In the spring of 1929 in Bucharest was founded the first Rotary Club in Romania, at the initiative of Christian Penescu-Kertsch, who became the first president. This is followed immediately by Rotary clubs in two major cities of the country – Cluj and Timisoara. The purposes and ideals of Rotary are understood and accepted by the intellectual elite of the country, in all fields – science, art, business – the result being establishment of six clubs in Arad, Brasov, Campina, Cernautii, Iasi and Ploiesti. With nine clubs in 1936, it creates the Romanian District, which receives the number 84.
Rotarian activities and actions effect becomes visible throughout the country. Romanian Rotary interwar had educational and health projects for children, was interested in searching jobs for young sick or disabled, and built a haven for skiers in the mountains. Rotary movement was prohibited in 1939 by authoritarian regimes throughout Central Eastern European region.
Forming the new District 2241
In 1992, with the support of the French Rotarians, was founded Bucharest Rotary Club. Like the first time, it will be immediately followed by clubs from Cluj and Timisoara, and in June, 1996 existed 13 clubs in Romania, which were part of District 1160 from Paris.
On July 1, 1996, Romania exceeds a second barrier being defined by Rotary International as “Rotarian expansion area ” along with Moldova. All International Committee appoints Swiss Rotarian Jorg Tschopp as ”presidential administrator for expansion”. The result is important: in less than three years, the number reaches 30 clubs.
There was two absolute firsts: the first Rotary Club in Chisinau and the second club in a Romanian city, in the capital being also Rotary Bucharest Continental Club. Rotarian actions brought in Romania and Moldavia nearly six million dollars in six years, and the regaining of the status as the district has become an imperative.
This event took place on September 1, 1999, when Rotary International committee and President Carlo Ravizza decided that in Romania and Moldavia Republic, Rotary clubs will be part of their own district, the number 2241. After Poland (1998), Czech Republic and Slovakia ( united in one district in 1999), it was the turn of our country to have its own district, honor which no other country in the eastern Europe did not enjoyed.
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