About Us
What Is Round Table?
"Round Table Southern Africa is a non-political,
non-denominational association of young men between the ages of 18
and 40, embracing representatives of nearly every profession and
occupation, whose objects encompass the encouragement of high
ethical standards, the promotion of social intercourse and
fellowship among young professional men, the quickening of
individual interest in everything affecting the public welfare, and
the promotion of understanding amongst peoples of different
cultural, language and political backgrounds."
ARTSA - the Association of Round Tables in Southern Africa -
consists of all the Round Tables of Lesotho, Namibia and South
Africa. The main aim of Round Table is to enjoy fellowship with
people from all walks of life, as well as organising fund raising
events and community activities.
Check out the official Round Table website at
www.roundtable.org.za
What does Round Table do?
Every Round Table holds one or two business meetings and
usually one 'social' meeting per month. These meetings are the
forums at which various welfare projects and fund-raisers are
discussed, often with input from outside speakers. Fellowship is
always of a high quality, especially after closure of each meeting.
Social meetings may be used to play action cricket or some other
social activity, or more frequently, simply to 'raid' another Table
in the endless quest for more fun and fellowship!
In particular, Round Table offers an excellent opportunity for
meeting new friends from your own community, area, country and the
world. It also offers an excellent vehicle for self-improvement in
areas such as public speaking, leadership, project management, and
meeting procedure.
Travel forms an important part of Tabling and is integral to the
smooth operation of Round Table internationally. Typically, a
visiting Tabler to another Association is often looked after by
Tablers in that Association to make it easier for Tablers to travel
internationally.
Round Tablers worldwide are instant friends.
What sort of community work does Round Table do?
ARTSA is arguably one of the most focused Associations as
far as welfare work goes. It has clearly aligned itself with the
plight of children and has run national advertising campaigns to
this effect. The ARTSA constitution is also very explicit on the
ways in which funds raised from the public may be applied.
Community projects are run at Table, Area and Association levels.
Successful Association projects have included Childline (the
promotion of a toll-free number for children to call for
assistance), the National Sea Rescue Institute and involvement with
FAMSA. Currently, there is immense interest in the involvement of
the East Rand Area with SA Police Services Child Protection Units -
this topic will be fully covered on the East Rand Area pages.
At Area level, events such as the motorcycle Toy Runs and mass
outings for underprivileged children are held by many Areas. At
Table level, community service projects include schools, community
centers, outings for the aged or underprivileged, assistance for
those in need and other projects too numerous to list.
All the time, Tablers are having fun helping their
communities.
What about my family?
Social events with our wives and children are frequent
(typically once a month or more) and typically take the form of
'theme' parties and dinners, braai's (barbecues), brunches and
weekends away. At an Area level, there are normally a number of
inter-Table socials such as Darts Days, Quizzes and Raft Races, all
of which include the whole family. A local favourite is the annual
Sabie Tube Race in which about 500 usually sane adults 'race' along
7 km of the Sabie River in Mpumalanga Province (hosted by Sabie
Round Table No. 89).
Family involvement is important to Tablers.
Where does the money come from?
Welfare and community service projects invariably require
money. Each Table and Area uses a variety of means to raise money.
These projects range from melodramas, to beer fests, to the running
of "Old Smokey" (a miniature steam engine built in 1923) at
Germiston lake for the kids. Tablers have no fear of approaching
corporate sponsors for assistance in the form of paint for an old
age home, bookings for a Golf Day or sweets for a children's'
outing.
Yes, Tablers have fun raising money as well!
History
Round Table started in England in 1927 when the Prince of Wales
said "The young business and professional men of this country must
get together round the table, adopt methods that have proved to be
so sound in the past, adapt them to the changing needs of the time
and, whenever possible, improve them."
The first Round Table was formed in Norwich, England in 1927. The
founder, Louis Marchesi, was a young member of Norwich Rotary Club
who felt a need existed for a club where the young business men of
the town could gather on a regular basis. At their meetings they
could exchange ideas, learn from the experiences of their
colleagues and play a collective part in the civic life of Norwich.
From a very early stage it was agreed that Round Table would be a
non-religious, non-political club and this has continued to this
day.
Round Table now flourishes in the majority of European countries,
throughout Africa, the Middle East, India, Hong Kong, New Zealand
and America. In fact Round Table is represented in every continent
of the World.
Dr David Smith, who had been a Round Tabler in Bath, England,
settled in East London, South Africa and joined Rotary. He started
the first Round Table in South Africa in November 1948. In 1951 the
Association of Round Tables in Southern Africa (ARTSA) was formed.
The first National Conference was held in East London in 1951 with
Noggs Newman as its first National President.
There are now 239 Round Tables in ARTSA comprising some 1700
members.
Aims and Objects
- To develop fellowship among young men through the medium of
their professional and business occupations.
- To emphasise the fact that one's calling offers an excellent
medium of service to the community.
- To cultivate the highest ideals in business, professional and
civic traditions.
- To recognise the worthiness of all legitimate occupations and
to dignify each his own by precept and example.
- To foster responsible citizenship and loyalty to our
country.
- To further the establishment of peace and goodwill in
international relationships.
- To further the above objects by meetings, lectures, discussions
and other activities.
Motto
Adopt, Adapt, Improve
Suggested Grace
May we, O Lord, adopt Thy creed
Adapt our ways to serve Thy need
And may we who in Thy bounty feed
Improve in thought and word and deed.
Amen
Round Table Creed
Fellow Tablers, Let us be mindful of the high ideals
which bind us to Round Table and by them may our thoughts and
discussions be guided.