History of Rotary in Ukraine

A Part of Our History of Rotary in Europe

Ukraine is a part of District 2230

Prior to World War 2,  there was no Rotary in the Ukraine.
After the Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia sought separation from the former Soviet Union, and Rotary re-established itself in former pre war strongholds such as Warsaw, Riga and Kaunas - Rotary also came to the Ukraine in 1992.

Rotary International decided to charge the French with the task to plant Rotary in Rumania and the Ukraine, but it is due to American Rotarians efforts that the first two Rotary clubs in the Ukraine, the clubs of KIEV and LVIV became established.

ROTI member Mirko Jirsa from the Rotary Club of Chatellerault in District 1720, FRANCE, picks up the story here by quoting the "special" August 1998 issue of "le Rotarien ", the French Rotary journal.
It was interesting to note that this issue, devoted ENTIRELY to the Rotary establishment of Rotary in the Ukraine, was not apparently published in the English language version.

In part, the issue is an "accolade" to PDG LEON LAUGEL of District 1680 (Clubs in Alsace Lorraine) who, after his year as DG continued to be involved in the spreading of the Rotary word for 3 more years.
Laugel, whose official title was "Administrateur Presidentiel du Rotary International en Ukraine " certainly had some remarkable fruits to show for his labour, and the map of Ukraine published in "le Rotarien", showed 38 Current and Provisional Rotary Clubs functioning in the Ukraine in 1998, after the first 2 were set up in 1992, an absolutely amazing feat !.
It shows how this Rotary planting "gets hold" of Rotary leaders.

Danish PDG CARSTEN LETH likewise just could not let go after his year in office and devoted subsequent years of his Rotary service, like Laugel, to the oversight of Rotary expansion in Lithuania, where Leth held a similar title to that held by Laugel.