What is Round Table?

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.

Summary

"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."

Round Table 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 200 Round Tables in ARTSA comprising some 1750 members.

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 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.

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.

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!

Aims and Objects

To develop fellowship among young men through the medium of their professional and business occupations.
To emphasize 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 recognize 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.