ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL DES SKAL CLUBS

Shortly after the inauguration of the first joint Swedish and French air service between Stockholm and Paris in 1932, a group of travel people from the French capital were invited to make an exploratory flight over the new route. The welcome they received in Stockholm led to many pleasant friendships.

Realizing the importance of closer relationships among those who strive to develop and promote both national and international travel, the men who made the flight to Stockholm determined to found a permanent organization whose primary aim would be the creation of goodwill and friendship in travel and transportation circles throughout the world.

The Paris SKAL Club was formed on December 16, 1932, with Rene Genestie as President. In 1934, twelve other clubs had been formed and Florimond Volckaert conceived the idea of uniting them into an international organization. The Association International des Skal Clubs (A.I.S.C.) was created on April 28, 1934, and Voickaert became its Founder President. From that modest beginning, Skal now has more than 25,000 members in over 500 Clubs, spread throughout 80 countries.

On April 1, 1938, the Skal Club of North America (Skal Club of New York, No. 28) was founded.

As the first Skal Club established in North America, the New York Club assisted and guided in the formation of other Skal Clubs on this continent.

"The North American Chapter Committee" in which all Skal Clubs in North America were represented, was formed on March 31, 1949, and was followed by the North American Skal Council on August 9, 1950, and that organization was superseded by the National Skal Committee, U.S.A. as National Committees were formed in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.A.

Coincident with the formation of the three separate National Committees, its North American Skal Council was continued to help in all matters of joint and common interest between Canada, Mexico and the U.S.A., as well as offering membership to Skal Clubs affiliated with the Area Committee under its new name of "North American Area Skal Committee."

Experts differ as to the origin of the word "Skal" (pronounced Skoal) which occurs in the three Scandinavian languages. It is the basis for the universal Skal

 

To fellow Skalleagues everywhere, Happiness! Good Health! Friendship! Long Life! Skal!!!

The Skal movement in the North American area has grown to the extent that we now have 5435 Skallegues in 123 Clubs in Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Curacao, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, St. Maarten and the United States.