Milan Chloupek
President of RC Třebíč
My name is Milan Chloupek, and I am currently serving my second term as the President of Rotary Club Třebíč. I was born in 1951 and am a founding member of the club. Though retired, I still help my son with the metal workshop I established after leaving the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant.
Our club was originally founded in 1937 but was dissolved by the Nazis after just two years. It was re-established after the Velvet Revolution in 1993 and officially chartered by Rotary International on September 25, 1995. We will celebrate our 30th anniversary this year on October 18 – you are warmly invited to join us in Třebíč!
Our club is not exclusively male; we proudly have two women among our members, both of whom are among the most active.
We meet every Tuesday at 7 p.m. Over the years, we’ve changed venues several times and currently gather in the former Rachel Wine Bar, located in Třebíč’s Jewish Quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How would you describe your club?
RC Třebíč is a typical club based in a smaller town. From the beginning, we have focused on charitable activities (such as our Christmas Benefit Concert and the “Children for Children” Benefit Concert), youth service (short- and long-term youth exchanges, family exchange, and formerly, holiday camps), and fostering international friendships with partner clubs such as RC Rothenburg ob der Tauber and RC Oschatz/Torgau in Germany, and formerly RC Epe in the Netherlands.
Our founding president, František Ryneš, served as District Governor in 2009/10 and is now editor-in-chief of the Rotary magazine Rotary Good News. Jaromír Barák, the director of RYE CZ, is a dedicated Rotarian, highly capable and incredibly hardworking. But all our members actively contribute – the atmosphere in our club is truly wonderful.
The club's many individual awards and recognitions, including two distinctions for club-wide achievements, reflect our dedication – especially considering our relatively small membership.
What do you consider the club’s most meaningful activity for members?
Our most impactful efforts have involved Matching Grants supporting the “Žijí s námi” foundation – a day rehabilitation center for children and youth with physical and mental disabilities in Třebíč. These projects have funded a training kitchen, a woodworking workshop, a wide range of specialized motor skills tools for therapy, an optical device for amblyopia treatment, a specialized bath with lifting equipment, a children’s traffic playground, a playroom for toddlers, and many other improvements.
We also provided a Peugeot minibus, later replaced by a Ford Transit. The nine-seat bus, with space for two wheelchairs, has transported clients to and from the center. Over the years, we’ve provided three such minibuses – the latest is now in service.
Matching Grants also supported the Pediatric and Neonatal Department of Třebíč Hospital. Over five years, we’ve purchased several incubators for premature babies, including a rare twin incubator. We also contributed to the installation of a baby box and funded mask production during COVID-19 for the nonprofit organization Vrátka.
A major source of funding for these initiatives has been our “Children for Children” concerts, involving hundreds of students from the Forum Třebíč Elementary Art School. We organized these concerts for six years.
Another key fundraising event is our annual Christmas benefit concert, combined with an art auction featuring works by local artists. These concerts, held first in the historic Stone Hall of Třebíč Castle and later in the Rear Synagogue, have been a club tradition for thirty years.
Planning and executing these projects strengthens the bonds among members. Sometimes, I feel we’re so focused on our work that we don’t leave enough time for simply sitting together and chatting about life. That’s why we organize relaxed summer gatherings with barbecues.
Who were the beneficiaries of your club’s service over the past 12 months?
In addition to our ongoing support for the Children’s Rehabilitation Center, we’ve recently focused on the civic association Míša a Míša, which employs young people with mental and physical disabilities. We’ve supported their operations by funding a clay press and ceramic materials, purchasing a car, and providing direct financial assistance.
What major project is your club focusing on this year?
We’ve selected a global grant to support – the purchase of an ultrasound diagnostic system for a hospital in Dnipro, Ukraine. This project is led by our very active member Mája Smrčková, who joined us from Znojmo and now oversees all Rotary Foundation projects. We are also preparing a grant to support Míša a Míša. Naturally, youth exchange remains a cornerstone of our activities.
What do you most appreciate about your club members?
Above all, I value the friendly atmosphere at our meetings. Members support each other beyond Rotary, and their personal commitment to both club and district projects is outstanding. I must mention the dedication of our members Mirek Barák, Jaroslav Šmarda, and Lubomír Dolejský to Youth Exchange. Few realize how much work and effort this requires – especially when they face obstacles from envious individuals, including the current district governor.
What goal have you set for your presidency this year?
My primary goal is membership growth. We currently have only eight members, most of whom are older. However, we are about to welcome two younger candidates and one very young prospect – a former youth exchange student. We will officially present their membership pins at our first July meeting. I hope they will attract even more young people.
Why did you accept the invitation to join Rotary?
I already knew many Rotarians from my time at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant. Most of our founding members worked there. I have always admired what they do for disadvantaged people and youth – and I continue to admire them today.
Milan Chloupek
President of RC Třebíč
