Kasutaja arutelu:Allan90/Rotalia

History

1913-1944

In 1913 the fraternity of Rotalia was founded by former members of the St. Petersburg Society of Estonian Students, who had left due to internal conflicts. Their aim was to create a reliable organisation, with strong internal order, which would improve friendships and be nationally minded. After prolonged discussions, they came to the conclusion, that a student fraternity would best fit those requirements. Being aware of the negative side of the fraternities, they still found, that a new Fraternity could more easily avoid those problems, than an old one could change their ways. The name „Rotalia“ was chosen after the most western county of the Estonian mainland, thus signifying the resistance to eastern influences. Since it was required to show the authorities that the fraternity is a purely academical organisation, which is far from any political aims, the name Fraternitas Rotalia was used in official documents until 1914. The colours where chosen from Estonian nature – blue as the sky, black like the soil and green like the fields and forests. The colours respectfully mean loyality, worries and hope, as the song of the colors says: They are always true to Estonia (blue) In the hard times, even in danger (black) And they have hope that in better times Our homeland will flourish (green) For the motto the words „Honesty, Reliability, Self-confidence, Solidarity“ were chosen, especially stressing Solidarity. As an expression of the national spirit the slogan „Estonia, my fatherland“ was chosen. The law students Robert Treikelder, Otto Tief and Jüri Uluots compiled the first code of conduct. Paul Mägi is the author for the house rules which in general still apply today. To ease the procedures the code of conduct was only confirmed by the St. Petersburg University, thus meaning that officially only students of that university could be members of Rotalia. As a matter of fact, only one third of Rotalia members were students of St. Petersburg University. On the 10th November, exactly one month after the code of conduct had been verified, the first orderly gathering of the fraternity house was held. The participating founding members were Florian Eriks (rer. For.), Mihkel Luht (ing) (Treasurer), Johannes Masik (math. ), Leo Mägi (rer. For.), Paul Mägi (ing) (olderman), Johannes Reindorf (med.), Otto Tief (iur.) (Senior), Daniel Tiks (math.) (scribe), Robert Treikelder (iur.) and Jüri Uluots (iur.). on the 29th November, in the freshly rented fraternity home (C!Q!), the founding members took the oath and it was on this day that the colours of Rotalia were worn for the first time. The first commersium was held on the 1st March in 1914. Rotalia did not manage to create proper contacts with the scattered few other Estonian student organisations of St. Petersburg, although they worked together in student events, as well as in the national and charity events of the local Estonian society. Good relations were established with the Russian Neo-Ruthenian fraternity, but not with other fraternities of St. Petersburg. Rotalia was one of the five Estonian fraternities, who during the 25 – 28 February 1915 in Tartu, held the gathering, which was to found the League of Estonian Corporations (E!K!L!) and signed the corresponding union treaty. The fraternity was slowly growing until the year 1916, when the war ended the expansion. Up to that time, out of the 8 alumni (philisters), 17 active members (confraters) and 2 freshmen (fuxes), 20 Rotalians had been mobilized to the Russian army. The first casualty and also the first to leave Rotalia due to death was confrater Mihkel Mats. There were five wounded. Five men received decorations. Rotalia was active in St. Petersburg until the end of 1917, when all student organisations were outlawed. From the entire property they only managed to save two rapiers. Meanwhile, the forming of national units in the army made it possible for most of the Rotalians to return to Estonia. Using legal and in illegal ways the rest managed to reach the fatherland as well. They decided to continue activities in Tallinn, because the core of Rotalia had gathered there. The general mood of that time can be seen in the fact that on the commersium in 1918 on the dawn of the 11th November (two weeks before the beginning of Estonian War of Independence) the song „pereat tristitsia“ was sang in front of the buildings associated with the occupation, while „Vivat et respublica“ was sang in front of the town hall. The soon following Estonian war of independence scattered the men yet again. Out of the 25 Rotalians 18 went to the frontier on their free will, the rest were in civil service or unfit for the army for medical reasons. Since most of the Rotalians were educated on an engineering related field, they mostly served in the navy and artillery and on armoured trains. Special recognition during the war of independence was given to Otto Tief, who was from the start to the end of the engagement the real leader of the Kalew Men at Arms (Kalevlaste malev), and the founder and leader of the telegraphy unit confrater Freidrich Olbrei. Six Rotalians were awarded the cross of liberty. The Tallinn fraternity house was still active despite the war. Fellow Rotalians were often seen in the C!Q!, rented in early 1919. However, during times of peace the members started to disperse – some took up service, others continued their studies. A problem concerning the new generation started to emerge, since there was no university in Tallinn. A solution was found in incorporating the former students and alumni of the St. Petersburg University. Higher military education was made equal with former academic education, a unique decision during that time, later other student organisations followed suite. The Union of Estonian Fraternities had after the moving of Vironia become Tartu based. Since Rotalia was in Tallinn and cooperation with the Union would have been scarce and irritating, Rotalia did not appeal to its exclusion from the League. Despite incorporating students the number of members kept decreasing, leading to a decline of activity in the Tallinn fraternity home. The management of Rotalian life was transferred to the alumni body founded in 1922. The situation after the war, especially the inflation in Germany, opened up lucrative possibilities for Estonians to continue their studies. The possibilities were readily used, for example in 1922 40-50 Esonians were studying in Berlin alone. Roughly half of them were centered in the Estonian Students Society in Berlin. As an alternative to the society a group of Estonian students founded the fraternity Ukula (colours green-black-light blue). In 1923 ten Estonian students in Berlin wanted to join Rotalia. The alumni body gave Maximilian Uriko, the only active member during that time in Berlin, the right to admit freshmen and common members (fuxes) and to promote them to active members according to the house rules. In march the first six common members received the black cap, later another four joined. After Rotalia started activity in Berlin the Ukula fraternity dispersed, their members came to Rotalia as common members. A lot of the members of the Berlin Union of Estonian Students did the same. Rotalia was active in Berlin for only three semesters, but for the entire fraternity this short time was of great importance – again after a few years of drought the fraternity became active again in all its forms, infusing the members back on home soil with a bright look towards the future. During the autumn semester the alumni body discussed the possibilities of creating a C!Q! in Tartu. During the same time a number of students and lectors of the agricultural department where holding meetings to discuss a creation of their own fraternity. Probably due to the connections between professors Peeter Kõpp and Jüri Uluots the alumni body looking for a C!Q! in Tartu and the students desiring to create a new fraternity found each other for help. At the end of the year, the students in Tartu expressed the desire to be admitted into Rotalia. On the 24th December 15 students of agriculture were, according to the decision of the Berlin C!Q!, admitted as common members. On the 24th May, the day the University of Tartu approved Rotalia's code of conduct, all common members became active members. In the beginning of June a letter arrived from the Berlin C!Q!, stating the closure of official activity in Berlin and transfer of business, duties and treasures to the Tartu C!Q!. At the start of autumn semester Rotalia had 59 members, 49 of whom were located in Tallinn. By the end of 1925 the number of Rotalians in Tartu had increased to 39, signifying a rapid growth. The years 1923-1926 remained mainly founding years, during which the new generation was made a true part of Rotalia. In the autumn of 1924 Rotalia expressed the desire to start participating in the League of Estonian Corporations again. The formalities did not take a long time, after all the only reason why Rotalia had been excluded from the League had now disappeared. During that time in Tartu in addition to five fraternities of the League there were at least five other fraternities which where founded during the time of independence. Most of them did not succeed in conquering the mistrust and superiority of the older fraternities. Such attitudes caused the new fraternities to be displeased and lead to many unnecessary excesses. Having regained its position in the League, Rotalia, still in need to gain recognition in Tartu, started to create connections with fraternities outside of the League and to search ways of solving conflicts. Soon the situation was ripe for the admittance of Revelia in 1928 and Fraternitas Liviensis in 1930 to the League. On both occasions Rotalia was in lead of the League. Starting from the year 1926 the number of members of Rotalia started to increase rapidly. During 1930 Rotalia had 172 members: 17 alumni, 71 active members and 31 freshmen and common members. In the next year most of the dispersing Vicinia fraternity joined, in 1935 Kaljola was incorporated. The C!Q! in Lille street became too small for the rapidly growing Fraternity and in 1932 they moved to the house on Tähe 29 (nowadays Tähe 3), rented from the Baltic German Fraternity named Estonia. In 1936 the house was bought for real by the alumni body. Rotalia was the only fraternity in the League to have a body abroad – the Warsaw department was founded in 1934. They did not have many members – during times their list consisted of 4 to 11 members. They were active until the start of the Second World War. The foreign relations of the fraternity prospered as well. In 1933 Rotalia and the Helsinki Universities Varsinaissuomalainen Osakunta (VSO) signed a friendship treaty. The start of the occupation cut off contacts with the Lithuanian fraternity Fraternitas Baltiensis, before a treaty could be signed. In 1936 the reorganization of the technical department of the University of Tartu into the Tallinn Technical Institute made it possible to restart Rotalia's activity in the capital. On the 9th October Rotalia's Tallinn branch was registered by the Technical Institute. The branch had about 40 members, including students of the University of Tartu who lived in Tallinn. In November a C!Q! was rented in the Mauritsian Club house (Mustpeade Klubi maja). The coetuses of both branches started regularly visiting each other, the spring commersium was from now on held in Tallinn. To celebrate the passing of the first quarter century, on the 10th November the founding date of Rotalia, a special album was released as part of the paper „Üliõpilasleht“ (nr.910). The founding members Jüri Uluots and Paul Mägi were first decorated with the honour colours of Rotalia. By the winter of 1939 Rotalia had 515 members, making it the biggest fraternity. The family consisted of 246 alumni, 183 active members and 41 freshmen. Law students and engineers made up about 25%, economists about 18%, agriculture was studied by about 14%, foresting and medicine about 5%. From Tallinn, Tartu and Viljandi county there were about 13% each, from Valga county 9%, from Viru county, Võru county, Harju county 8% each, from Pärnu county 7%, from Lääne county and the town of Tartu equally 4%, from Saare and Hiiu county together 3,5% of Rotalians. The rest were from abroad. Among the students of Tartu Rotalia was occasionally called the green fraternity, the probable reason, besides the third colour green, was the large amount of agriculture students among Rotalians. On 18th June 1940 an order arrived from the town government requesting the house of Rotalia to be surrendered to the Russian Army. Colour objects and ceremonial equipment, as well as anything of cultural or historic value were stored in the Estonian National Museum , the furniture, library and archive were given to the University. The rest of the property was hidden amongst the alumni. Activity continued underground. All freshmen were given colours, for caution no new members were admitted. During the German occupation it was not possible to continue public activity as well. The last senior of the Tartu C!Q! Heikki Leesment rented the back garden of the C!Q! from the University as a field. There gatherings were held and traditions and house rules were taught to 9 new freshmen. Rotalia is probably the only organisation (or one of the few), which continued to admit new members during that time. As the only Estonian student organisation Rotalia continued its activity in Finland as early as 1943. During the war lots of members escape to Finland and in addition new members were admitted. Helsinkis Rotalia was mainly a soldier fraternity. Out of the 23 members listed during 1944, 18 were voluntarily wearing the bluish gray uniform of the Finnish army, 10 of them came back to Estonia in August 1944 with the other Estonian soldiers to continue the fight in Estonia. The rest and the ones in civil service went to exile in Sweden. Rotalia's house rules, manners and rituals have many differences compared to other Estonian fraternities. This is because Rotalia was founded away from the influence of Baltic-German fraternities and the unconventional and colourful history has led to many differences. The course was already set in Saint Petersburg with the strict house rules and discipline. Of course this was not an easy task, because the Estonian and Russian societies in St. Petersburg gave no good examples with their lacking inner order. Rotalia's internal life is based on the house rules; this has been so since the founding in St.Petersburg. The first house rules where written as a result of a debate between all of the founding members. During the war the first house rules perished, so that the rules had to be restored by memory. A copy of the missing first house rules was found in 1925. In exile there were many discussions to change the house rules, but only small changes were allowed. Differently from other Estonian fraternities, from the beginning the house rules have determined a four-member presidium, which consist of: the first senior ( Rotalus x ), who is the chairman of the presidium and the fraternity, second senior ( Rotalus xx ), who is the treasurer of the C!Q!, the third senior ( Rotalus xxx ) is the secretary (scriba) and the olderman ( Rotalus old! ) , who is tutor and educator of the freshmen. The C!Q!-s most important questions are discussed in meetings. There are two types of meetings: the regular C!Q! meeting ( k!k!k! ) and the separated C!Q! meeting ( e!k!k! ), in which only active members and alumni take part. Additionally to those official lessons are held, which are the pauk lessons (mostly dancing lessons, with sororities), cantus lessons, presentation evenings, olderman lessons etc. Until the year 1940 academic fencing was practiced. Mensures between two Rotalia members were forbidden. In exile the everyday life in the C!Q! was quite the same as it was in free Estonia. Every week meetings were held, but after some time the weekly meetings became monthly meetings, but this did not change anything . After the admission of new freshmen olderman and cantus lessons were held, shortly after presentation evenings also. Rotalia's singing manners are a bit different from those of the other fraternities . The song performer must know the song by heart. On the translation of student songs into Estonian great work has been done by Jüri Uluotsal, who translated „Krambambuli”, „Ergo bibamus”, „Igal pool ma elan hästi”, „Oo, burši hiilgus …” etc. Rotalia is the only Estonian fraternity that sings Plurimos annos instead of ‘'long live. Rotalia's official songs ( „Gaudeamus”, hymn, mourn song etc ) have modifications and ceremonies.

Rotalia in Excile (1944-1988)

206 Rotalians reached the west in the autumn of 1944, 9 were there already earlier. In Sweden the first official meeting was held in spring 1945 in Stockholm. Soon an apartment was found to serve as the fraternity house. Admittance of new members from the Stockholm and Uppsala Universities began. At the same time a branch in Göteborg, by the Chalmers Technical University started activity. Lead by the many joined students, the Göteborg branch was regularly active as a student fraternity in 1957-1968. The third center of Rotalia in Sweden became the university town of Lund, where at some point a fraternity house was active as well. As time passed there were fewer new students, until in 1970s there were no new members at all. In the mind of the young, a fraternity with its traditions was a thing of the past. In Germany, where people had arrived as soldiers or refugees, finding contacts between each other started right after the war ended. Organized activity started in autumn 1945, centered in the Augsburg refugee camp. On the next year the Rotalian Augsburg branch was established, which included all Rotalians in the American zone. New members were found among Estonians starting or continuing their studies. Many Estonians studied in Erlangen University and there a fraternity house was created, which was officially registered by the University as „Studentenverein Rotalia“, the only one of its kind among Estonian student organisations in post-war Germany. At peak times during 1948 there were 33 students in the Erlangen C!Q!(some of the members were studding in other universities). The currency reform ended the activity in Germany and the soon starting immigration into overseas territories. The Augsburg branch, being parallely active, ceased activity in 1951. However there was use of the Erlangen C!Q! in starting activity in the United States, to where most members had travelled. Already in the mid 1940s scarce members of Rotalia started arriving from Sweden to America, from the German camps a lot arrived during the end of the 1940s and the beginning of the 1950s. The USA branch was established in New York in 1949, where the next two years saw a lot of activity. When the younger Estonians dispersed over the States, activity ceased in New York and the fraternity house and alumni body were joined into one branch in 1979. Meanwhile things had livened up in the Washington area and the West coast – in Seattle and especially Los Angeles, where a „department with the rights and obligations of a C!Q!“ was created. Most of the members admitted during the 1970s and 1980s were admitted in Washington and Los Angeles departments. Toronto emerged as the biggest, liveliest and most youthful center of Rotalia. Rotalians from Sweden and Germany started arriving in Canada in 1948. In the next year regular activity was started. Many students were admitted and in 1954 a fraternity house with its own apartment was opened, which in 1962 moved to the Rotalian house located near Toronto University. During the past decades more than a hundred new members have been admitted in Toronto. There are still Estonian speaking students, proven by the fact that in 1980s 35 students received the black freshman cap, although there are several other Estonian fraternities and the Estonian Students Society (EÜS) active in Toronto as well. Since 1954 there is a healthy branch of Rotalia in Vancouver, which was formed mainly from men admitted in the area. Smaller branches are located in Montreal and Ottawa. The Australian branch reached its peak in 1958, with 20 men on the list. Later no new members joined and the Grimm Reaper did its work. By the 1st of June in 1989, when activity in Estonia was resumed, there were 404 members of Rotalia in the Western world. Many who left Estonia have been buried. They have been replaced by new ones from every generation and every year. Among the younger members Estonian is kept alive and improved upon; meetings, business and papers obligatory to new members are all of course in Estonian. During the gatherings the oral history and traditions are passed on by the old alumni over the generations. Founded in St. Petersburg, having been active in Tallinn, Berlin, Tartu, Warsaw, Helsinki, Stockholm, Göteborg, Lund, Augsburg, Erlangen, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and Sidney the student fraternity has kept alive Estonian language, culture and patriotism, those ideas for which Rotalia had been originally created in St. Petersburg.

1944-1988 On Estonian territory

After the war ended, working under the sign of Rotalia was too dangerous. Until Stalins death there was little activity, afterwards the situation eased up a bit. Although there was no official activity, personal friendships remained. Not like in other Estonian areas, in Tallinn the Rotalians had a certain gathering place in the cafe „Narva“. The tradition started in the 1960s in the „Energy“ cafe, in 1970 they moved to „Narva“ cafe. Meetings were regularly on Wednesday evening from about four to seven. Every week saw about eight to twelve men, sometimes up to couple of dozen. Naturally the meetings were held not under the name of Rotalia, but in the disguise of „labor veterans club“, a union of simple pensioners and old friends. The evenings were held in the „Narva“ cafe until 1990. During the 1970s members started to away. Burials were organized in Rotalia's fashion, but naturally without colours. Rotalia's anniversary was regularly celebrated. Of course it was impossible to hold a grand and public commersium, so the fest had to be held for example under the name of St. Martin's Day since those days were quite close together. Also commersiums were held as family fests and anniversaries in the homes of the members. The anniversaries were still held according to the traditions and manners: the landesvater (fraternisation), speeches were held, obligatory songs were sang. If no coloured cap was available a black cap was worn, even by active members. Regardless of the lack of caps there is a picture from the 60th anniversary commersium where the men are wearing Rotalia's coloured caps.

1988 to nowadays in Estonia

In the October of 1988 the alumnus Hellar Grabbi, currently in Tartu, asked over the radio other alumni of Rotalia to contact him. The call was answered by five pre-war members of Rotalia. This was an imported step in restoring Rotalia's activity in Tartu. During the same time a group of students from the physics and chemistry department were looking for ways to enrich the student life. When they were going trough the archives, searching how things had been before the war, their choice fell towards Rotalia. In the 1988 a Krambambuli evening , held during the student days, the alumni Roman Niidu told the new student generation about the academic life before the war. During the evening Väino Kokk let him know that there are a dozen young students who would like to start reviving Rotalia. They met and were easily on the same page. Actions were taken towards the legalization of Rotalia. For that the code of conduct had to be recognized by the University of Tartu and by the Executive Committee of Tartu Peoples Ambassadors Union (the town government in modern days). On the same autumn the foreign branches of Rotalia gave their agreement to the reestablishment of the fraternity in Tartu. On the 30th December 1988 the Executive Committee of Tartu and the University of Tartu recognized the code of conduct. With this act the formal part of Rotalia's revivification was completed, however the more important part, of actually reviving the organisation, was still to follow. On the 15th February in 1989 arrived the moment when eleven students (Aare Abroi, Tiit Arjus, Priit Alumaa, Margus Kerna, Väino Kokk, Kalev Lillo, Peeter Lõhmus, Arvo Maling, Tanel Sitska, Ülis Sõukand and Kristjan Vällik) received the Rotalian freshman cap. Rotalia was one of the few fraternities where even the reviving members went trough their freshmen time under the black cap. The young took part in the revivification already from November, but the alumni wished to do everything according to the traditions and order. In the autumn of 1992 the alumni body detached from the Tartu C!Q!. Parallel to the revivification, the quest to gain back Rotalia's historic house saw much attention. From December of 1960 the University club had been there. From February 1989 Rotalia gained the right to use one room once per week of its former historic house, until in September was it possible to register the room for Rotalia. In spring 1992 the demand of the alumni body to return the property of Rotalia was deemed, by end of August 1993 there was a paper from the property department , declaring that the property at Tähe 3 belongs to the Rotalian alumni body. After the house was regained reconstruction of the house began. When comparing the condition of the house during the time it was taken over and during the time of the 90 anniversary, one can clearly see that practically all rooms in the house have gone through serious renewal. The buildings electrical, ventilation, water and sewage systems have been renewed, side wings have been built to the house, the small hall on the second floor has been restored etc. All this has come to be thanks to the united efforts of the entire Rotalian family; the works were financed by the foreign branches of Rotalia as well as the alumni of Tartu and Tallinn. At the same time as in Tartu preparations for reviving Rotalia's activity in Tallinn began at the lead of alumni Valter Toonekurg, Ants Inno, Ilmar Sirgoja and Tõnu Ojamaa. Already in the end of 1988 a revivification meeting was held and the presidium elected. In 1989 the time was right for admittance of the first freshmen. In the basement of the Dominican monastery a quest night was held, where students attended and of whom became the first freshmen of the Tallinn branch. Among them were many modern active alumni such as Agu Vahur, Priit Ojamaa, Indrek Pajumaa, Hannes Kuhlbach, Tõnu Altnurme, Tarmo Kattago and Ruudo Liis. Soon the fraternity was recognized by the Tallinn University of Technology and the Tallinn University. With an agreement of Sakalan Rein Helme meetings and lessons were held in the rooms of the Historical Institute in Rüütli Street, since there was no fraternity house available. The first public commersium held under the orders of the Tallinn branch took place in the Glehn Castle in May 1989. It was followed by festive and grand „reopening commersium“ in Tartu September 1989. Additionally to the reactivation of fraternity activity the first coetuses took part in social life, including the creation of student bodies by the universities and the reconstruction of the League of Estonian Fraternities. Organized action was taken in the defence of the Tallinn town government from the Interfront in May 1990 and in the defence of the TV tower in the August of 1991. The fraternity home of Tallinn had to move several times: 1990 in the basement of the Trade and Industrial Parlour in Toomkool Street, 1991-1992 in the Muritian Club house , 1993-1997 in a dormitory of Tallinn University, later meetings were held in many random places. By the end of the 1990s Pärnu Street 5 rooms and the bar of Emilio H. Hidalgo (1997-2001) were used as gathering spots. From the year 2002 Rotalia has settled on Toompea in a C!Q! next to the cathedral of Alexander Nevski near the house of parliament. The absence of a stable fraternity apartment was surely one of the main reasons why Rotalia's activity in the 1990s was quite modest among the academic organisations in Tallinn. By the turn of the century Rotalia's problems of finding a C!Q! were replaced by happier notions; namely the more active communication between members of the Tallinn branch and the alumni body and participation in the events organized by the branch. The more note worthy events of the Tallinn branch are the spring commersium and the celebration of the Independence Day. Of course the family picnic and the Christmas event are not less important. During 20 years of activity Rotalia has managed to restore its daily routine in Tallinn and Tartu. Commersiums are held twice a year – in Tallinn in spring and in autumn in Tartu. Meetings and official classes almost every week, summer and winter days are held regularly, as well as tablerounds held with own members or with other fraternities. One of the most important traditions is the coup of the fraternity house on the 1st April when for one day the freshmen gain the rights and obligations of active members and the active members are in the position of the freshmen. In addition to the humour, the purpose of this day is to see how the freshmen can deal with obligations of the active members. Important parts of the life of the fraternity are the contacts between the different branches, the mutual meetings of the coetuses and the joined tablerounds.

1988 - .... in excile

The years 1988 -1991 was a busy period for the foreign branches of Rotalia. The western countries were told about events in the Baltics, the revivification of Rotalia in Estonia was supported etc. After Estonia regained its independence life in the foreign branches of Rotalia have resumed their normal pace. Since Estonia became independent and Rotalia gained a home again in Estonia, one long term goal has been accomplished. The healthiest branches are in Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Toronto and Washington, the more passive ones are in Ottawa and Vancouver. Last year a new branch in Brussels was founded, which was formed by alumni whose work is associated with the European Parliament.

Rotalia's members with the stand of 11th March 2011 were: Branch Emerite alumni (Emer!) Alumni (philisters) Active member (confraters) Freshmen (fuxes) Together Tartu 3 65 40 20 128 Tallinn 5 112 30 21 168 Toronto 20 50 12 12 94 Brussels 0 10 0 0 10 Los Angeles 11 7 5 4 27 New York 18 15 12 7 52 Ottawa 1 7 2 0 10 Seattle 3 3 4 1 11 Vancouver 2 11 1 1 15 Washington 5 11 1 1 18 Together 533

Friendship organizations

Rotalia had signed 4 friendship agreements till its 90th jubilee – with Varsinaissuomalainen Osakunta (1933) and Turu Varsinaissuomalainen Osakunta (1969) in Finland and fraternities Lettgallia (1976) in Latvia and Respublica (2002) in Poland. In addition to that we have met with Östgäta Nation in Sweden, who has a friendship agreement with our friend VSO. In 1936 Rotalia briefly had more intense relations with Frat! Baltiensis in Lithuania, but Soviet occupation severed our ties.

Varsinaissuomalainen Osakunta (VSO)

Estonian students in Tartu made their first contact with Finnish students as early as in the beginning of 20th century and the relationship between Estonia and Finland evolved throughout Estonia's independent period. Our relationships also got a big boost when Finnish volunteers came to help at the Estonian War of Independence. Rotalia was very discreet in entering into friendship agreement with Finnish student organisations and communication was restricted to receptions in Estonian-Finnish student days. Despite of quite active communication between Estonians and Finns there were still some organisations that had remained only an observer even in Finland and one of them was the Varsinaissuomalainen Osakunta in Helsinki. In summer 1932, Rotalia's active member Endel Toiger visited an agricultural exhibition in Viiburi, where he met Pellervo Saarinen, a member of VSO and they discussed about forming a friendship agreement. In autumn one of Rotalia's alumni Nikolai Viilup got into University of Helsinki and decided after Toigers' recommendation to join with VSO. Rotalia invited VSOs managing committee to come and celebrate Rotalia's' anniversary in November and in spring next year VSO invited the representatives of Rotalia to go to their anniversary. Endel Toiger and a bit more sceptical Valter Toonekurg were chosen for this mission which in the end turned out to be a 10 day trip. Even though their long stay was caused by difficult weather, at the end of the day even Valter Toonekurg was persuaded to support friendship agreement. VSO and Rotalia met a few more times during the year which ultimately led to signing the agreement on 12th November 1933 during Rotalia's' anniversary public ceremony. VSO had sent an 11-man delegation to sign the agreement. The relationship between Rotalia and VSO never broke, even during the occupation of Estonia when they could only communicate with foreign representative teams of Rotalia and even that was condemned by the government of Finland.

Turun Yliopiston Varsinaissuomalainen Osakunta (TVO)

As Varsinais-Suomi province is located in southwest Finland and its centre is Turu then there were deep connections between VSO and TVO. They often visited each other and instances when they visited fraternities with whom the other one had signed a friendship agreement were not uncommon. So it is not entirely surprising that when Rotalia held its 40th anniversary in Sweden there was also a member of TVOs alumni association present. TVO gave the permission to start the discussion of signing a friendship agreement with Rotalia to Imre Lipping who was studying in Finland in autumn 1965 and Rotalia's representatives went to TVOs anniversary in spring 1968. In the autumn of the same year, during Rotalia's 55th anniversary, the representatives of both fraternities discussed the final unfinished agreement and on 7th June 1969 the friendship agreement was finally signed. During 1970s the relationship was terminated by TVO because Soviet Union pressurized the Finnish government not to communicate with exiled Estonians. Despite that many members of TVO still maintained relationships with members of Rotalia in Stockholm. The relationship between TVO and Rotalia was revived in 1989 after some members of TVO formed a Baltic Support Group. Since then Rotalia and TVO have mostly visited each other during anniversaries.

Lettgallia

The New York branch of Rotalia shared an apartment with Latvian fraternity Lettgallia and it was only natural that after many years of bonding there would finally be a treaty between these two fraternities. The proposition for it was made in 1975 and was signed on 17th May 1976 in the Latvian House in Freehold, New Jersey. During the signing ceremony there were festivities held in all Rotalian-Lettgallian centres in Sweden, Canada, west coast of USA and Australia. The relationship between Rotalia and Lettgallia has grown tremendously since 1990s and nowadays participation in other fraternities' events, such as commersiums and Walpurgis Night, is very popular.

Respublica

Rotalia and Respublica first met during Baltic Nations Commersium where there was a freshman Filip Łajszczak from Respublica who was at first invited to there by Latvian fraternity Patria. Fate positioned him to sit into the same table with Rotalia's representatives. Earliest contacts led to an invitation to Respublicas anniversary in January 1999 and Rotalia sent out a five man delegation. In spring of the same year 3 members of Respublica participated in Rotalia's Walpurgis Night celebrations and things evolved from there onwards. On 19th January 2002, during Respublicas 80th anniversary the friendship agreement was finally signed and foundation for a certain future between two organisations was laid.

Communication with other academic organisations in Estonia

Rotalia's relationship with female student organisations During the first period of Estonia's independence there were no regular associations with female students. The only exceptions being dance lessons and Graduation Balls where partners were usually selected amongst members of sororities. There were also some visits, for example in 1933 Rotalia was visited by ENÜS (Estonian female student society) Ilmatar, Filia Patriae and Lembela. When women visited Rotalia all use of alcohol was strictly prohibited. Visits usually took place from 9 pm to 12 pm and visitors came and left together. After revival of Rotalia there have been many different events that are held with sororities; most common are still dance lessons but there have also been costume parties and New Year parties. The following events with sororities have become a tradition: Since spring 1998 there has always been a traditional bicycle tour with ENÜS (Estonian female student society) during which participants will visit beautiful places in Estonia. A quite slow speed enables participation of even those who have not rode a bike for many years to enjoy the trip. There is also another spring-time event which is a military theme camp with Amicitia. All the required equipment is provided by Defence League. Participants will have to construct a tent, know how to orientate, there is also a drill and those who will pass the exam can also practice firing a real automatic gun. In autumn, just before weather turns too cold, there is also a departure to nature with Filia Patriae where participants will play different games, pick mushrooms, fish or just enjoy the beautiful nature of Estonia. This tradition has been around for 9 years, since 2002. During the last weekend of October there is also a theatre festival called INTRO with Indla (the name comes from INdla and ROtalia). During the evening many groups from other academic organisations will perform and afterwards there is a dance party.

Rotalia's relationships with other male student organisations

Since the foundation, one of Rotalia's primary aims has been making contact with other friendly student organisations. Rotalia established contact with other fraternities and student societies as soon as possible and those contacts later resulted in the formation of the League of Estonian Corporations. As there was no binding connection between student societies, the relationship with them remained somewhat more distant but still friendly. During Estonia's occupation, when fraternities couldn't operate in Estonia, Rotalia still managed to maintain working relationships with other organisations which was also helped by often renting a C!Q! in cooperation with other organisations. For example, the C!Q! in New York was shared for some time between EÜS and Rotalia. After Rotalia's revival the relationship has been quite good and there have been tablerounds with most of the organisations that are present in Tartu. In addition to that, there have also been meetings with the Tartu Academic Male choir, Finnish Infantry Regiment 200 and officers from BaltDefCol. In addition to traditional tablerounds, there have also been many friendly matches in football and basketball, Rotalia has participated successfully in orienteering events and at the sports day meant for members of academic organisations.

Rotalia and the League of Estonian Corporations (E!K!L!)

On March 25-28 1915 there was a meeting held in Tartu where Vironia and four other fraternities set place E!K!L! and signed the treaty. The mission of E!K!L! was to establish stronger ties between Estonian fraternities, regulate communication between fraternities and create a universal court where misunderstangings can be resolved. After the War of Independence Rotalia was temporarily excluded from E!K!L! because Rotalia didn't have a C!Q! in Tartu. However, Rotalia was again included into E!K!L! in 1924, when a C!Q! in Tartu was established and so the only reason for exclusion was void. Rotalia has always emphasised the need to include all Estonian fraternities into E!K!L! and that mission has now been achieved. During Rotalia's lead, E!K!L! accepted Revelia and Fraternitas Liviensis into E!K!L!. In exile, on of the main issues for fraternities was restoring the E!K!L! and with Rotalia's considerable help it prevailed in Sweden, Germany, Australia, USA and Canada. Since E!K!L! was formed again in Estonia, Rotalia has actively participated in its work and during Rotalia's presidency on 1990 fraternities agreed to a new constitution of E!K!L! Rotalia and Estonian society

Rotalia and Estonian undergraduates

After the War of Independence the constitution of Rotalia was approved by the board of University of Tartu and so began the official activity of Rotalia in Tartu. Until spring 1937 the corporations and student societies were very active and popular among all undergraduates. After the adoption of new law of university the student societies abandoned cooperation with corporations and even though some form of communication remained, mostly between specialised student societies, the largest part of organising activities for undergraduates now fell into the hands of corporations. In fall of 1939, when the representatives of undergraduates were elected, Rotalia got the second largest delegation after the Estonian Students Society (EÜS). The members of Rotalia took part in many specialised student societies, clubs and other organisations and even founded many of those, for example Academic Agriculture Society, Academic Economic Sciences Society, Academic Cooperation Society, Academic Male choir, Academic Marksmen Club and Academic Chess Club. As many other members of fraternities, many members of Rotalia also belonged to Defence League. Members of Rotalia were also very active in different athletic activities. They played basketball, football, volleyball, were good marksmen and did many other things. In 1936 Tallinn University of Technology opened its doors and at the same year Rotalia opened a C!Q! in Tallinn, whose members also participated in E!K!L!, academic clubs and Defence League. After restoration of Independence the members of Rotalia have also actively taken part in student representative organisations and up to year 2004 an astonishing 26 people from Rotalia have been representing other undergraduates, 14 of them in University of Tartu. Members of Rotalia have again actively taken part of many student organisations, for example Tartu Student Theatre, Tartu Student Nature Protection Circle, Tartu Debating Society, Tartu Academic Male choir, many other choirs, International Relations Circle, Academic Brigade in Defence League. Rotalia has also participated in various competitions during Student Days, for example Student Song, Student Film, Costume Relay and many other.

Rotalia and the Defence League

After the War of Independence, most of the organised students in Tartu were also actively taking part in activities of Defence League. After the events of 1st January1924 all the members of Rotalia joined the Defence League and stayed there until the league was dismantled. Members took part of Defence League's training exercises, shooting competitions, manoeuvres and foreign appearances. Rotalia formed Defence League's 5th company of Tartu's 4th brigade. The Defence League was re-created in 1990 and at the first part of the decade, many members of Rotalia were a part of it. Participation in Defence League took another big step when the Academic Brigade was formed on 14th March 1996. Later that year the company of Rotalia was formed. In just a few months, 24 active member, alumni and even freshmen joined Defence League. In 2004 however, only 19 members of Rotalia were still participating in the Defence League.

Community work in Estonia

Before the Second World War many members of Rotalia were dealing with economy. However, the most popular field was agriculture. Rotalia was mostly dealing with internal upbringing and so most of the communal action was in the hands of individuals. In modern journalism, the only reference to members of Rotalia is concerning with property tax of C!Q!. The alumni of Rotalia found out that the law of university said that as a cultural organisation, Rotalia has to serve the interest of the people and the alumni thought that because of this they should be exempt from property tax. The city council however thought that the actions of Rotalia only benefit a small circle of people and as there had also never been such precedence, the council decided not to set academic organisations free of property tax. After the revival of Rotalia there has been much more activities addressed at community in Tartu. It has become a tradition to help clean up the city each spring, in 1998, at the Independence Day members of Rotalia donated blood and sent food aid to Estonians living in Petseri and in 2000, we helped while library was moving. In addition to that, Rotalia was a strong opponent of changing the arms law, which would have made owning a rapier illegal. Rotalia has also promoted its members, who have done much for the state of Estonia, for example we organised an anniversary conference for Jüri Uluots and participated in introduction of token of Jaan Teemant. Many undergraduates have heard about the Fund of Rotalia which supports students with about 32 000 Euros every year.

Community work in foreign countries

Since Rotalia's foundation, the fraternity has, in addition to its internal matters, also actively dealt with broader audiences. At the beginning, the members were obligated to take part of nationalist undertakings in Saint Petersburg, like for example Estonian Society, Estonian Infirmary, Committee of Estonian Societies in Saint Petersburg and enquiry office of wounded and fallen Estonian soldiers. After the Second World War the members of Rotalia were actively condemning occupation of Estonia and fighting against communism. As many members of Rotalia were leading local Estonian societies, clubs and other organisations, the communal work turned basically into integral part of Rotalia. As Rotalia had experience in promoting Estonian way of life in Estonia's neighbouring countries, the knowledge was successfully put to use in many overseas countries far away from home.