Round Table International is an international non-political and non-religious organisation for young men founded in Norwich, England, in 1927 by Louis Marchesi. Round Table members comprise community leaders, professionals and driven individuals. This organization, initially founded for young men in England, has 30,000 active members, known as Tablers, from over 65 countries as of 2024[update].[1][2]
Round Table is an international movement with active members in most European countries and Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas.[3] Round Table International is governed by board members elected at the various Annual General Meetings. The board meets regularly to establish policies and make recommendations as to the overall direction of Round Table on a global basis.[4]
Membership to Round Table is open to all men between 18 and 40 (45 in specific associations). It provides its members with a selection of social and community service related opportunities. The motto of Round Table International is "Adopt, Adapt, Improve."[5]
The young business and professional men of this country must get together round the table, adopt methods that have proved so sound in the past, adapt them to the changing needs of the time and, wherever possible, improve them.[1]
Motto
The organization interprets the motto as follows:
Adopt: The members or the Tablers adopt sound methods that have proved successful in the past.
Adapt: Tablers adapt to any situation and tackle any problem with grace. Every Tabler is a great personality having extensive knowledge and intelligence to overcome any problem.
Improve: The Tablers in the various tables worldwide strive to improve their reach, productivity. They are supported in their service by CSR funds and other sponsorships.[1]
History
In January 1947, the existing round table associations that where Round table Great Britain and Ireland, Round Table Denmark, Round Table Sweden, and Round Table the Netherlands, expressed a wish that there should be some form of mechanism for closer liaison with all national associations that belong to the Round Table Club (that time it was called Round Table Family nowadays the family is revered to of the combination or Round Table International, Lady Circle International, 41er International, Tangent International and Agora International.) It was considered such a form of liaison as being necessary for more practical co-operation also a body to facilitate international fellowship and promote international country visits. No national Round Table Association would lose its own Identity by joining RT International.[6]
After all national boards suggested a constitution that was submitted to their own annual general meetings and received a warm approval from most associations.[6]
The first general meeting of RT International took place at Hastings in a week starting from 24 May 1948 together with the RTBI National conference and WOCO AGM (World Council Annual General Meeting) and the following representatives were there: F.L. Crew and R.H. Bates (RTBI), E. EMborg and G. Klostergaard (RTD), H. Iacobi (RTS), H. Bruna (RTNL), G.B. Woolfenden, Pinock, H.D. Praat and Louis Marchesi.[6]
From the beginning RTI knows two sort of members a Full member and Associate Members. An associate member is country where one club has been chartered that club automatically becomes an associate member. A Full Member may send an representative to the RTI Meeting and has voting rights during the RTI Meetings. An associate Member may also send an representative but does not have voting rights during the RTI Meeting. An Associate Member can become a full member when It has completed all necessary requirements. In 1950, a national association had to have at least 5 clubs and at least 75 members; if not, they were an associate member. These rules have been changed quite a lot. Nowadays the minimum requirements are they have to apply to full membership after the National association has charter another Association and has at least 3 clubs and has at least 50 members. If a national association does not meet these requirements, then they still can apply for full membership after 3 years of associate membership and have been represented at all RTI meetings in these 3 years and the 4 years when applying for full membership.[6]
From 1948 until 1961 many RTI world meetings where hosted and the RTI International grew up to 30 countries with 1183 Clubs and 29340 Members. RTI knows 2 meetings the Annual General Meeting in short AGM also known as the World Meeting in short WM and the Half Year Meeting in short HYM. The AGM WM held between 1949 and 1961 where in the following order 1947 - Harrogate England, 1948 - Hastings England, 1949 - Helsingborg Sweden, 1950 - Stockholm Sweden, 1951 - Fanoe France, 1952 - Bournemouth England and HYM Bergen Norway, 1953 - Brussels Belgium and HYM London England, 1954 - Gothenburg Sweden and HYM Lingby Denmark, 1955 - Utrecht the Netherlands and HYM Antwerp Belgium, 1956 - Versailles France and HYM Jersey England, 1957 - Hamburg Germany and HYM Stavaner Norway, 1958 - Aalburg Denmark and HYM Hamburg Germany, 1959 - Leiden, the Netherlands and HYM Malmo Sweden, 1960 - Ostend the Netherlands and HYM Brigton England, 1961 - Salzburg Austria.[6]
At the 1961 RTI meeting in Salzburg, it was decided that RTI would be closed and surrendered to WOCO all RT Associations where after that where under WOCO and its aims and objectives.
After this, the WOCO name was changed to World Council of Service Clubs. After this, many AGM's were held in different countries under the name WOCO. Until 1991, where Round Table Associations decided after new rules in WOCO that it was in the best interest for Round Table associations to stay in WOCO.[6]
Logo
As Round Table International has nothing to do with the knights of the round table they do take out logo from the king Arthur's knights of the round table. In Winchester Great hall you can still find the original table haning on the wall where the inperation for the logo was from. The logo also called the Rondel has in the middle an earth globe and around it has the black and white stripes forming together a circle. With on top the King.
National Rondels can be a bit difference because the middle part is mostly used to show something that is famous for the country so has the Original first Round Table Great Britain & Ireland a rose in the middle. And also the king can be different in some national associations rondels. Outside the rondel mostly the country colors are represented.
Organization and Structure
Family
Round Table is part of the Round Table Family of clubs. The Round Table Family consist of Round Table International, 41 International, Lady Circle International, Agora international and Tangent International. Together they have similar goals and objectives. They support each other and visit their AGM's regularly.
Round Table International
Round Table International is the combination of all National Round Table organizations and is now a registered NGO based in Luxembourg.
All associations make together the RTI Council who decide on everything. In august of 2023 we have 60 Associations representing at least 59 country's there are more because one association is Round Table International E-club and there are members from multiple country's that do not have their own association yet. The countries are grouped regionally in the following way:
AMI Region (Africa, Middle East, Indian Ocean): RT Arabian Gulf, RT Botswana, RT Eastern Africa, RT Madagascar, RT Malawi, RT Mauritius, RT Nigeria, RT Senegal, RT Seychelles, RT Southern Africa, RT Zambia, RT Zimbabwe
ASPA Region (Asia, South Pacific): RT Australia, RT Bangladesh, RT Hong Kong, RT India, RT Nepal, RT New Zealand, RT Philippines, RT Singapore, RT Sri Lanka
CEE Region (Central & Eastern Europe): RT Albania, RT Austria, RT Belgium, RT Czech Republic, RT Germany, RT Great Britain & Ireland, RT Hungary, RTI E-Club, RT Luxembourg, RT Moldova, RT Romania, RT The Netherlands
NEA Region (Northern Europe and Americas): RT Canada, RT Denmark, RT Estonia, RT Iceland, RT Latvia, RT Lithuania, RT Norway, RT Russia, RT Suomi Finland, RT Suriname, RT Sweden, RT Trinidad & Tobago, RT USA
SEM Region (Southern Europe and Mediterranean): RT Bulgaria, RT Cyprus, RT France, RT Gibraltar, RT Israel, RT Italy, RT Malta, RT Monaco, RT Morocco, RT Portugal, RT San Marino, RT Switzerland, RT Tunisia
Districts, Zones, Area's
Every big Associations have divided there Association in to District or zones or area's. en doing so divided there clubs in to these Districts, Zones or Area's. most of them have a representative for every District, Zone or Area and the meet with the national board on regular bases. This the way the keep the connections to the clubs and Associations and RTI as short as possible.
Local Clubs
Local Tables can be found all over the world the always belong to a national association and if they are the only club in their country their local bora also forms the national board. In principle, every club works around fellowship, and they adopt the motto adopt, adapt and improve as well as the aims and objects mostly translated on to their own language. Most meetings the aims and objects will be read out loud when everybody stands to hear them. Most clubs will also get involved in service. There are many famous service projects where you may encounter Round Table.
AGM
AGM is Held every year. The AGM organizing country can be bid on 2 years in advance for hosting the RTI WM AGM. During the World Meeting they start with a pre-tour and the main part are the nation nights and the different meetings. Most meetings held are the RTI Board meeting, Counselors meeting, the AGM meeting and the regional meetings. During the AGM voting will take place on alle kind of topics.
HYM
HYM meeting is also held every year. The HYM organizing country can be bid on 2 years in advance for hosting the RTI HYM. During the HYM meeting also a counselor's meeting is held and an HYM meeting is held. During the HYM voting will take place on alle kind of topics.
Socializing
The biggest part of RTI is Fellowship. There are different methods used to get in contact with different members. There are local meetings where other members form other local clubs can attend then there are District, zone or area meetings where clubs in the same area will meet. Every association has their own AGM and HYM meetings where also members from the same association will meet and vote on different subjects and also internationals members are welcomed. Then there are the RTI WM and RTI HYM where members can meet. Next to all of these meetings within round table there are also number meetings where members from the club with the same number will meet mostly Clubs with 100+ numbers will join number meetings under 100. These meetings have different names there are euro meeting, international numbers meeting, numbers meeting.
Community work and service projects
Every Club, association and even RTI set-up projects around the year where members and clubs raise money for the community. This is a very huge part of the yearly program for many members. There are many examples of these types of activity's. here are some famous examples we have: Christmas convoy, Duck races, Old timer rally's, auctions, Santa Sleigh.
