Welcome to ACHAFR
The Antique, Classic and Historic Automobile world Fellowship of Rotarians (ACHAFR) is an international association of Rotarians dedicated to promoting the preservation and utilisation of antique, classic and historic automobiles as an opportunity for fellowship and service
The ACHAFR embraces national chapters and has individual members ( see Membership).It has been approved for recognition by the Board of Rotary International
The Fellowship was founded in 1988 and gradually spread its wings over continents and now counts twelve national chapters in Europe and North America as well as contact representatives in Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Uruguay (see National Chapters)
Its main activities are:
- acting as prime contact with Rotary International
holding an Annual General Meeting providing full details of the previous years’activities and presenting the Financial Statements and the Financial Budget
- coordinating at least one International Touring Rally per annum (see National Chapters, ACHAFR Tours)
- providing support to new fellowships/national chapters in helping them to get established
- giving support to national chapters organising rallies themselves and/or assisting local Rotary Clubs with the organisation and promotion of Vintage and Classic Car Rallies and Shows
- providing and maintaining a website (www.achafr.eu) for general information and specifics of national chapters and events
- assisting national chapters in acquiring new members through booths at Rotary (District and International) Conventions and providing marketing and PR support via (social)media, newsletters and materials such as car badges, caps, pins , shirts etc.
There are hundreds of events being organised by various Rotary Clubs throughout the world and via its national chapters ACHAFR will provide information of those local and national events and introduce interested potential participants from other domestic and foreign Rotary Clubs to the respective organizing Club (see Rotary Club Events)
President's Letter 2018
President’s Newsletter Vol 14. Nr 1. January 2018
Antique Classic & Historic Automobile world
Fellowship of Rotarians
Dear Members
Now that we have entered 2018 I wish all of you a most Healthy, Happy and Successful New Year and of course splendid hours during the many vintage cars’ tours ahead of us.
This year we write the 30 th Anniversary of our Fellowship and we will attach much interest to this great occasion and for good reason. We are among the oldest international Fellowships of Rotary and we really are “international” – organising cross border tours, offering seats in our cars to Rotarians from distant countries and presenting ourselves at booths of Rotary World Conventions and supporting activities and projects in various countries.
Over the years we petrol heads (Australian expression for ‘car nuts’) have grown to become a magnificent group of friends meeting each other on various occasions on different continents. At those joint tours and adjacent social gatherings the close knit car – family attitudes prevail over nationalities and languages and that adds to Rotary’s phi losophy of close cooperation and communication at home and across borders, which is extremely important and valuable in changing environments .
This year many of us will meet again at various (inter) national tours organised by ACHAFR and its national chapt ers.
On April 21 many of us will line up on the Piazza d el Popolo in Ascoli Piceno and enjoy from April 21 – 25 Rotary’s Coast – to – Coast tour to Orbetello crossing the regions of Tuscany, Marche, Umbria, Abruzzo and Lazio. I can only inspire you to join us, since the tour brings us to less known areas ( at least for us foreign participants) and the net – receipts will again be routed to projects of Rotary Clubs in the area ,which has so heavily been struck by the devastating earth quakes in recent years.
From June 8 – 10 RRAF – Netherlands invites us to join and celebrate the ACHAFR 30 th Anniversary Tour , which will bring us via fantastic scenery driving to historical places and royal palaces, will then give us some rest after having embarked on an antique sailing vessel before having us thrown eyes on fine Dutch art collections.Of course, we will attach some thoughts and reflections on the history of our Fellowship and toast on the future well – being of ACHAFR and its national chapters.
From September 11 – 13 the RRAF – UK Classic Car Tour takes place among the hills , valleys and chateaux of Normandy. There will be great scenery driving with some competitive elements, but we will take a rest at a distillery with Calvados tasting and the owners of the magnificent Chateau Le Kinnor will host us for an afternoon tea. Of course , we will have ample opportunities to enjoy the ‘bonne cuisine’ of the French restaurants in between.
In addition, national chapters and local Rotary Clubs, such as RC Luedinghausen on May 5 and RC Liege on May 27 organise classic car tours for Rotarians at home and from abroad. National Chapters and local RCs are invited to inform us about forthcoming events, which will then be included on our website.
www.achafr.eu
On this website you will find details and the registration forms of the above mentioned tours in Italy, Netherlands and Normandy.
Our website has undergone a complete overhaul with great support of ACHAFR and national chapters as well as the webmaster…. and at considerable expense. It is now up – to – date and is to be the communication and contact platform for all Rotarians wherever domiciled. Statistics of usage show that visitors from countries, which do not have a national chapter of o ur Fellowship consults our website in quite a remarkable frequency. This appearance may induce us to look for possibilities of establishing new national chapters. During my recent visit in Sydney I gratefully notice interest from our Australian ‘petrol hea ds’ . Also Rotarians from other countries like Brazil and Philippines have become life – time me m bers of our Fellowship and may become ‘ambassadors’ to additional national chapters.
During its 30 year history ACHAFR has spread its wings over continents and now counts national chapters in Europe and North America as well as representatives in Asia, Australia and South America.
By doing so, we have add additional dimension to our Leitmotiv
KEEP ROTARY ROLLING
With finest personal regards
Dr. Matthijs van den Adel