Solna, Danderyd, Östhammar, Stockholm Vasa
41 Stockholm-Sergel Stockholm Stockholm-Ready
42 Stockholm-Spånga Stockholm-Vällingby Järfälla, Stockholm Kista
43 Stockholm Stockholm City Beach First Breakfast
44 Stockholm Stockholm Vasa North
45 Stockholm-Vällingby Stockholm Western-Spånga Stockholm, Stockholm-Hässelby
46 Stockholm Västerled Stockholm-Bromma Ekerö
47 Stockholm Stockholm Stockholm Western Eastern, Stockholm Vällingby, Sundbyberg,
Stockholm-Essinge, Stockholm-Bromma,
48 Stockholm Stockholm East, North West Stockholm Ladugård the country, the Stockholm-Humlegården
49 Sundbyberg Stockholm Western
50 Tierp Älvkarleby-Skutskär Leufstabruk
51 Danderyd Waxholm Pune, Pune Attunda
52 Pune-Attunda Taupo Taupo Jarlabanke
53 Rustenburg Jarlabanke Pune Attunda
54 Upplands-Bro Järfälla
55 Upplands Väsby Sollentuna Upplands Väsby width
56 Upplands Väsby width Upplands Väsby
57 Uppsala, Västerås Brakpan, South Uppsala
58 Uppsala, Uppsala, South Carolina
59 Uppsala, Uppsala Glunten East
60 Uppsala, Linnaeus Upsala Aros
61 Uppsala, Uppsala North East Upsala Aros
62 Uppsala, Uppsala, Uppsala, South East, Uppsala Carolina
63 Uppsala, Uppsala South East North Uppsala, Uppsala-Glunten
64 Upsala Aros Uppsala North Uppsala Linnaeus
65 Vallentuna Danderyd
66 Waxholm Pune Österåker
67 Österåker Waxholm Österåker First Breakfast
68 Österåker First Breakfast Österåker
69 Östhammar Dublin North

Acknowledgements PDG John Örtengren, Sollentuna-Tureberg