Although, as is stated on page 245 of the Jubiläumsbuch, the club "Gottscheerland" in Klagenfurt was a branch of the club in Graz until 1928 and only then became independent, it had already developed its own active functions after 1919 under the direction of Professor Peter Jonke. Meetings of countrymen were held and the Gottscheer Zeitung as well as the Gottscheer Kalender (almanac) were labeled and mailed to subscribers in Carinthia by volunteers.

Upon the invitation of the club, the men's chorus from Gottschee, under the direction of Dr. Hans Arko, came to Klagenfurt on the Feast of Pentecost in 1926. From here they took a boat across the Wörthersee to visit the ethnic scholar, school principal Wilhelm Tschinkel, who lived in Rosegg near Velden. He is the author and composer of our ardent native song "Dü hoscht lai oin Attain, oin Ammain Dazua ..." Tschinkel had invited the singers from Gottschee so that they could give a joint recital under the heading "Kärnten-Gottschee" (Carinthia-Gottschee) with the local chorus that he directed. It was a splendidly successful festival that was happily attended by many locals and countrymen living in Carinthia. Of course, upon their return the Gottscheer singers had to vindicate this "crime" at the district office in Gottschee. The club "Gottscheerland," too, ceased its activities during World War II but was again activated in 1948 by Professor Peter Jonke and government official Sepp König. As was already stated, the newly established club called itself "Hilfsverein der Gottscheer und Deutsch-Krainer" and was given a new direction by chairman Walter Samide, a public official. The greatest achievement for the Gottscheer people was made by this club when it resumed publishing the Gottscheer Zeitung in 1955. In this book, the author clearly details its efforts on behalf of the lost properties and above all the cultural activities of the Gottscheer organization in Klagenfurt after nearly three decades. As thanks for his many years of selfless efforts on behalf of the club he directed, public official Walter Samide was declared honorary chairman in 1971. Dr. Viktor Michitsch, attorney, was unanimously elected to the post in the same year.

The following organizational system has evolved in Austria: Vienna is responsible for the countrymen in Vienna and Burgenland, Graz for those in Styria, Upper- and Lower Austria, Klagenfurt encompasses those countrymen in Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg.

("Jahrhundertbuch der Gottscheer", Dr. Erich Petschauer, 1980)

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