RTI World Meeting 2010
29 September - 3 October 2010
Dubai - UAE
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EMATM Meeting 20110
22-26 June 2011
Brasov, Romania
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EMA NTM Meeting 2010
14-17 October 2010
Lithuania
EMA CTM Meeting 2011
11-13 February 2011
Luxembourg
EMA STM Meeting 2011
25-27 March 2011
Malta
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EMA IROs Meeting 2010
18-21 November 2010
Austria
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RTI World Meeting - Change of venue
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Round Table International
World Meeting 2008
Pattaya - Thailand
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A message from the Convenor
The biggest Round Table event in 2008 just got bigger! In a bold and unprecedented move, Round Table Sri Lanka has taken the initiative to move the RTI World Meeting to Pattaya, Thailand. Despite being confident of our ability to host the event safely and without incident in Sri Lanka, many tablers have become apprehensive about bringing their families due to the bleak portrayal of Sri Lanka by the international media. Hence, RTSL took a proactive measure to ensure maximum participation to the event and to make it a landmark occasion by conducting it in Thailand, immediately after the chartering of Round Table Bangkok by Colombo Taprobane Round Table 3 (on August 19th).
As you can imagine, this will be a truly history event, with the newest members of the international tabling fraternity in attendance.
Furthermore, Pattaya in and of itself is a fantastic location, with excellent beaches, shopping, water sports, cultural attractions, and plenty of opportunities to party the night away!! RT Sri Lanka tablers have been flying to Pattaya to arrange a fantastic program that even surpasses the plans for Sri Lanka. The RTI WM website has been revamped with new registration, hotel, tour and other information. We are counting on all Tablers to register soon and make this historic World Meeting a tremendous success. We can assure you that this will be an event you will never forget!
Please visit www.rti2008.org and register soon as the early bird offer ends 30th April 2008!
Mansoor Akbarally
mansoor@akbar.com
Co-Convenor
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Real tabling spirit during the RT10 Trento 40th Ann. (14-16 Mar.2008)
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At the beginning of March I was invited by RT Italy to attend the 40th Anniversary celebrations of RT10 Trento as well as the National Board meeting which took place in the city during the same weekend.
Trento was the 10th table chartered in Italy and is one of the most active and important tables in the country. Among its achievements is the founding of the Euro Ski Meeting back in 1968, actually only 1 year after the table was chartered, and the fact that they proudly have 4 members which were RT Italy National Presidents
The weekend event included delicious Italian food and Wine and real tabling spirit not only from the existing tablers but also from the old tablers. The program included:
First night was at a local restaurant. I was happy to see that there were more than 20 ex-tablers with their wives present at the restaurant. The local tablers not only helped with the organisation of the event but also with the serving of the food.
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| Trento |
With the National Board of RT Italy |
The next morning I have joined the meeting of the Round Table Italy National Board. This was the first time that I participated in a National Board meeting outside Cyprus and I really enjoyed it. What I enjoyed most was the passion and flare that the Italian tablers were speaking and expressing themselves. Although I am not speaking any Italian, except the odd one or two words (Buongiorno, Buonasera, Come stai, Bella Donna, Ferrari, Maserati, Pasta, Pizza, etc) I was able to follow big parts of the meeting mostly by the expressions of the Italian tablers.
The Saturday Night Gala Dinner was at the local theatre. What impressed me most was the spirit of the old tablers. Again present in large numbers, they made their entrance felt, as they were all dressed like they were in an old people’s clinic house (i.e. wearing pyjamas or night robes currying walking sticks, holding around their Serum bottles and being accompanied by their wives which were dressed as Nurses). Everybody was at their feet applauding this attitude.
I wish to thank RT Italy for giving me this chance to attend this great event, but most of all I would like to congratulate RT10 Trento.
Bravo RT10 Trento for an unforgettable weekend.
Bravo RT10 Trento for the great Tabling spirit
YiT
Nicos Zevlaris
EMA Chairman 2007-08
RTI Membership and Community Service Officer 2007-08
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Tabling Styrian Style - CTM in Feldbach Austria (1-3 Febr. 2008)
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This year’s annual Central Tablers Meeting was organized by RT29 Feldbach, Austria. So end of January me, George Psaras (RTI Vice President) and Lakis Petrides (RT Cyprus National IRO) together with our wives headed for Austria. The tablers of Feldbach have organized a perfect meeting with plenty of styrian food and drinks. They have even provided pick up not only from the nearly airport of Graz, but also from the Vienna Airport 2 hours drive away.
Present at the meeting were in addition to most of the CTM countries, National Board members from Cyprus, Malta, Romania, Iceland and Denmark. Tablers from RT11 Ravenna, Italy come in numbers to advertise the RT Italy AGM 2008
The hotel was advertising in their leaflet and website that if we stay there we will:
- Relax in the pleasantly warm thermal water, forget about your everyday duties and indulge in a new light - hearted enjoyment of life. Our great variety of baths and packages will spoil you, find inner peace and balance, discover the world with all your senses and revel in the pleasures of life.
Well they surely have no idea what Round Table events are like.
The first night we went to the nearby Styrian tavern. On Saturday morning day tour for the ladies and non delegates included a visit to the nearby Zotter Chocolate factory, which is now one of the few European chocolate producers and the only one exclusively producing in organic and fair quality. The company produces the most strange chocolates fillings, even one with Spicy Chicken, one with Celery, Truffle and Port Wine, one with Marc De Champagne and other with interesting fillings. After the meeting we all joined and visited the local Schnapps and Vinegar factory. No bonuses of which part did the tablers enjoy more.
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| Styrian Music |
Vinegal Cellars |
A well organized and fruitful Saturday morning meeting, which included a lot of good ideas for the future of the table. The various proposals for discussion included
a. All events both dining & procedural at EMATM functions be “non smoking” by RT Great Britain & Ireland
b. Common EMA-service project in Romania by RT Great Britain & Ireland
c. Support for weakly National Associations inside our sub-region, by RT Austria
d. Discuss the possible role of external international secretary/treasurer/webmaster by RT Austria
e. Successor of EMA-Chairman Nicos Zevlaris – does the CTM-region have a candidate? by RT Austria
Saturday night Gala was at the medieval Kornberg Castle with dressed code being medieval suits and costumes
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| Gala Dinner |
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Thanks Harry and RT Feldbach for a great meeting. See you next year in London and the House of Commons, I wish you Richard all the best.
YiT
Nicos Zevlaris
EMA Chairman 2007-08
RTI Membership and Community Service Officer 2007-08
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RTI EMA IROS Meeting - Brasov Romania (15 -18 Nov. 2007)
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Round Table International VP and EMA Chairman visit Dracula’s Land
New Round Table International Website Launched
The EMA IROs meeting took place in the great city of Brasov, Romania very close to Dracula’s castle. It was a great meeting during which many ideas and concerns about the future of Round Table were discussed in true table spirit.
The main topics covered were the membership issue, the age rule, the strengthening of Round Table International and it regions. As a tool for the strengthening of RTI, the RTI VP, the EMA Chairman and Tabler Michalis Aristodemou presented the new RTI website. The website was very well received and many of the comments from the National IROS were excellent and will be taken into consideration for the final launch of the website. The current address for the new website is the same as the previous one: www.roundtable.name
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| On our way to Brasov. |
Dracula's castle |
In addition the new system for sending emails and attachments personally to each member of the National board of each association was presented. This system within the next 2 months will be also available for the RTI Board members through the website.
All the IROs expressed their view on the above and promised to come back with suggestions on the above topics as well as articles for both the RTI Website and the RTI Newsflash.
A special request from the EMA Chairman was for all the IROs to prepare articles on their successful Community Service Projects in order to further update the new website.
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| Party time. |
Gerald (ARTSA) with "Self proclaimed" King of Transylvania - Rui (Portugal) |
This was the first meeting after the RTI world meeting in Cyprus and it was a great opportunity for all the IROs to see each other. The only negative point is that a lot of the small associations were not present, including all the members of EMA region that come from the continents of America and Africa. I believe that this is an issue that we will have to analyze in a future RTI EMA meeting.
RT Romania organized a great meeting. All the venues were carefully picked and well planned. RT Romania is definitely moving in the right direction. The event even included the induction of a new Tabler in to RT 1 Brasov.
Thank very much and well done RT Romania!
Nicos Zevlaris (EMA Chairman) and George Psaras (RTI VP)
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RT Malta Turns 32 (2 - 4 Nov. 2007)
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Immediately after my election at the end of August 2007 I decided that the first associations I would visit would be RT Malta and RT Greece. Due to unforeseen circumstances the trip to Athens was delayed but will take place before the end of the year. However, the trip to Malta took place as planned from the 2nd till the 4th of November 2007.
One may ask why Malta. Well for me Malta and its tablers have a special place in my heart. I joined Table in 1991 and in 1993 my own club RT 1 was to host the Euro 1 meeting. Amongst the international guest there several Maltese. One of them was Chris Caruana Turner who made me realize what international Round Table was all about. It was during this meeting that I felt like a true Tabler and it was during this Euro meeting that I made my first international friend and sixteen years after we are still the best of friends.
Chris was present when I took over as President of Round Table Cyprus in 1997 and it was then that he predicted that I was going to be the work-horse of Round Table, and not only in Cyprus! In 2007 that is 10 years later he flew to Cyprus in all secrecy and only very few knew he would be at the Gala dinner to give me a surprise. When we finally met he told “you see I told you so” Dear Chris thank you for your friendship and inspiration! This is true Table spirit.
RT Malta has about 40 members and 3 clubs. RT 1 facing difficult times with a membership of only 7. However both the Past President and the outgoing President were coming from Round Table 1. Even though small in size Round Table Malta is a dynamic association that is one of the best represented in RTI events as well as regional events. It produced at least one 1 RTI President, 1 EMA Chairman, and 1 Woco Secretary General. It is also the producer of the RTI directory which is a very serious and difficult task.
In other words it has a great history and great traditions and this will help it out in its current troubles of shrinking members. The AGM and the Gala Dinner that followed demonstrated this history and tradition. The important issues raised during the AGM is that RT Malta adopted the new branding for its logo as can be seen from the photo and more importantly set down the rules for a national community service project and this in order to encourage better communications between the 3 clubs. During the AGM I had the opportunity to give a very brief speech but more importantly I had the opportunity to show the DVD on Round Table prepared by ARTSA. One of the effects the video has on any Tabler (even if he is not from Southern Africa) is that he makes him feel proud to be a Tabler! I was please that most Tablers present at the AGM found the DVD excellent.
I was not the only guest from overseas. Also present tablers from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, and Israel. I had the opportunity to exchange ideas with all of them about Round Table and about Round Table events around the world. I was particularly impressed with the very young Tabler Sasha from Germany. Well done Sasha keep it up! Also present. the colorful President of Ladies Circle Kathleen Messina. Her presence gave me the opportunity to discuss the side by side concept and the possibility of organizing a joint AGM in the future.
I thank Round Table Malta for their hospitality and I wish them a great future. I am sure they will succeed. They have the people and the have the history. Long live Round Table Malta!
Stephen, John, Alex, Kevin all Tablers I am sure you will Aim High!
By George Psaras
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NTM 2007 - Reykjavik, Iceland (25 - 28 Oct. 2007)
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Fun and Serious Decisions at the Nordic Tablers Meeting
25-28 October 2007 - Reykjavik - Iceland
Special Fund Set Up for Extension of Round Table
The biggest NTM so far was held in Iceland the last weekend in October organized by RT-1. Over 300 tablers from 13 countries got together in Reykjavik for a memorable weekend. Before the meeting there was a pre-tour into the highland which 80 tablers attended. In almost constant rain for three days the group experienced some of Iceland's most exotic nature pearls, glacier lagoons, a stay over in mountain cabins, big river crossing and being stuck in a bus in a middle of a glacial river. It has not been made official who won the snoring contest but for sure there were tired tablers who joined the others at the opening of NTM in the Blue lagoon on Thursday. After a swim in the healthy lagoon we headed for the capital, Reykjavik, and the famous Icelandic night life was tested.
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| Having fun at the Blue Lagoon |
Some serious work was done at the NTM |
On Friday the group explored a geothermal power plant and entered the Golden Circle tour which took them to the geothermal Geyser area to see the hot springs, the Golden waterfalls as well as Thingvellir where the oldest parliament in Europe was established. That place is now on the UN world heritage list. Of course the night ended in continuous bar hopping downtown Reykjavik. Gala dinner on Saturday night was excellent offering song entertainment program including some of Iceland's top singers. In the end everyone was standing singing and clapping. This was the end of a very enjoyable meeting with lot of fun, meeting old friends and making new in a good Round Table spirit.
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| The geothermal Geyser |
Fun on Ice |
Even though most of the Tablers came to enjoy and have fun there is also some serious stuff to take care of. All the Nordic countries had board meetings on Friday morning and on Saturday morning councillors holding same positions in all countries met to discuss their issues. In addition the Nordic webmasters exchanged ideas about more efficient way to bring material to tablers using the web, shop keepers discussed NTM logo and exchanged ideas of what and where our stuff could be manufactured to be cheaper and better. Moreover Vice presidents discussed the efforts that RT Denmark together with RT Iceland shall make to charter RT Faroe Islands and RT Estonia and RT Lithuania could lead efforts to re-charter RT Latvia.
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| Having fun at the Gala Dinner |
Having fun at the Gala Dinner |
Exchange of tablers for AGM was discussed as well as The Nordic fund which is a fund of about EUR 17.000 which has to be used to charter RT clubs in new countries. I hope that the Nordic countries will accomplish these tasks in the coming years. See you all at NTM in Nykφping in Sweden 2008.
Sveinn Andri Sveinsson
IRO of RT Iceland 2007-2008
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RT3 Pisek, Czech Republic - 10th Anniversary AGM (5-8 Oct. 2007)
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Beginning of October I attended the 10th Anniversary of RT3 Pisek and the AGM of RT Czech Republic. A small association with just about 15 members and despite it’s small size they tried and succeeded in giving us an event equal to the chartering event 10 years ago. They have chosen as much as possible the same venues and the some shows as those that they have chosen during the chartering event.
The then prospective members of RT3 Pisek looked far beyond their home country for a mother table, and RT 1037 Brackley from RTBI answered their call. And what true mother table they have been since, attending in numbers, every time RT3 Pisek hosts the National AGM. Well done RT 1037 Brackley.
The local beer and friendship attracted almost 50 international guests and for a small National Association of 15 members this is a great achievement. Guests were from RT Great Britain and Ireland, RT Slovakia, RT Germany, RT Switzerland, RT Cyprus and of course me.
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| RT Czech Republic AGM - All around a table |
At the Gala Dinner |
It was the simpler and shorter AGM meeting I have ever attended. It all took place on board the boat which they used for the daily cruise. The local tablers just gathered around a small table in a corner and there they had quietly dealt with their own matters and had elected their new National Committee.
Keep up the good work RT3 Pisek and RT Czech Republic.
Nicos Zevlaris
EMA Chairman 2007-08
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Superb IRO's Meeting in San Marino (9 - 12 Nov. 2006)
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Thanks to conveners Vittorio Venturini [President of Round Table San Marino] and Patrick Morganti [Past President of Round Table International] 49 Round Tablers from 29 different countries enjoyed a wonderful weekend in the smallest and oldest Republic in the world.
The food, the wine, the weather, the program, the company was superb and the general feedback I got was that the meetings were pretty good too!
How the wine and beer kept flowing at the bowling I will never know - well done to the conveners!! And they even organised prizes for the winners and losers! It was also great to see that a bit of sport was thrown in especially after the fun of the ice hockey at the recent Nordic Tablers Meeting in Norway. We must keep Tabling fun!!
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| Councillors from Greece [Sakis], Cyprus [Nicos], play against Gibraltar |
Group photo outside the parliament building |
One of the best parts of Round Table is being able to do things you would not otherwise have done had you visited San Marino as a tourist. And we were not let down! An audience with the two "Excellent Captains Regent" in the fabulous Parliament Buildings was an amazing experience.
This opportunity meant that we held our forum on the Friday in jacket & tie instead of the planned casual dress, but despite that there were plenty of chances for each Round Table International Councillor present to discuss the many interesting topics on the agenda.
There has been much confusion as to whether this meeting is a world meeting or one for the EMA Region. The real answer lay in our constitution which shows quite clearly that it is a Regional Meeting only - BUT, one to which ALL International Councillors are welcome. And thankfully we had Councillors from ARTEA, ARTSA and ARTZ, which brightened up the whole weekend! We are most grateful to you for making the effort to come to this meeting.
Your presence made us address the whole issue of how the Councillors could work together as a team for a whole year, where and when they should meet to have the best debates and best chances of making decisions to move Round Table International forward and of keeping it strong.
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| Councillors from Israel [Dan], Greece [Sakis], ARTEA [Dinesh], Cyprus [Nicos], Norway [Kyrre] & Iceland [Bragi] |
Councillors at the San Marino Grand Hall
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Keeping the same people through that year was also felt to be important so timings of Members AGM's was also discussed. We also wanted to do this without losing what we have worked so hard to establish and only just managed to achieve! That is, to still make sure each Region holds an event each year at which ALL 5 of the Round Table International Officers are present.
On this occasion, we did have ALL 5 International Officers in San Marino, but only because some of them made a special effort to be there anyway! So my thanks go to them for travelling all that way at their own expense! Perhaps that was why the Councillors made some of the decisions they did? It was certainly clear that each of the Officers had worked hard for Round Table and that this International Board was finally working as I had hoped back in 2004 at the International AGM.
Huw Jones, Councillor from Round Table Great Britain & Ireland also took the opportunity to share with the rest of us an idea that is currently being developed over there. He treated us to an excellent video on branding and visual identity which provoked much input from the other Councillors. They liked the ideas and felt that there was scope for all Members to adopt something that could help us create a much stronger, and more importantly more consistent, image worldwide. And on the issue of our logos, Nicos Zevlaris, Councillor from Round Table Cyprus, also rought valuable contributions and presentations highlightling just how differently we represent ourselves to the public across the world, unlike Rotary or Lions, who by the way are also better known than Round Table - any correlation?!?
Continuing the theme of keeping Round Table as simple as possible for anyone to understand has been very important to me personally so I was pleased that the Councillors liked the idea of using geographical terms to identify our regions rather than acronyms, like EMA and PACART.
Another key issue for me has been to allow the Councillors time to report to their fellow Councillors what has been going on in their own associations. In particular they were asked to focus on 1 or 2 key topics of interest happening [or expected to happen] in this year, such as the Round Table Netherland's idea for closing down clubs whose membership numbers fall below a certain level, or Round Table Romania's plan to hold a joint AGM with their 41 Club, or Round Table Luxembourg reminding us all of the Round Table day which could be a great way of raising awareness of Round Table across the world if we all took part.
To give sufficient time for these reports it was necessary to cut out all DVD promotions of forthcoming AGM's etc. which many of us have seen several times before!
So here is a summary of the decisions made over the forum and the meeting itself on the Saturday morning:-
1. Promotion of events is best done by supplying Councillors with DVD's to take home so that they can reach a wider audience.
2. Only Full Members bidding to host the next RTI Meeting shall present promotional DVD's.
3. Round Table Netherlands was elected to host the IRO's Meeting in 2008.
4. The name of the Region was changed from European, Mediterranean & Americas' [EMA] Region to Round Table Europe [with Round Table America affiliated to it until such times as it is big enough to become a Region in its own right]. We remain very hopeful that the PACART Region will become Round Table Asia, but that is a decision that has to be made in Hyderabad at the next PACART Meeting [or will that become Asian Tablers Meeting?]. Similarly, we anticipate that the Africa Region will follow suit and become Round Table Africa in South Africa at the INDABA [or will that become the African Tablers Meeting?].
5. Councillors of the European sub-regions will encourage future Tablers Meetings in those sub-regions to take place during the months of October or November - we have no say in this matter so this course of action was deemed to be the most appropriate.
6. Councillors of Members of Round Table Europe whose AGM's do not fall between 1 March and 15 July agreed to encourage their associations to move their AGM's to this period as that would allow their new Councillor to have the same year in office as the Councillors of other Members. This would help create a full year of international work with the same team which should make for a better decision making body.
7. An idea for each Member to have a position on their National Boards of International Councillor was not popular [maybe in time Members will warm to the idea?]. So the Councillors agreed instead that we should retain the definition we already have in the constitution for it to be normally the National IRO, if not, the National President, if not, another member of the National Board, but no on else. But to ensure that we see the same person through the year as the Councillor we should ask the Member to declare on the RTI Directory Changes Form who they have nominated as their Councillor for the year. And then we expect to see that same person as the Councillor at each of our RTI Meetings. The key here is consistency of people to create a team that knows what is going on and can be relied upon to make the right decisions at the right times.
8. Round Table Europe could follow an idea in Round Table Africa [bit premature maybe?!?] to hold its Regional Meeting [currently known as the EMATM but perhaps this should become the European Tablers Meeting?] at an AGM of one of the Full Members of the Region. A motion to this effect should be brought to the next EMATM in Lithuania in 2007. The focus of this meeting is more and more on friendship and fun and by combining it with an AGM there are certainly cost savings to be had for the Members.
9. All Councillors present agreed that this meeting was a great opportunity to move RTI forwards, but as it was not a true world meeting, it was impossible to change take this final step in the process. However, they did agree that the following change was needed and would advise their successors to pass the appropriate motion at the next International AGM without any big discussion. So the agreement was that we needed to turn this IRO's Meeting into an RTI Councillors Half Yearly Meeting. That it should take place in January each year and that it should rotate between the Regions each year. As the RTI World Meeting will also be on a rotational basis, the RTI Councillors Meeting would always be in a different Region to the World Meeting. Each year there would still be 1 Region that needed a separate visit and that would take place at their Regional Meeting. Any cost savings from the RTI Board not visiting all 3 Regional Meetings to be used to increase the size of the travel fund available. The cycle will then be that each year during March - July a member of a National Board is nominated as the RTI Councillor for the year. He will then go to the RTI World Meeting in August - September where he will be under instruction from the previous Councillor where motions developed in the previous year need to be voted on, but otherwise he will be learning the way so that in January he can come to the RTI Councillors Meeting and actually make decisions if needed during his year. If the matters require Councillors to go back to their associations then they can do that and advise their successor how to vote on the motion at the following RTI World Meeting. In the meantime they would finish their year at their Regional Meeting. [As an afterthought, it might make sense for Members to send their Councillor to the RTI Councillors Meeting but both their current and immediate past Councillors to the World Meeting? Then the past one can finish his year at the RTI AGM with the outgoing RTI Board and the new one can start his year with the new RTI Board the next day at their first Councillors Meeting, then go to their Half Yearly Meeting and see the whole year through by coming back to the next RTI AGM - it could certainly improve the team effort for the year? If anyone likes this idea you can always bring it forwards as an extra part to the motion?]. The rest has been agreed "in principle" subject only really to the RTI Treasurer confirming that it makes financial sense too!
10. As if that was not enough, the Councillors also agreed that a detailed motion should be brough to the next RTI AGM in Cyprus concerning the use of the words Round Table [note that as these 2 words are our brand they appear in the new Region name, the banners from the International Board and our logo etc]. The words are important and need to be given the emphasis over anything else - again see our logo where the words Round Table are way bigger than the word International. Each Member would still use their own rondel but their would be guidance on sizes relative to the words Round Table, their would be guidance on the font and possibly the colour of the text. Table Ronde and Tafelronde can still exist but the look and feel should be consistent with other countries that use Round Table. Huw Jones to prepare once it has been further discussed back in Great Britain & Ireland.
11. And after feedback on the gala dinner in South Africa, it was agreed to limit the jewel handover at the RTI World Meeting to just 20 minutes, to ensure that there would be suitable entertainment in between courses and a band to start no later than 11pm. it was also agreed to end the "party" on a high by switching the gala dinner to Friday night. This would also make way for the incoming RTI Board to have a proper board meeting on the Saturday.
Finally, I would like to say thank you to all Councillors and the few observers that came along for all your contributions. As you can see, it was a very fruitful meeting and Round Table International will grow even stronger as a result I am sure!
Please remember that wherever you go if you are asked what Round Table is, you need only reply that it is a friendship...that makes a difference! And the best example of the difference we can make is to bring education to under privileged children.
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RTI World Meeting - South Africa (12 - 17 Sept. 2006)
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International tabling first began for me in South Africa in 1998 when my wife Anne, or as she now likes to be called, Mrs P, & I came on an Owen Frye Mass Tour. It was nicknamed the “Sunshine & NO Elephants Tour” for obvious reasons, but thankfully, we managed to rectify that by visiting the Kruger National Park before coming to Polokwane, the location of our international world meeting. Not only did we see some elephants, but we were lucky enough to actually see a cheetah killing an impala – something the tour leader had never seen in 13 years of safaris. So, you could say that the week got off to a great start – well you could do if you ignore the fact that we had to spend our time in the park with no luggage, dressed only in t-shirts and it got cold at night, very cold!
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| Transfer Flight to Kruger National Park |
Safari at Kruger Park |
After a couple of days of fun we arrived at the venue, Bolivia Lodge, where the serious part started. The opening ceremony for big events like this is very important and the event convenor, Adrian Lucas, his wife Kirsten and their various committees really pulled off a spectacular opening for us, with a wonderful lesson in beating African drums. But the highlight for Mrs P & I was being flown in by helicopter, once the audience had all taken its place. An experience we will never forget!
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| Helicopter ride to the opening ceremony |
Waiting for the VIP Arrival |
Also lucky enough to be flown in by helicopter were Simon Cusens, now IP International President, and Waldo Thole, the first International President in this new era, following a gap of some 30 years when everything was run by the old WOCO.
Things are different now, the old WOCO disappeared in 2005. Instead we set up a charitable foundation that hopes to raise money from large USA or global corporates. This new WOCO Foundation, as it is called, is not an umbrella organisation over Round Table or Active 20/30 who both have their own world meetings. It is a very specific charity registered in the USA and hopefully the trustees will have some successful meetings with those corporates, so that some service projects that we are involved in may benefit from funding from this foundation in the future.
What we must remember though is that here in Round Table many of us do service projects, with or without the charitable foundation. And those that do will continue to do so but if the foundation is successful then so much the better.
Each year now, the WOCO Foundation will report its progress at its AGM. As some Members of RTI and some members of A20/30 are also members of this foundation, the foundation will rotate where it holds its AGM, which means that sometimes we will see that foundation at our RTI WM.
But what is important to us Tablers is our world meeting for Tablers. When the charitable foundation reports its progress at the A20/30 international convention, Tablers around the world still need to come to their own World Meeting.
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| At the Cherry Blossom - day trip |
Opening Ceremony |
There were a number of motions that were passed at our AGM this year including:-
An email policy to protect Tablers from spamming.
A commitment for the whole RTI Board to attend ALL 3 regional AGM’s each year unless the PACART Region’s AGM is organised by a non Round Table organisation [which historically does happen from time to time] to help unite each of the Regions.
A clarification that the guys elected by the Regions to work on the RTI Board are not chairmen of non existent councils but simply representatives from their Region. The jobs they actually take up shall from now on be referred to only as the RTI Treasurer, RTI Secretary or RTI Membership & Community Service Officer.
A rotational visit register that sets the majority of trips for current and future boards by making it fair to all members who will now get a visit approximately every 3-4 years and not when an RTI Officer feels like it. This way no one will get left out. There is also a requirement that the member shall cover the registration and accommodation costs of the RTI Officer when he makes a scheduled visit according to that register. Any trips outside that register shall be at the members [or the RTI Officers] own cost including travel costs which should stop overkill of visits.
A years hosting contract was agreed as we now have to pay for this service.
Approval was given for the RTI Board to sign an agreement with Freshties to provide blog sites for Tablers to discuss real tabling issues.
And approval was also given to the RTI Vice President to authorise a payment from the old WOCO reserves of up to 20k EUR for operating costs of the new WOCO Foundation for 2007-08. the reason for this is so that the remaining
We also recognised officially a number of changes to our membership during the last year, as follows:-
Members ceased to exist:
RT Canada
RT Latvia
RT Russia
Members suspended during the course of the previous year for non payment of capitation fees who failed during the course of this year to catch up or respond to any attempt by RTI to play a part in RTI:
RT Brazil
RT Hong Kong
They will now have to re-apply for associate membership.
Members suspended during the course of this year but not actually expelled at this stage:
RT Estonia
RT Philippines
RT Senegal
RT USA
We will continue asking for payment for a further year, but if there is no response from them they could well be expelled at next years RTI AGM in Cyprus.
On a technical point, ARTIO (Indian Ocean) split into ARTIO and RT Mauritius and then ARTIO renamed itself RT Seychelles. Both are now full members of RTI.
And during the year there were charters of RT 1 clubs in Singapore and the Bahamas. Both are now referred to as RT Singapore and RT Bahamas and are associate members of RTI. To become full members they will need to follow the rules in the RTI Constitution.
Plans were also announced for likely charters of RT 1 clubs in Algeria and Spain, with further possibilities in Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan and Australia.
There has been a good step towards recognition of our brand, which is of course “Round Table” as seen by ARTIO renaming itself RT Seychelles and we hope that this trend will continue throughout the Africa Region.
A new phrase was introduced that hopefully Tablers across the world can identify with:
“Friendship…that makes a difference”
It does not refer directly to the word service, but rather leaves it open for one to describe any number of ways that one feels it can make a difference. It is an easy modern slogan that really does describe what RT is in a nutshell.
It is time we increased our awareness across the world and in doing so we need to send out a consistent message. All members can therefore say that RT is a friendship that makes a difference.
And like rotary became known for their attempts to eradicate polio, we can become known for bringing education to under privileged children. Freedom through Education is our biggest and best community service project. We can all refer to this project as the kind of difference we can make. The more of us that publicise what RT is with the same message the greater our chances are of survival.
You will see from my logo and banners this year that the word international has taken a bit of a back seat, leaving the words “Round Table” and the rondel. This is our brand and identity and I believe that it is something we can all work on to also improve our worldwide recognition.
The 5 days passed very quickly for me with every day being taken up by meetings or preparing for meetings. Fortunately for most others the days were spent taking day or half day tours which would have been much more fun!
Thankfully there were no meetings in the evenings so there was also time to enjoy myself. As always the nations night, where each country offers typical food and drink from home, was by far the best night with the paprika pepper from Malawi being one of the more memorable moments of that night for me – for many that experienced this night for the first time they might have problems remembering anything at all – it was raucous! People got drunk very quickly!!
The house parties were also a great part of the week and as mine was very close to ARTSA’s association council party I dropped by to say hello there as well. We also went to see the Pharos Legends Rugby Team play with excellent half time live music provided along with a typical fast food meal!
The local tablers and families put on an evening of sketches that they performed very well despite the hard core mob in the peanut gallery!! And of course there was the charter of the sheep shaggers international (RT SSI as you will see it in the RTI Directory this year) just for fun!
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| The RTI Board 2005-06 |
The RTI World Meeting 2007 team dancing Zorbas |
Finally there was the gala dinner that quite rightly we have had some feedback about – the formalities take too long! Well I could have saved myself preparing a speech! We will take note and keep things to a minimum next year so that we can all enjoy the band and dancing before the early hours of the morning! It would be wrong to remove all formalities though as it is the main event of the year, saying goodbye to the old guys (thanks Simon and your team of Adrian, Girish and Pierre – it was fun working with you) and hello to the new guys (looking forward to having fun whilst working with Pierre, Ravi, Sanjay and Tushar).
Thank you to Richard du Bois for providing the interruption at the point of handover, it meant a lot to me. The final twist though was a waxing of the small of my back for charity along with Simon’s leg rather cheekily organised by Peter and Helen Hirst’s 2 daughters Amy and Lucy!! Thanks girls – hope you raised enough money!!
The main prizes awarded were to:-
Joerg Buermann - Tabler of the Year
Pretoria RT 201, ARTSA - Table of the Year
RT India - Member of the Year
Kisumu RT 28, ARTEA - Service Project of the Year
RT Iceland - Waldo Thole Travel Trophy
Very well done to all the winners.
By Arawn Johnson
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The Charter of Round Table Mauritius (Jun. 2006)
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On the 10th June 2006, the Round Table Clubs of Mauritius chartered the “Association of Round Tables of Mauritius”, known as Round Table Mauritius (RT Mauritius).
The Round Table movement in Mauritius has existed for 41 years... and the Tablers in Mauritius throughout these years have always adhered to our MOTTO – Adopt, Adapt, Improve.
And Round Table Mauritius is the living proof of our adherence to our MOTTO.
Historically Mauritius Round Table No. 1 (MRT1previously ARTEA 15) & Seychelles Round Table No. 2 (SRT2 previously ARTEA 22), separated from ARTEA, they chartered Mauritius Round Table No. 3 and formed ARTIO in 1985.
On 10th June 2006 MRT1, MRT3 and MRT5 separated from ARTIO to form RT Mauritius.
The activities marking the Chartering of RT Mauritius started on the 9th June 2006 with an official courtesy visit to His Excellency, the Vice President of the Republic of Mauritius, Raouf Bundhun.
The Round Table delegation was composed of RT Mauritius office bearers together with our main sponsors RT Austria and RT Luxemburg represented by Erich Von Maurnböch (Murphy), Norbert Zach of Austria and Luc Tapella of Luxemburg.
His Excellency the Vice President of the Republic of Mauritius, is a fervent supporter of Round Table in Mauritius and he has been officially informed of the change in affiliation of the Round Table clubs in Mauritius previously under ARTIO and now under RT Mauritius.
The Charter Ceremony itself took place on the evening of the 10th June 2006 at Le Maritim Hotel, during the week end of last ever ARTIO AGM to be organized by a Table in Mauritius. About 100 to 120 delegates & guests attended the “garden party” and were spoilt with Champagne, Wine, Rum and light rain for a few minutes…!!!
The ceremony was solemnly orchestrated by the Master of Ceremony, Nanou Moollan (MRT1) together with the convener for the Charter Ceremony, Clifford Duval (MRT3). Greetings from RTI were read by Peter Howe from RTBI and The RTI Charter Certificate was read and presented by Erich Von Maurnböch (Murphy) of Austria and Luc Tapella from Luxemburg. The whole ceremony was abundantly covered by a crew from the MBC, the National Television.
Other than Austria and Luxemburg, Tablers from Seychelles, Kenya, Reunion Island, South Africa and United Kingdom honoured by their presence the Charter Ceremony which was followed by the AGM banquet which closed its doors at 04:30hrs the next morning…
This weekend has indeed been one of the most intense moments of friendship and fellowship…only a pity that we do not attend to Charter Ceremonies that often.
Yours in Tabling,
Paul Ah Leung.
President Round Table Mauritius
2006-2007
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RT Mauritius now a separate Member of RTI (Jun. 2006)
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The newly created RT Mauritius are not new Tablers but ones that used to belong to ARTIO [Indian Ocean]. Tablers who live in the Seychelles remain in ARTIO, but those in Mauritius have split to create their own association.
The event took place on 10th June 2006 and RT Mauritius were supported in their bid to become a separate association by their two sponsors, RT Austria and RT Luxembourg. RT Mauritius has therefore become an associate member of RTI, and intend to apply for full membership due to their having 3 clubs and a national association.
ARTIO still remains as a national association and still a full member of RTI but is now based in only 1 country ie Seychelles - and it looks like they are happy to continue the branding idea and rename themselves RT Seychelles, in due course. We look forward to hearing about that!
by Arawn Johnson
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ARTIO [RT Indian Ocean] Splits into 2
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In future there will be RT Mauritius and RT Seychelles
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RT Mauritius
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RT Seychelles
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For various reasons, the Tablers in Mauritius have decided to pull away from ARTIO and create their own association, which will be called RT Mauritius. This will take place officially during the AGM weekend of ARTIO [9-11 June 2006].
They have been in existence for 41 years, although only 21 of those years has been with ARTIO - the previous 20 had been with ARTEA [RT Eastern Africa].
What is left of ARTIO will be clubs in the Seychelles only, and it is their intention to follow the branding idea and rename themselves RT Seychelles.
As RT Seychelles is simply losing clubs and changing its name, its status as a Full Member of RTI will not change.
RT Mauritius on the other hand will charter as a new National Association. It will have 3 clubs and will apply for Full Membership of RTI as it has more than 50 active Tablers.
Their application will be considered at the next RTI AGM in South Africa in accordance with the RTI Constitution, which also means that at that AGM they shall carry only Associate Membership status. There is no need to wait the 3 years to apply for Full Membership as they have been in existence through ARTIO for 41 years already. Therfore, their application will be considered in South Africa and Full Membership status shall apply from the following RTI AGM in Cyprus.
We wish both RT Mauritius and RT Seychelles good luck for the future and hope that both can focus on growth in their own countries.
Arawn Johnson
RTI Vice President
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RT Bangladesh add a 2nd Club (Jun. 2006)
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I am very happy to inform you that Round Table India, though RT 92, are chartering the second table in Bangladesh on June 22nd, 2006 in Dhaka. We would like to have as many people attending as possible. Girish has confirmed to be present at this Charter. This 2nd table will really give a boost to tabling in Bangladesh and it will be our endeavour to form the 3rd table there soon and also the Association of Round Table in Bangladesh.
Please do pass this message to all. This is the 2nd International extension this year by Round Table India, with Singapore being the first one. We have also done a lot of work in Bangkok and should be able to form a table there soon.
BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE and make the world a better place to live for all.
Best regards.
Ravi Khanna
National President
Round Table India
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RT Suriname - 50th Anniversary (24 - 28 May 2006)
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RT Suriname's 50th anniversary started with a warm and very vibrant welcoming party on Wednesday 24th of May. Old friends met again, greeting and making new ones for life. This was just the beginning of an exotic week in the Amazon jungle. The oldest table of the America’s and Caribbean region showed that she still knows how to do it. The food was exceptional, the laughter hilarious and the company unsurpassed. Tablers whose ancestors came from very different continents and cultural backgrounds centuries ago, melted together in “De Surinaamse Tafelronde Paramaribo 1” and were responsible for an atmosphere identical to the international table spirit.
This cultural diversity was demonstrated on the 25th with a supreme mixture of music and dance from the different cultures of Suriname harmoniously blended in a thrilling performance.
The actual party was on the 26th of May remembering the day when we were chartered 50 years ago in Versailles, France. An AGM from the heart, among friends with a lot of emotional speeches was the spontaneous theme for the day. Astonishment introduced the words but, but, but…….
The gala with banner night was held at the Presidential palace once again in the presence of the exceptional Suriname cuisine.
The aftermath of this great day took place in the middle of the jungle in a hammock besides the barbeque grill, on a beach like riverbank while the table family was enjoying, chats, boat rides, ballgames, sailing and fishing.
The formal closure on Sunday’s brunch at the home of the newly elected president of our table was very well attended despite several rain showers and the opportunity was ceased to initiate the informal program for the remainder of the stay of our valued guests.
Click on this link for the photo album - http://www.rtsuriname.org/album/index.php
by Arawn Johnson [from RT Suriname's website]
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INDABA Meeting (13 - 16 Apr. 2006)
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The 2006 INDABA was held in Zambia where we saw the Africa Region take large steps towards a unified way of working with the other Regions of RTI. It was also a time of great sadness as Round Table lost a valuable Tabler, Motrine from ARTZ [RT Zambia] and his family lost a father and husband and our thoughts go out to them at this difficult time.
ARTCA [RT Central Africa] having paid their RTI Capitation Fees were re-instated as a Full Member of the Region, making a “Full House” of all 6 Full Members of the Region. No communication had been received from ARTM [RT Madagascar] and more confusingly, the Region did not recognise RT Senegal as part of it, despite its physical location in Africa and not on the Mediterranean Coast!
Elections took place for the hosts of the 2007 INDABA and the one in 2008. ARTSA [RT Southern Africa] were the successful bidders for 2007 and ARTCA [RT Central Africa] for the one in 2008.
The Africa Region is now on the same 2 year cycle as most of the other RTI Meetings. This consistent approach across RTI is most important for unity and keeping things easy to understand and follow.
The bidders for the 2007 and 2008 INDABAs used the “Application to Host an RTI Meeting” form which has been designed to create a greater degree of control over the costs of our RTI Meetings and to ensure that they are planned properly and if free beer is promised then free beer needs to be delivered! There are also cost restrictions in place to prevent registration prices and accommodation prices from being set too high.
To compliment this we are working on a format that gives the right balance between meetings, fellowship and trying out new activities/experiences. The combination of these we hope will see these events become less of an event for the chiefs [RTI Councillors] and more of an event for the indians [Joe Tablers].
Sanjay Mandavia from ARTEA [RT Eastern Africa] was elected to represent the Africa Region on the RTI Board in 2006-07. He will therefore take over from Adrian Lucas at the 2006 RTI AGM. The Region understood that this provided ample time for Sanjay to discuss what was required of him during his year with the current RTI VP, Arawn Johnson from RTBI [RT Great Britain & Ireland] before he actually takes on one of the roles of RTI Secretary, RTI Treasurer or RTI Membership & Community Service. Once the meeting understood that each of these duties are already defined in the RTI Officers Handbook, that he would be required to work for all the Members of RTI and that the system ensured that the Region would always be represented on the RTI Board they decided to change the name of the post from Regional Chairman to Regional Representative and that therefore there was no need for a Vice-Regional Representative.
Perhaps this need to be followed through in all 3 Regions?
Following similar patterns to the existing RTI Travel Bingo, but with additional requirements, the Region created its own Africa Region Travel Bingo and the guidelines for this are included with those for the RTI one on the “docs” page of this website. The extra requirements are an excellent improvement on the relatively poor guidelines for the RTI scheme – again perhaps they can be adopted by RTI as well?
Another step to unity came in the form of the Africa Region “INDABA” Travel Fund, which is designed to help a young “Joe Tabler” attend an AGM of another Member of the Region by way of a grant towards his travel costs. And again travel und guidelines are available for download from the “docs” page.
The various downloadable documents also satisfied the needs for guidance to the extent that the Region had no need for any bye laws to be put in place. The RTI Constitution together with the guidelines covered everything that needed to be covered and kept everything simple.
This year was also to be the last year of any contributions towards travel costs of the RTI Councillors, on the basis that no funds actually existed from which to make any grants.
The future of Tabling in Senegal, Madagascar and Reunion all require input from the RTI Board, and in particular the RTI M&CS Officer.
The Region only makes one award, the Silver Bull, for the best contribution to the Regional AGM and this year it was won by Richard Miles from ARTAG [RT Arabian Gulf].
Finally, but by no means least, RTI and LCI took the opportunity whilst in Zambia [home country to the current LCI President, Sylvia Mwansa] to sign a “Memorandum of Understanding” between the 2 international organisations [not the individual Members] to work together “Side by Side” in the future. So maybe we will see a joint RTI/LCI World Meeting in 2009?
By Arawn Johnson
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RTI President's Visit to India (27 Feb. - 3 Mar. 2006)
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Dear Ravi
Please permit me to express my indebtedness to the fantastic hospitality shown to me during my recent visits ( 3 actually!) to your enchanting country. Wherever I went, I was greeted and feted in ways that will stay with me for life- most especially that very humbling experience like never before that I underwent in a Tsunami village which name I did not catch.
I must say that of all the travels I have undertaken over the last two years in my Vice Presidency year and now in this Presedential year, the trip to India scored highest in terms of the combination of sincerity and depth of fellowship shown to me added to the magnitude of the reach and results enjoyed by the Indian children under the FTE Programme.
How can I also forget the Madras Knights, the Tsunami fishermen, the Tsunami orphans, the Delhi, Chennai and Pondicherry Tablers, the school visits and actually, every little detail of my trip …except for those that happened both on my arrival to and return out of your airport….. I was charged USD 450 for excess weight by Emirates Airlines pertaining to so many gifts bestowed on me by so many Tablers and grateful Indians wherever I went.
Being deported from India as an illegal immigrant …gave me (being positive) a new experience into the plight of displaced persons or refugees and the cold facts of a super effiecient way of dealing with the problem….not even wanting to listen or talk….but just ejecting these persons irrespective of their plight…
I forgive India for the disparity of discriminating with Presidential treatments who arrive without a valid Visa…I noted that whilst in my case, I was ejected from Chennai within 60 minutes minus USD 630 from my credit card, another President in Delhi without a Visa too, enjoyed a glorious welcome that CNN and all the world TV networks ran over and over for ours of end. Even though I had the correct three letter ‘RTI’ anagram before the word ‘President’, they were not ‘USA’ so I obviously had the wrong letters…so at least next time I will fly to Delhi instead….
I shall not single out any individuals for praise because there are far too many to mention. I mean that. I really do.
I wish to add that your daughter Association RT Nepal needs help- badly. They don’t realise how much because the misery and deprivation is a way of life over there. Any assistance you may give them is appreciated. A little will take them a long way.
I leave you with some special photos that remind me of this most incredible trip.
Your grateful friend ,
and with much respect for all RT India did for me and for what it is doing for your children.
Simon Cusens
RTI President 2005/2006
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PACART Meeting (23 - 26 Feb. 2006)
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At the heart of an excellent meeting convened by Mansoor Akbarally, RT Sri Lanka S, was the opening ceremony of school to replace one destroyed by the Tsunami.
During the actual PACART Region AGM a number of decisions were made. In keeping with the spirit of uniting all 3 Regions the PACART Region's constitution was formally closed down. However, they did want to retain the right to do some things their own way. For example they want to know 12 months in advance who the next regional representative will be although that person will not be a member of the RTI Board, will not have any jewels or budgets or duties, but will have plenty of time to prepare for their role on the RTI Board. The duties of the regional representatives are set out in the RTI Officers Handbook.
On a sadder note, the number of full members of the region has now fallen to 4 (RT India, RT Nepal, RT New Zealand and RT Sri Lanka). Regarding the other 3 associations in the region, RT Bangladesh is an associate member, RT Hong Kong was suspended at the RTI AGM in 2005 for non payment of capitation fees and RT Phillippines was suspended at the RTI Board Meeting just before this PACART Region AGM where that decision was announced.
Looking to the future though, RT India is progressing well with the chartering of RT into Thailand and Singapore. RT Sri Lanka are hot on their tails with the chartering of a second club in Thailand so it looks like this extension will be successful. But we must not forget that we have in the past chartered RT in Hong Kong and much more recently the Phillippines. We can't let all that effort go to waste so we must try to pull together and try and revive them and bring them back into RTI.
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CTM in Maastricht (27 - 29 Jan. 2006)
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All credit to Freerk Faber, Past Nat P RT Netherlands, who organised a great Central Tablers Meeting in Maastricht from 27-29 January 2006.
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| Reunion of old friends |
Gala Dinner - Cheers!!!! |
There was plenty of inclusive beer on the Friday night in a great bar in the centre of a very lively city, the quality of the food and inclusive aperitives, wines and digestives at the Gala Dinner was superb and to top it off breakfast was served right the way through until midday - very sensible!
I attended the meeting for vice presidents, which was extremely well chaired by Jens Hoogstad, VP RT Netherlands. I lost track of who else joined us but there were certainly secretaries and treasurers present, and possibly others as well.
Thankfully there was no talk of constitutions or structure, only time for the more important issues such as PR, branding, awareness, growth and service.
A good idea put forward to help grow clubs was to invite a local businessman to come and talk about their business, no mention of membership nights, just a chance to learn about the company, but in turn this could lead to a prospective member or awareness of Round Table within that business.
Happy birthday cards sent to members on reaching their 38th or 43rd birthdays was also seen as a good way of focusing the minds of those soon to leave to try and find a replacement for themselves.
Other ideas included making sure there were processes in place to follow up enquiries generated from websites and asking all new members to bring in a friend within 6 months of joining.
The idea of 2 or 3 year rolling plans is also beginning to be introduced by a few members as growth in membership cannot be achieved by any one president in his year. These things take time. PR, awareness and branding were al considered to be separate from membership growth but are needed as part of a comprehensive rolling plan.
All were introduced to the RTI Website and the roles of the 5 members of the RTI Board who now each have a specific role to play for RTI.
The need for a message from RTI every few months was expressed which could contain a table of events that could be copied directly into national magazines, which we will try to do.
The meeting worked well around a large table, not too dissimilar to a normal table night, where people tend to open up and relax a bit more, and so speak more freely and possibly more usefully!
By Arawn Johnson
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IRO's Meeting in Athens (Nov. 2005)
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IROS meeting in Athens Greece. Back to Greece for the 3rd time since 2003. My first visit was in 2003 when RT Cyprus, RTBI, RT Belgium and RT Austria joined forces and chartered the first table, RT1 Athens.
1 year later we returned to charter the RT2, RT3 and for the charter of the National Association.
Now we were back, in Athens, this time for the IROS meeting.
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| IROS Meeting |
Lebanese night with a Natural Lebanese Belly Dancer |
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RTI / LCI and 41'ers International meet in Cyprus (Oct. 2005)
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Prior to the Club 41 Int Half Yearly Meeting, a casual meeting involving Club 41 Int. President John Hudson, LCI IPP Elena and RTI President Simon took place on 7th October. During this meeting, RTI President Simon updated both on the recent RTI Constitutional changes with respect to the new RTI obligation to seek inroads with both Club 41 Int and LCI.
At the Club 41 Int. Half Yearly Meeting, President John Hudson asked RTI President Simon to join the Officers’ Table together with the Club 41 International Board.
President John commented that this was a special event in view that no serving RTI President even visited a Club 41 International Official Meeting and it was about time that this situation changed.
President Simon’s request for RT History information was seconded by President John who asked each country present to collate information available in their country to assist RTI with a plan to create a specially dedicated archive section on the RTI website. A book covering Round Table’s first 60 years of history, now out of print, is to be lent to President Simon as part of the information to be provided. This includes many photos from olden days together with Round Table milestones over the years.
The suggestion of professional networking brought up by President Simon raised some interest in view that many of those present are still actively working and showed interest in being part of a suggested RTI/LCI/Club 41 Int. professional web based network.
President Simon requested assistance to re-charter the Spanish Association of Round Table. President John promised to set up a task force consisting of Spanish 41ers and GB&I expats living in Spain to assist and will convene a meeting to get this attempt off the ground. President Simon extended an invitation to President John, a south African, to consider attending the RT World Meeting in RSA next September. It is highly likely that this will happen and Club 41 Int. is even thinking of organising its 2006 AGM over the same dates as the RTI World Meeting, besides encouraging a gathering of ex RTI Presidents, a few of whom have been south Africans in years past.
At the Gala dinner, it was obvious that there was a lot of interest in reviving ties with RTI and 41ers present were discussing various episodes first hand that would interest all those who have the history of RT at heart and a strong desire to catch up with Tablers of present.
Present at the Meeting were RT legends like Ariel Eldor and various past presidents of Round Table Associations, all very keen and hopeful about links back to RTI.
by Simon Cusens
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Community Service
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Professionalism
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Family
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Fun
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4 Clubs 1 Vision
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