GSE Program

Rotary Group Study Exchange 2008 - Hungary 1911 and New Jersey 7640

The Rotary International Foundation Group Study Exchange is a cultural exchange program designed to:
  1. Provide to outstanding business and professional persons opportunities for studying another country, its people and institutions through participation in an organized program of study and discussion in the country concerned;

  2. Further international understanding by allowing persons of goodwill to meet, talk, and live with each other in a spirit of fellowship so that they may get to know each other's problems and aspirations, and to permit such personal contacts to develop into lasting friendships;

  3. Involve Rotarians in a specific, practical and meaningful International Service Project by organizing educational programs for Group Study teams and providing hospitality for them.
This year the Rotary Foundation will support a Group Study Exchange between our New Jersey, U.S.A., District 7640 and Hungary, District 1911. The approximate dates for the exchange include the Hungarian team traveling to New Jersey from Hungarian District 1911, inbound team to arrive March 27 - departure April 23, 2008; and our out-bound team visiting Hungary from May 18 – June 15, 2008. GSE dates coincide with district conferences in both countries. This exchange reflects the momentous changes that have been occurring in Eastern Europe as personal freedoms and an entrepreneurial spirit sweep a previously suppressed culture and economy. Many Hungarians suffered under the Nazi troops in WWII and Soviet tanks in 1956. Now experiencing a new wave of freedom, Rotary is once again flourishing in this part of the world.

Rotary International historical archives show the Rotary movement arrived in Hungary when the Budapest Rotary Club was inaugurated on February 20, 1926. During the following years, several clubs were started as follows: Debrecen on March 27, 1928; Kassa on April 12, 1928; Szeged on July 6, 1928; Pecs on July 23, 1928; Ungvar on September 5, 1930; Miskolc on November 5, 1930; Oroshaza on March 4, 1931; Hodmezovasarhely on March 19, 1931; Gyor on September 9, 1932; Szolnok on December 8, 1932; Gyula on January 12,1933; Nyiregyhaza on February 26, 1934; Szombathely on March 9, 1934; Kolozsvar on December 30, 1935. The Ungvar Club was originally admitted as Uzhorod in Czechoslovakia. However, in 1938 this area became part of Hungary and thereafter the club was known as Ungvar Rotary Club. Kassa appears also as Kusovice in Czechoslovakia.

According to the RI records, the Kolozsvar Club of Hungary became known as the Cluj Club in Romania. The German name of the town, Klausenburg, is also used but in September, 1940 the town was formally assigned to Romania and thereafter was known as Kolozsvar. After its revival in 1994, the Cluj Club appears in District 2241 Romania!!

According to Rotary historian Basil Lewis, in the late 1930s, changes in the attitude of the government and the country's alliance as part of the Axis regimes, led to much criticism of Rotary. With the outbreak of the Second World War, most of the clubs ceased functioning although three continued to meet. These were in Budapest, Pecs and Szeged. Towards the end of 1941, Szeged stopped meeting and Budapest decided to suspend activities for a year and in view of the situation, the District Governor resigned his office. By a meeting in June 1942, the Board of RI accepted this resignation and District 82 and the clubs in it were struck off the list, as of June 30, 1942.

The revival of Rotary in Hungary began in 1989 with the re-chartering of the Budapest Club and in subsequent years, further clubs were inaugurated. Previously in that part of the world, the Rotary district was a large area with 160 clubs mostly in the Balkans. This year our District Governor, Josef deKovacs presided at the installation of the new District 1911 and officers in Hungary, where the roster lists 42 Hungarian Rotary Clubs in 2007. This is a most exciting year in Hungarian Rotary history, and District 7640 is right in the middle of it!

Celebrating Rotary from an international perspective can be as close as your living room! We want to provide many opportunities for our district’s clubs and families to experience and share the gifts of Rotary and international understanding.

How can you participate?
  • Be a host club providing home hospitality to the visiting GSE team members.
  • Be a club sponsor for a day touring sites of interest.
  • Attend an interpretive GSE dinner meeting in a district multi-club setting.
  • Provide a vocation experience for GSE team members in your professional field.
  • Invite the GSE team to attend a special event in your local club or area.
  • Attend the district conference and welcome our GSE guests with open arms.
  • Suggest names of non-Rotarian young professionals to be team members.
  • Volunteer to be our Rotarian Team Leader to Hungary!


Be a part of the excitement this year, learn what “bulls-blood” and “goulash” are all about! GSE is a great opportunity for international service, fellowship, and understanding.

For more information contact:
Dr. Thomas J. Venables, Chairperson
Group Study Exchange, District 7640
Rutgers University Summer Session
319 Cooper Street
Camden, New Jersey 08102

856 - 225 - 6098
tvenable @ camden.rutgers.edu