Trunk Tales 2024 Year in Review

TRUNK TALES 2024

Fellowship Through Stewardship

Cradock 37 hosts visiting Tabler from Avenches 37

Steak Evening

Burger Day Gone Wild

J-Bay Beach Clean-up

RT37 Euromeeting

Secretary Op-Ed

Makanda, Pink and Active

Music Trivia Night at Jolly Dolphin

Jonny Joubert Sports Day supported by Cradock 37

Preemie Project

Blood drive.

Winter Knights

Brovember Braai

Restoring Dignity

Wheelchair Donation

Lending a helping hand to a young man in need

Music Trivia37

RTSA Vice President Vos Botha on his visit to the EP WinterCon

Gqeberha Round Tables’ Winter

Cradock 6’s

Raid Fellowship at Kirkwood 78 Organization Collaboration

Golf Day 37

Visiting Bosveld WinterCon

Amazing Race

Golf Day 142

Santa’s Shoe Box

50th anniversary And Spring Conference

Longest drive

Adelaide

Barefoot Bowls for Winter Knights

Freediving into the unknown Steak Nights 210

Kenton Wine Fest

Assisting at the Seagull Regatta

Butternut Collection/Donation

Albany Car Wash

Building Brotherhood

Wildsfees

Boat

BE PART OF THE PUZZLE

Fellowship Through Stewardship

In early 2024, Grahamstown 11 focused on serving the community and increasing the brand presence of the Table in Makhanda Rather than running projects, we have aimed to assist organisations in facilitating their projects through manpower! In Makhanda, Round Table and Rotary are often still confused.

In 2024, we strived to change that

In late March, the Table assisted Pick n Pay during their annual Pink Walk for Cancer by braaiing and selling over 300 steaks in an attempt to increase funds All profits from the braai went towards Pick n Pays cancer project

Tablers and 41ers alike spent hours enjoying each other's and the community's company in the Graemian Centre at Graeme College, with lots of interest being shown for what Round Table is about

The project, albeit small, has seen a large increase in social media engagement with Round Table 11's content and an influx of further such requests

In late April, one such request was made by the Albany Museum in an attempt to raise funds for the Observatory Museum on High Street.

Tablers and their families took to the roads and routes of Mountain Drive to marshal and man drinks stations for the project.

Although small, it once again provided us with an opportunity to push the Round Table brand out to the community

While such projects are often frowned upon by Tablers due to the time allocation and low profits, they also provide a great opportunity to increase fellowship in a setting different

from that of a meeting or late-night project These little projects, where the hours can often drag on, are filled with honest, hard, and needed conversations mixed with jokes and laughter and are where true friendships are formed

Elrico de Bruyn

Cradock 37 hosts visiting Tabler from Avenches 37

Beat & Joëlle stops by for a visit

Round Table Cradock 37 recently had the honour to host Beat Wolfisberg and his fiancé Joëlle on their tour through South Africa Beat is a 41'er from Round Table Switzerland, Avenches 37 When we hosted the RT37 Euromeeting here is South Africa last year he was unable to attend due to serious health issues So, he and Joëlle decided to do their own tour this year.

Brian Wigley, a 41'er from our Table joined up with them at Lalibela Game Reserve and travelled with them to Cradock They stayed with Jack Adam, also one of our 41'ers, and he took them to see Cradock’s own Egg Rock when they arrived on 5 Aug That evening there was a Meet & Greet Social at our Clubhouse with the Tablers and 41'ers

On Tuesday, 6 Aug, David Ker, 41'er, took them to the Mountain Zebra Park for the day and that evening David and Lisa hosted a cozy dinner in the Cellar of the Victoria Manor

Wednesday, 7 Aug they spent the day with Dirkie Visser and went to see the Olive Schreiner Grave on his farm

Thursday, 8 Aug there was a farewell breakfast before they departed for GraaffReinet where they visited the Valley of Desolation. We would like to thank Paul "Yster" Maré, Brian Wigley, Jack Adam, David Ker, Dirkie Visser, their wives and the rest of our amazing 41rs for making this trip for Beat and Joëlle so special.

Stefan Maré

Steak Evening

On6SeptemberCradock37hadanotherSteakEveningwhichwaswell supportedbethelocalcommunity Theladieshelpedwithtabledecorationsandgettingordersready.Whilethe membersweretendingtothesteakbraai,thebaranddoingdeliveries. Iwanttothankeveryonethatassisted,andAdami’sforprovidingsuperb steaksonceagain. Stefan Maré

Burger Day Gone Wild

500+ Burgers sold

Kirkwood 78 held their annual burger day on Friday the 5th of August

We were blessed with amazing weather and even better support from our community

With 502 burgers sold on the day we felt we did ourselves proud! The profit from Burger Day is allocated to our ladies’ welfare fund which they can use to meet a need in our community

J-Bay Beach Cleanup

On World Environmental Day, Round Table Jeffreysbay/Humansdorp 252 proudly teamed up with our local municipality to clean our beautiful beaches. Our combined efforts saw volunteers from all walks of life come together, united by a shared commitment to preserving our natural environment Armed with gloves, bags, and a passion for a cleaner coast, we tackled litter and debris, leaving our shores pristine This initiative not only enhanced the beauty of our beaches but also fostered a sense of community and environmental stewardship. Together, we made a tangible difference, celebrating World Environmental Day with action and impact Pieter du Toit

Murray Middleton

RT37 Euromeeting Sweden

Cradock has been part of the RT37 Euromeeting since 2000 and last year we had the privilege to host it again This year it was held in Alingsås, Sweden and I was chosen by my Table to attend

Wow, what an amazing experience. This was my first-time leaving South Afric and to go to Sweden was a blast I flew out on Sunday 26 May and stayed with Ola and Ninni Jonsson, a 41r tha visited us in 2010

On Tuesday I took a train to Stockholm and visited 6 Museums, Nordiska, Vasa, The Viking Museum, Skansen, Fotografiska and The Royal Armoury Just walking through Stockholm was astonishing, a city on a river

On Wednesday I took the train back to Alingsås and went to dinner with Ola, Ninni, 2 Tablers and their partners from Lewes, England.

On Thursday the Euromeeting started, and I met lots of people that came to South Africa last year and loads of new Tablers There were Tablers from 8 countries attending this year ’ s meeting, but there are 12 countries involved currently in the RT37 Euromeeting

Friday morning, we rode on a 100-year-old train to Gräfsnäs castle ruins and had some herring on arrival, then we played some games Belgium won after a rematch to sort out some cheating Friday night we took a bus to Göteborg and had our Gala dinner on a boat while traveling on the coast. It was a fantastic night with lots of seafood, fellowship and the staff entertained us with songs every hour After this we headed back to Alingsås and continued the fellowship at Skåål Restaurant till closing time Saturday, we walked down to the pier and took some boats out to and island where we swam, had some beers and some great food

Saturday night was the sketch night and each Table put on some fun shows. We also had a quick meeting to give feedback on our Tables and to decide where next year ’ s RT37 Euromeeting will take place A live band entertained us till late, but it was a bittersweet night because the weekend was coming to and end

Sunday morning, we had a farewell brunch and then everyone took the train to the airport I took a train to Göteborg for some last sight seeing and visited a warship museum.

Monday was the trip back home and I spent some time at the Airport in Zurich, Switzerland, just walking around and seeing the sites

Overall, it was an extremely enjoyable experience, great people, awesome social events and loads of fellowship

I just want to thank Cradock 37 for giving me the opportunity to travel and see the world.

If any of you ever get the chance to travel to a Table event oversees, grab it with both hands and give it your all!

Yours in Table

Stefan Maré

Round Table Cradock 37

Death, Taxes, and the Table Secretary: The Unsung Hero of Round Table Southern Africa

InRoundTableSouthernAfrica,thereexistafewunavoidabletruths:thebirthof41ers,thearrivalofCAPFee deadlines,andtheindispensableroleoftheTableSecretary.

Whilethefirsttwomayevokeexistentialdread,theriskoftakingonthelatteroftentriggersfull-scalecollective migrationawayfromaTablemeeting.Afterall,whowantstobetheonesaddledwithtakingminutes,sending reminders,andgenerally‘herdingcats’(akafellowTablers)?

TheTableSecretary'sresponsibilitiesextendfarbeyondsimplytakingnotes Amidstthelivelydiscussionsandoccasionaltangentsofmeetings,theymustdistilthechaosintocoherent minutes,capturingtheessenceofconversationswithoutsuccumbingtoeditorialisingtemptations. Beyondthat,theymustactastheTable'scollectivememory,remindingeveryoneofupcomingevents, forgottendeadlines,andlong-lostactionitems

ThegoodSecretarymustalsopossessauniqueabilitytobreathelifeintoaTable'scalendar,conjuringorder fromthechaosofconflictingschedulesandlast-minutecancellations It'slikeherdingcats,butwithadult calendarsandatalentforprocrastinationthrownintothemix

Let'salsonotforgetthelessglamoroustaskofarchivingTablerecords WhilenotPulitzerPrizematerial,these dustyfilespreventtherepetitionofpastmistakes(andquestionablechoices),makingtheSecretaryanunsung heroofhistoricalpreservation

WhiletheirfellowTablersbaskinthegloryofsuccessfulprojects,thebestSecretaries(andtheydon’tallgetit right)labourdiligentlybehindthescenes,theircontributionsoftenoverlooked Theirreward?Alukewarmcupofcoffeeandthefainthopethattheireffortswon'tbeentirelyforgotten Yet, theypersevere,understandingthecrucialroletheyplayintheTable'ssmoothfunctioning.

TheTableSecretaryisvitaltoanyTable'ssurvival

Likealighthousekeeperamongstastormyseaofagendasandminutes,theymustdiligentlyrecordthe ramblingsanddecisionsoftheirpeers,ensuringnobrilliantideaorcatastrophicblunderislosttotime. Withoutthem,meetingswoulddescendintoanarchy,deadlineswouldbemissed,andtheAssociationwould grindtoahalt.Theirnotesandgentleremindersarethegluethatholdseverythingtogether.

So,nexttimeyouencounteryourTableSecretary,offerawordofthanks,asympatheticsmile,orasacrificial offeringofcoffeeandpastries

Theyaretheunsungchampionsoforder,thekeepersofinstitutionalmemory,theoneswhoensurethewheels ofprogresskeepturning,evenifit'satasnail'space.

Toallthebravesoulswhotakeonthismantle,weraiseaglass(orastrongcupofcoffee)inyourhonour:your workmaynotbeglamorous,butit'sessential.

Afterall,someonehastodocumenttheabsurdityofitall,andwhobetterthantheonewho'sseenitall firsthand?

Makhanda, Pink and Active!

In October, Round Table Grahamstown 11 along with a local NGO and Makhanda businesses set about turning the town pink to increase cancer awareness and fund raising.

We made a financial contribution towards the initiative and turned the trees of Oatlands Park pink!

Along with a going pink, the residents of Makhanda welcomed runners form across the Eastern Cape for the annual Oldenburgia Marathon, a trail run held on Mountain drive.

Round Table Grahamstown 11 assisted Rotary Sunset with public liability and the running of water tables for the more physically inclined amongst the Easten Cape population

Although neither project raised monetary value, the fellowship and brand exposure of the projects where priceless!

Music Trivia Night at Jolly Dolphin

Hosted by Round Table 252

WhatanincredibleturnoutwehadattheJollyDolphinforRoundTable 252'sMusicTriviaNight!Itwasaneveningfilledwithgreattunes, awesomecompany,andtonsoffun!

WewanttoextendamassivethankyoutotheJollyDolphinfor providingsuchafantasticvenueforourevent.Andofcourse,noneof thiswouldhavebeenpossiblewithoutthegeneroussupportofour sponsors,includingtheAlgoaMotorGroup

Theenergyintheroomwaselectric,andwecouldn'thaveaskedfora bettercrowdtojoinusforanightofmusictriviamadness.

Elrico de Bruyn

Pieter du Toit

Jonny Joubert Sports Day supported by Cradock 37

The Johnny Joubert Sport Day is an annual event hosted by Cradock Preparatory School, usually in June each year This year we had some nice weather in June, and the day was a huge success!

Cradock 37 is proud to say that we have been a part of this great day since it started many years ago. We normally run a Burger and Sosaties stand to feed the masses of young kids and their families! This year we did a great job and brought a lot of lekker gees to the party We were lucky enough to sell out on all our burgers, ribs buns and sosaties

Thank you to all our local friends and all the support we had during the day. Luckily our tablers had some “vlou tee” and “black coffee” to keep our bodies and hands warm during the day!

Wium Hagen

Preemie Project

RoundTablefirstgotinvolvedinProjectforPreemiesin2023,whena24-houryarnathonwashostedin Grahamstown.Eventorganisersputoutacallforparticipantsanddonationsofmaterialsthatcouldbeusedto knit,crochetandsewduringtheevent.

RoundTableGrahamstown11contributedtowardstheyarnathon,providingmaterialsthatcouldbeused throughouttheevent.However,theysoonlearnedthattheorganisationdistributingtheitemshadclosed down Recognisinganopportunitytocontinuethegoodwork,theRoundTablePreemieProjectwasborn

Theprojectfocusesoncreatinganddistributingpreemiepacksthatincludeaholdingbagwithablanket, beanie,jersey,booties,scentheartsandacrochetedoctopus.

ThecrochetedoctopiareatooldiscoveredbyahospitalinDenmark Doctorswhoworkedwithpremature babiesnoticedthattheyliketopullonthings,ahabitlearnedinuterowherethey‘play’withtheirumbilicalcord. Astheonlythingsavailabletothemintheirincubatorsarewires,theytendtopullonthese,affectingtheir monitoringandcare Totryandpreventthis,agroupofvolunteerscrochetedcolourfuloctopifrom hypoallergeniccottonwithtentaclesthatresembleumbilicalcords Theyputthemintheincubatorswiththe preemies,andtheresultswereremarkable Oxygenationlevelsimproved,theyhadmoreregularheartbeats, andtheywerelessinclinedtopullontheirwires,improvingmonitoring.

In2024,Grahamstown11ranabrandingprojecttolaunchawebsite(https://preemieprojectcoza/)complete withpatternsforeachitemthatcanbeincludedinthepacks.Italsoincludesotherwaystogetinvolvedwiththe project,andphotographsfromeventsandhandovers.

BetweenSeptember2023andDecember2024,20fullpackshavebeencreatedanddonatedtothelocal Settler’sHospitalmaternityward,tobedistributedtomothersinneed.Inaddition,theprojecthascreatedand receiveddonationsof50extrabeanies,29extrajerseys,7extrabootiesand5extraoctopi.Thosethatwere toolargeforpreemiesweredonatedtoChildWelfare

Thisprojectwouldn’thavebeenpossiblewithoutthesupportoftheGrahamstowncommunity.Inparticular, MeganHerholdt,whoorganisedthe2023yarnathon,hasbeencloselyinvolvedwithhelpingGrahamstown11 developtheprojectandtakeitofftheground Shehasalsobeenthedrivingforceforcollecting,creatingand packagingitems DeepCleanServicesinGrahamstownhavevolunteeredtosterilisethepacks,ensuringthey’re safefordistribution Othersinthecommunityhavesponsoredmaterialsandtime,whichareinstrumentalfor keepingtheprojectgoing.Weareextremelygratefultoallfortheircontributions.

Wehopethatthefoundationswelaidin2024willsupportthegrowthoftheprojectinthecomingyears,andwe can’twaittoseewheretheseeffortslead

Grant Gordon

Kirkwood 78 Blood Drive

On the 6th of December Kirkwood 78 hosted a Blood Drive at the Kirkwood Golf Klub. Our second for the year Tablers came together for a festive afternoon where 34 pints of blood were collected This day brought our annual total up to 76 pints for the year! Thanks to all who made the effort to come out and support. We salute you!

Marray Middleton

Cradock 37

Winter Knights

Cradock Round Table 37 conducted a successful 2024 Winter Knights Project The trusted school’s collection project was once again held at Fanie Theron PrePrimary, Cradock Preparatory, Cradock Primary, Cradock High and Marlow Agricultural High Schools Each item donated counted as an entry for lucky draw prizes, generously supplied by a number of local businesses. A total of 1556 items were donated, consisting of non-perishable food, clothes, and shoes.Awareness was raised amongst school children as to the plight in our community, and Round Table as an organisation was well promoted amongst the youth

The estimated value of food collections totalled roughly R 12 000, together with a bakkie load of clothing of unknown value. This was donated to local charity organisations It was a very enjoyable project, with the local community and businesses contributing greatly!

Kirkwood

On 26 November Kirkwood 78 hosted an incredible get-together as part of the Brovember campaign The event focused on encouraging men to embrace open conversations about their feelings and mental well-being. In a world where men are often told to " man up " and stay silent, Brovember is a reminder that it’s okay to express emotions and seek support Let’s continue to break the stigma and build a community where no one has to bottle it up

To all who joined, thank you for being part of this meaningful movement Let’s keep the conversation going!

Alheit du Toit

Marray Middleton

Restoring Dignity

Small Gesture Big Impact

Here's a heartwarming community project you need to hear about!

The shopping bag handout at LIFE Nkanyisa Mental Hospital was about so much more than just bags – it was about dignity

This incredible facility is home to individuals facing varying mental health challenges, and some are fortunate enough to be able to take personal outings in Kirkwood

One favourite activity of the patients is walking to the local grocery stores, but there was a big problem: the plastic bags provided weren't strong enough for the trip home. Imagine groceries spilling all over the ground before getting back to the hospital!

Enter the heroes of Kirkwood Round Table 78! They stepped up and donated durable material shopping bags that are a game-changer These bags are stronger and help ensure patients can safely bring their groceries back

A small gesture with a huge impact!

Let's celebrate the power of community support.

Marray Middleton

Wheelchair Donation

Port Alfred 177 was approached on behalf of Craig Alston, who faces a challenging journey battling Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) This debilitating condition not only affects his daily life but also requires him to travel to Johannesburg every two weeks for critical treatment sessions at significant costs. To make matters even more difficult, Craig was recently let go from his job, adding immense financial strain to an already tough situation. Understanding the gravity of Craig’s circumstances, Port Alfred Round Table 177 rallied together and issued a challenge to other Eastern Province Round Tables to join us in raising funds for his cause The response was nothing short of incredible.

Together with Adelaide 194, Alex Kenton 210, Cradock 37, Algoa 108 and Kirkwood 78 and some community support we were able to:

PurchaseawheelchairforCraig,givinghimthemobilityheneedstoattendtreatmentsessions Fundanadditionalpaininfusionsession,offeringCraigfurtherreliefandsupportinhisfightagainstCRPS. Thisfundraisershowcasesthepowerofteamworkandcompassion.It’satestamenttothespiritofRound Table,youngmenbandingtogethertomakeatangibledifferenceinthelivesofthosewhoneeditmost ThankYoutoeveryonewhocontributed YourgenerosityhasmadeaprofoundimpactonCraig’slife,andwe areincrediblyproudtostandtogetherasRoundTabletomakeadifference Let’scontinuetoshowthatwhenweunite,there’snochallengewecannotovercome.

Grant Kew

Lending a Helping Hand to a Young Man in Need

RoundTable252recentlysteppedintoassistayoung manfacingsignificantchallenges.

Afteranunfortunateaccidentlefthimwithimpaired vision,hestruggledtosecureemploymentduetohis lackofsight,whichmadedailyactivitiesdifficultand jobopportunitiesscarce

Recognizinghisdeterminationtoovercomethese obstacles,RoundTable252steppedinandpaidforhis glasses,providinghimwiththeclearvisionneededto regainhisconfidenceandpursuejobopportunities

Pieter du Toit

Music Trivia

On 21 September 2024, Round Table Cradock 37 hosted their Music Trivia Night at the Cradock Golf Club. The aim of the project was to raise funds for Round Table Cradock 37 as to further the Aims and Objects of Round Table

After the great success of our Music Trivia night in 2023 we knew we couldn’t disappoint and had to host an even bigger Trivia. That’s exactly what we did. The supporters and sponsors didn’t stand back for anything We were privileged to get big sponsorships, and the community opened their wallets in support for the cause

We had our own in-house master of ceremony, Alheit du Toit, who entertained our guests and led the program The night started strong with players buying raffle tickets for our Lucky Draw

The Trivia started at 19:00 and Ioannis Katakouzinos(Kattie) once again had the players full attention. The program entailed good music, fun games, good vibes and a big jol until early morning hours

Round Table Cradock 37 wishes to thank all the sponsors, supporters and Cradock Golf Club for all the assistance and support which we have received prior and during this successful Music Trivia night, but also during the rest of the year We will not be able to assist those in need without the continued support we receive from the community Round Table Cradock 37 is looking forward to hosting an even bigger Trivia night next year.

Rubin Schoeman

Rubin Schoeman

RTSA Vice-President Vos Botha

on his visit to the EP WinterCon

Dear Gents of the OOOP

What an absolute blast it was to visit the Eastern Province area as RTSA Vice President!

Having been at last year's winter conference, I already knew you guys had a knack for making one feel right at home, and this time was no different.

This year, we thought, why not stretch the fun a bit longer? So, we added on an extra day and headed to the home of “Die Wilds Fees,” where the Kirkwood 78 legends almost literary rolled out the red carpet Thanks to the EP Area’s Vice Chairman, we enjoyed a bit of hunting for a good cause, had some solid fellowship, and even tried our hand at gong shooting followed, of course, by a top-notch vintage of Richelieu. Joining the Kirkwood team for their business meeting was a honour and a privilege too. It’s clear they’ve got their community’s best interests at heart Big cheers to the Manne van Kirkwood for the warm welcome!

Friday saw us making our way to Gqeberha, where some of the OOOP’s heavy hitters greeted us for a legendary start to the OP winter con at Barney’s Tavern The night didn’t end there, though we moved the party to the Algoa 108 clubhouse for the EP Wintercon Once again, the camaraderie was off the charts, with Tablers from all walks of life sharing stories and laughs over another great vintage of Richelieu. The “aankoms aggressie” hit hard, and the festivities carried on well into the night.

Saturday brought us all together for the main event The meeting had a great turnout, even if the space was a bit snug - proof that “Baie mak skape pas in ’ n kraal ” Jacques Grootvoel Van Wyk ran a tight ship, keeping things interesting throughout The sergeant Mr Wayne Stevenson himself also ensured absolute order in the meeting with spread of treats that is probably not fit for human consumprion, (no Tablers was seriously harmed during the meeting)

The celebrity speaker was a hit, the Aims and Objectives were on point, and it was awesome to see everyone given a chance to speak up and share what’s on their mind It’s so important that every Tabler has a say in the direction we ’ re heading

To top it all off, we ditched the usual Wintercon attire for something a bit fancier to celebrate Algoa

birthday

It was a special night, looking back on six decades of making a real difference in the Port Elizabeth community

A massive thank you to the weekend’s convenors - you guys outdid yourselves! We had an amazing time, and I’m leaving with full confidence that the Eastern Province Area is in good hands

Yours in Table, Vos Botha

RTSA Vice President Laat dit juig

Building Dreams Playground Installation

At the end of July the members of Round Table Jeffreys Bay/Humansdorp 252 dedicated their Saturday to transforming a local learning centre’s playground in Jeffreys Bay

Armed with tools, materials, and a lot of enthusiasm, the team worked tirelessly to create a safe and vibrant play area for the children.

At the start of the new school week, the playground was buzzing with excitement as the children got their first chance to explore their new playground The joy on their faces was a testament to the positive impact that a dedicated group of volunteers can make in their community

Round Table Jeffreys Bay/Humansdorp 252 is proud to support local education and provide a space where children can enjoy outdoor activities and develop their social skills

This project exemplifies our organization's commitment to service and community development

108’s 60th

Pieter du Toit

78-30 Twinning Weekend A fellowship tradition since 2011

Over the weekend of 6-8 September Kirkwood 78 hosted George 30 for our annual twining arrangement.

This weekend has become somewhat of a tradition which goes back to 2011

A great weekend of fellowship was had by all. George 30 arrived in force on Friday afternoon. Tablers and 41ers alike. Friday night was a relaxed welcoming evening where a braai and refreshments were enjoyed

Saturday morning was a fresh start with brekkie buns followed by a trip into the bush to enjoy our surrounds.

A day in the veld was enjoyed with a quick boerie braai, clay pigeon shooting and a little bit of time trial racing in a Katvan, a mini electric car built by one of our members

The day peaked at 17:00 when we were joined by some of our Kirkwood Table Legs to watch the Boks beat New Zealand. A delicious meal of potjie kos was served and great evening of fellowship was had

Sunday morning, we bid farewell to our George friends We’ll be seeing you again next year

Murray Middleton

Music Bingo

On Friday, 3 May 2024 Zwartkops 195 Round Table in Port Elizabeth hosted it’s annual Music Bingo event at Eddie Macs (VP Club) in order to raise funds for the Animal Welfare Society in Port Elizabeth.

What initially started as a small project 2 years ago with the hopes of building traction to become a staple annual event for the Zwartkops 195 Round Table, these events have now transformed into an ongoing and growing relationship between ourselves, our sponsors and our nominated charities.

Our Music Bingo allows us to connect them directly to the charities we support through a fun-filled evening where they can invite their colleagues, friends and family to join us in celebrating our commitment to our community and their valued involvement in each of our projects, furthermore, so many of our guests are geared toward joining Round Table through their exposure to who we are, what we do and how it affects our lives and the lives of those we work and plan so hard to make just that little bit better wherever we can!

2024 marks our 50th year in operation and a massive opportunity for the PE tables to work together and bring forward our rich histories to expand our reach As always, our thanks go out to each and every person who support our events to make them successful, as well as our fellow tablers who joined us on the evening and continue to make a difference in our town and nation, we salute you all and look forward to sharing more successes with you in the future!

David Allan

Ribs & Chips

Winter Knights Fundraiser

Adelaide194havemanagedtosell120ribs&chipsin ourcommunityandhavecollected2bakkieloadsof clothesandnon-perishablefoodforourWinterKnights project.

Thereceiveddonationswasdistributedtotheless fortunateinourcommunity.

WealsohadaraidfromCradock37ontheSaturdayof theWinterKnightsandwehadsomeawesome fellowship,againthankyouCradockforvisiting Adelaide194andgoingthroughthepainof“hartseer hout”withus.

Togetherwecanmakeabiggerdifference.

Nico Schneider

Gqeberha Round Tables Winter Knights Hand-Out

Winter Knights is a project that anyone and everyone can get behind, Tabler or not It doesn’t take a billionaire to provide warmth to the less fortunate, it takes a person to see that there is a need for this in our communities and that’s exactly what Roundtable Algoa 108, P E West 142 and Zwartkops 195 did on the 8th of June 2024

Our Winter Knights collection began in April, knowing that we had to do more, we as Algoa 108 knew that this year we needed to collect more clothes than the year before as this Winter was going to be a cold one With Shane Tait our Vice Chairman contacting local schools across Gqeberha to get them involved, the ball was starting to roll Dewald Niemand from Roundtable P E West 142 and David Allan from Zwartkops 195 along with Shane Tait all decided that this year we as the P.E tables should join forces to make this Winter Knights one to remember.

On Saturday the 1st of June 2024 we had a Winter Knights colle at P.E West 142 clubhouse. With Gqeberha being the great city rain had to come down, and boy did it come down in buckets But that didn’t stop us Tablers from collecting clothes and build our already strong brotherhood The gees and comradery we b last a lifetime Now it was our turn to feel the cold as the memb from all 3 tables stripped down to their very summer clothes to feeling of what it’s like to not have the luxury of warmth. I for on tell you that I won’t be doing that anytime soon as the cold air a showed us just how lucky we are

On the 7th of June 2024 we received a message from Cornel Strydom, P.E West 142, to inform us that he has received an enormous amount of clothes that needed to be stored We quickly found out from Willie Opperman, Algoa 108 Chairman, on just how much clothes there was. Taking up about ¾ of our clubhouse in space. It was going to be a long night sorting this out

. The following day was handout day where we would all meet - 108, 142 and 195 strong - to . . distribute warm clothes to the less fortunate At approximately 10:00 I received a phone call from Willie saying that the guy who was going to help him with a cattle truck, oh yes you read correctly - CATTLE TRUCK, was unable to assist us Willie then explained he had a back-up plan and that we as members should not worry about it, he will sort it out. So off Willie and Shane went to Alexandria to go and collect the truck, whilst the rest of the members, pipeliners, 41ers, legs and guests all continued to sort out the enormous amount of clothing.

At about 16:00 Willie and Shane pulled up to Algoa 108 Clubhouse with a 3rd person sitting in-between them, it was another Tabler Mr Dwain Goldsmith from Alex/Kenton 210 to the rescue A big thanks to Cape Eastern Livestock for providing us with the Cattle Truck, it was greatly needed and appreciated We then all put bags in the back of the cattle truck and embarked on our Winter Knights handout, all 3 tables strong in numbers and Dwain from Alex/Kenton ready to make an Impactful Change in the community of Gqeberha.

With an estimated value of R264 000 and 440 black bags full of clothes, our first stop was in Greenbushes where we distributed warm clothes and spoke to people about Round Table. We then got back on the road stopping at various points where we saw any homeless person/people It was eye opening and heartbreaking to actually see the amount of people sleeping and trying to stay warm on the side of the road, in parks and under any form of shelter that they can find I felt that we were making a small change in their lives, just seeing the smiles on their faces made my day.

I would like to thank the schools, our communities, members, 41ers, guests, pipeliners and most important our legs for assisting us in providing blankets and clothes to those who desperately needed them I can truly and honestly say that the tables of Gqeberha have built an unbreakable bond this year and we look forward to keep building on it Sheldon de Ridder

Cradock 6's

Summertime means cricket, and on November 16, 2024, Round Table Cradock 37, in partnership with Standard Cricket Club, hosted our second Six-a-side Cricket Tournament.

It was a fun-filled day, with perfect weather for action-packed cricket and great camaraderie. The Cradock community rallied together, forming 6 teams for the tournament

The day kicked off early with the first match at 08:00, and ten matches were played, culminating in a final between the top two teams Mortimer triumphed over Fishriver to claim the trophy

Round Table 37 created an enjoyable atmosphere with music and a jumping castle to entertain the kids. We also introduced Round Table Southern Africa’s “Don’t Camo Yourself” initiative, and, alongside the Men's Foundation and RTSA’s Brovember Campaign, we made the event fun for both spectators and players

Throughout the day, we sold around 60 hamburgers with chips, 10kg of slap chips, and ice cream to keep everyone cool. The day concluded with a steak evening, where 70 steaks were sold, accompanied by a fresh salad and garlic cheese potatoes

Our heartfelt thanks to the sponsors who contributed prizes. A special thank you to Steers Cradock for sponsoring the chips and to Adami’s for providing an excellent deal on steaks, hamburgers, boerewors rolls, and the delicious potatoes

The event raised R10,216, which Round Table Cradock 37 donated in full to the Brovember Campaign through Round Table Southern Africa. While a modest amount, this donation will help raise awareness of men ’ s health, which was our ultimate goal

Wium Hagen

Raid!!!

78 Raids Fort Beaufort 62

Kirkwood78raidedFortBeaufort62overtheweekend11thofMay. Agreateveningwasenjoyed.Afterthemeeting,allmembers presentsharedabraaithatwentlateintothenight.Kirkwood78 washostedovernightandtreatedtobreakfastthefollowing morning Thegeesdidnotstopthereassomemembersheadedoff toenjoyaroundofgolf

ManythankstoChairmanofRTFortBeaufort,BenjiPodgesfor beingsoaccommodatingandmovingyourmeeting FortBeaufort62wereexcellenthosts

Tableislekker!

Fellowship at Kirkwood 78

Our monthly social was held at the Kirkwood Rolbal Klub. Hosted by Johann and Marlé Van Der Vyver. On the day we had 5 teams of three competing for bragging rights The teams included at least one of the children a proper family affair. The social was great fun with Johann, Marlé and Phillip emerging the victors!

Families coming together form the foundation of our organisation Kirkwood is strong

Thank you Van Der Vyver’s for a lekker day out

Murray Middleton

Murray Middleton

Organization Collaboration

Rotary Meetings at the Clubhouse

Round Table Alex/Kenton 210 is fast approaching its 50th anniversary, and this has meant that we have a number of past-Tablers living in or around the Kenton-on-Sea area

As we haven’t managed, yet, to get an official 41er Club going, many of these past-Tablers made the decision a few years ago to charter a Rotary Club in Kenton-on-Sea. The bulk of the current Rotarians are still pastTablers or official 41ers from not only RT210 Alex/Kenton but many other Clubs across the Association.

For a number of years there have been suggestions and hints to combine our standing in the community and enter a memorandum of understanding between the two Clubs, which would allow us to share our unique Clubhouse.

Finally, after much discussion, voting and meetings on their side, they made the move to start holding their weekly meetings in the Clubhouse on a Tuesday night We have just held a very successful fifth meeting for them, wherein we set up the Clubhouse in advance, stock and man the bar for them, and then keep the bar takings for Round Table

What have we learned from the last five weeks?

Their meetings start on time at 5 15pm, and most meetings are finished by 5 45pm, unless there is a speaker Rotarians sometimes don’t leave till after 9pm, contrary to popular belief At their previous meeting venue, they were all home by 6pm.

Rotarians can drink a lot of dark rum but only with freshly opened bottles of Coke Zero Wine is king, as is wine by the glass They use cash to pay, and don’t carry small banknotes They don’t trust card machines

They have 42 members, of which they only ever achieve around 80% attendance at meetings. They have committee meetings for every project away from the group, and these projects are not discussed at their weekly meetings unless the project is coming up soon

And finally, for the most part, the only difference between them and Tablers is age They still joke around with one another, enjoy a good party, travel together, and graft when needed.

Till next week Tuesday – cheers!

Alan Malan

Golf Day cradock 37

On 6 April 2024, Round Table Cradock 37 hosted their annual Golf Day at the Cradock Golf Club. The aim of the project was to raise funds for Round Table Cradock 37 as to further the Aims and Objects of Round Table

With the date set and the sponsorship list drawn-up, the Cradock Tablers approached the business community of Cradock, requesting donations and sponsorships At first it started off slow, but as the time progressed and the golf day neared, the interest in our annual event grew and so did the support

The Saturday morning started off with me having to rush to Bloemfontein and relying on my fellow Tablers to make the day a success without me, the organizers arranging the prize table, setting up banners and welcoming the players

Tee-off for the 40 players started at 08:00. The day progressed well with golfers entering the clubhouse after the first 9 holes for some well-deserved refreshments

The prize giving evening started at 18:00 with Wium Hagen (VC) welcoming all on behalf of Cradock Golf club and thanking them for a wonderful day of golf Mr Jaco Marais thanked Round Table Cradock for a well organised event and the assistance which Round Table gives to the community and those in need

Round Table Cradock 37 wishes to thank all the sponsors, golfers and Cradock Golf Club for all the assistance and support which we have received prior and during this successful golf day, but also during the rest of the year.

We will not be able to assist those in need without the continued support they receive from the community

Round Table Cradock 37 is looking forward to seeing all at next year ’ s event.

ASK YOUR FELLOW TABLERS - THIS IS THE BEST TEAM YOU CAN HAVE ON YOUR SIDE!!!!

John Tom

Visiting Bosveld WinterCon

The weekend of the 8th and 9th of June saw the Bosveld Area host their annual Winter Conference, better known as WinterCon Myself, and another brave man from Port Alfred 177, Keanan Hendricks, decided to go and see what this was all about. Thursday saw us start the journey out of Port Alfred heading up to Tzaneen. Keanen had the smart plan and took a flight whilst I hit to road with my family. At 12 o ’clock on Friday after picking up some fellow tablers from Pretoria 87, we hit the road to Tzaneen With Speenvarkie as my co-pilot and music man and 3 very skilled chief snack distributors in the back of the car, the nearly 400 km trip was over in a flash

Upon arriving everyone proceeded to set up and get comfortable, easier said than done for myself and Keanen who are used to the warmer climate of the Eastern Cape Gents, it was cold The fires were roaring, and the conversations were flowing Keanen and I decided to get stuck in and get to know the other tablers. A table event is the only place that can make you feel like family in a room full of strangers.

On Saturday after a quick brekkie and a coffee, we started getting ready for the meeting We headed down to the meeting venue and took our seats in the peanut gallery as the dapper delegates were seated at the tables The sergeant introduced his ammo for the meeting, and we were off. These meetings and discussions form part of our constitution and are a vital part of growth and evolution within our own tables, our areas and RTSA

Any representation of Eastern Province area is not complete without a few “OoooooooooP!” chants and some serious conversations around the “Don’t camo Yourself” initiative which led to 2 Tablers opening up and reaching out for help.

After a quick lunch most of the lads settled in for a power nap to recover from the previous day and the morning meeting A relaxed Saturday afternoon was soon replaced with a spit braai, music and some good ol’ fellowship! As you can imagine, the atmosphere was electric! Knowing that we had a long journey home the following day, we opted to take it easy and get to bed at a reasonable hour

Sunday morning rolled around, and we were packed and ready to hit the road early. We had wheels on the tarmac at 06:15 and the only thing on the brain was Mc Donalds After a quick brekkie we settled in for the long trip back ending with a quick stop at the Pretoria 87 clubhouse Whilst there we had some chats about the history and rich heritage of the Pretoria tables and what the plans are for the future

Thank you to the Bosveld area for hosting us, Pretoria 87 for showing us the ropes and being our travel buddies and RTSA for maintaining this incredible organization and allowing us to share in memories like this! #OooooooooooP!

Grant Kew

Amazing Race

RoundTableAlgoa108andRoundTablePEWest142hadacombinedprojectonthe7thofDecember2024in supportofSANCCOB(SouthAfricanFoundationfortheconservationofcoastalbirds)basedinPortElizabeth

TheAfricanpenguinisaniconicseabirdspeciesendemictothecoastof SouthAfricaandNamibia,knownforitsdistinctiveblack-and-white plumage,charmingwaddlinggaitanddonkey-likecall.

TheAfricanpenguiniscurrentlyclassifiedasendangeredbythe internationalUnionforConservationofNature(IUNC)andunder ThreatenedorProtectedMarineSpeciesRegulations(TOPMS) (NEM:BA)andmaybere-listedascriticalendangeredbyOctober2024

Duringthe20thcentury,thepopulationwasestimatedatoveramillion breedingpairs,howevertodaythetotalestimate(includingNamibia)isless than10,000breedingpairs ThepenguinpopulationinSouthernAfricais dire.Shouldnofurthereffectivemanagementactionsbeimplemented,itis predictedthattheAfricanpenguinpopulationalongthecoastofSouth Africacouldbefunctionallyextinctby2035

TheAmazingRaceInitiativeisadynamicandengagingeventdesignedto raisefundsandawarenessforSANCCOB Inspiredbythepopulartelevision show"TheAmazingRace,"thisinitiativecombinesadventure,teamwork, andphilanthropytocreateamemorableexperienceforparticipantsand supportersalike

Objectives

TheprimaryobjectivesoftheAmazingRaceCharityInitiativeare: Fundraising:ToraisefundsforSANCCOBthroughparticipant, 1 sponsorships,donations,andcorporatepartnerships

2.Awareness:ToincreasepublicawarenessabouttheSANCCOB.

3.CommunityEngagement:Tofosterasenseofcommunityand teamworkamongparticipantsandvolunteers

The event typically involves teams of participants who navigate through a series of checkpoints, completing various challenges and tasks along the way These challenges are designed to test physical endurance, mental acuity, and teamwork The race is structured to be inclusive, allowing people of all ages and abilities to participate.

The amazing race kicked off at 08:15 and the first teams arrived back at the finish line just before 1pm. The teams had to navigate the friendly city (Port Elizabeth) to various locations of interest Each location offered a different activity Some were physical, others were mental, and others were just fun Teams had to learn how to make virgin cocks, solve puzzles and how to use modern day technology Teams at tourist points received lessons and the history of our great city.

Each team received a light meal at the Algoa 108 clubhouse while also hydrating our teams It was indeed a very hot day, and teams were active to eventually claim possible first prize Part of route and one of the stages also allowed the teams to swim in the refreshing ocean waters

In all aspects, this project is a start of closer collaboration with other tables and will most certainly become an annual future between Algoa 108 and PE West 142

We are also abundantly blessed by the sponsorship of our benefactors and the inclusion of our benefactors to host a stage It was a resounding success and from here on we will do it better, with even more interesting stages and challenges and many more teams that will participate.

The Amazing Race Initiative is a powerful example of how fun and adventure can be harnessed for a good cause By combining the excitement of a race with the purpose of charity, this initiative not only raises funds but also builds stronger, more aware communities It is a testament to the positive impact that well-organized, community-focused events can have on society.

Dewald Niemand

Golf Day PE West 142

The Round Table PE West 142 hosted a successful Golf Day Fundraiser at the prestigious PE Golf Club. The event brought together golf enthusiasts, community members, and sponsors for a day of friendly competition and charitable giving with Community Chest Eastern Cape being our beneficiary

The event saw an impressive turnout with 28 participants, including members of the Round Table, local business leaders, and golf aficionados The diverse group of participants contributed to a vibrant and engaging atmosphere.

The day started by a shotgun start for the golf tournament The format was American scramble with 2 score Participants enjoyed a challenging yet enjoyable round of golf on the beautifully maintained course

Thanks to the generosity of our participants and sponsors, the event raised a significant amount of funds. The proceeds will be directed towards Community Chest Eastern Cape, supporting our ongoing efforts to make a positive impact in the community

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors for their invaluable support Their contributions were instrumental in the success of the event Special thanks to Michael James Organisation for their generous donations and sponsorships.

Highlights:

A raffle draw and auction were held during the posttournament luncheon, featuring exciting prizes and items

The event concluded with a heartfelt thank you speech from the Round Table PE West 142 chairman, expressing appreciation for the community's support.

The mystery box raised R11,000.00 thanks to Johan Olivier who re-gifted the mystery box to go on Auction again The was a very special moment

The Golf Day Fundraiser was a resounding success, fostering community spirit and raising essential funds for a worthy cause We look forward to hosting similar events in the future and continuing our mission to support and uplift our community.

We would like to thank all participants, sponsors, volunteers, and the PE Golf Club staff for their dedication and hard work in making this event a memorable one.

Dewald Niemand

Santa’s Shoe Box

Thisyear,RoundTableKirkwood78continueditstraditionofspreadingholidaycheerthroughtheSanta Shoeboxproject,aninitiativeaimedatbringingjoytothelessfortunatechildrenintheSundaysRiverValley.

TheprojectinvolvedTablerscollectingandfillingshoeboxeswithessentialitemsandsmallpresents,which werethenhandedouttochildrenwhomaynototherwisereceivegiftsthisholidayseason

Thankstothegenerosityofourmembersandlocalcommunity,atotalof106shoeboxeswerecollectedand distributedtochildrenfromtheNeskuiken,Sitrusrand,andKleuterkasteelpre-primaryschools. Eachboxcontainedamixofpracticalitemsandfestivesurprises,allcarefullychosentobrightenthechildren's dayandmaketheholidayseasonalittlebitmorespecial

Formanyofthesechildren,theSantaShoeboxistheonlygifttheywillreceive.Theoverwhelmingsenseofjoy andgratitudefromthechildrenastheyreceivedtheirboxeswasareminderoftheimpactasmallactof kindness Thesmilesontheirfacesandtheexcitementintheireyesmadeallthe effortworthwhile

Murray Middleton

Zwartkops 195 50th Anniversary & Spring Conference

“Ontheothersideoftheworld,50yearsago,Zwartkops195cameintoexistence Itis strangetothinkthatitisthesolecatalystthatintroducedandbroughtusheretonight”–DavidAllan On15November2024wehadthehonourandprivilegetohosttheZwartkops19550th CelebrationdinneratLondtPark Zwartkops195,alsoknowasthex-factorTableinthe EasternCapeorthecrabsforshorthavebeenservingthecommunityinPortElizabeth for50yearsandisstillgoingstrong

Theladiesweretreatedwithatouratthe Theesecombewineestateforatourofthefarm andawinetastingafterwards

Afterthemeeting,weproceededtodothe “steek-jou-dood”whereJohnTomfrom Cradock37showedoffhis“kettieskiet”skills.

WeendedtheweekendwithaproudlySouth Africanrugbyandbraaieveningwherethe SpringboksbeattheEnglish

Thankyoutoallthemembers,past,currentand future,thatmadethisweekendpossible

Itwasaneveningofcelebrationandfellowshipbetweenpast, currentandfutureTablers.ThankyoutoalltheZwartkops members(pastandfuture)whomadeitpossibleforusto celebratethisawesomemilestone Wealsousedthisweekend tolaunchthefirsteverZwartkops195coin

Onthe16thofNovemberwe195alsohadtheprivilegetohost the2024SpringConference Thechairmananddelegatesof theEasternProvinceAreapulledtogetherforaninsightful conferencewhichfeaturedguestspeakerslikeSelwynWillis fromtheEPCommunityChest.InthespiritoftheNovember Men’sHealthmonth,ourhonourableAreaChairmanalso arrangefortheABBYmachinetobetherewhichperformeda healthscreeningforallourmembers

Carl Olivier

Longest Drive

Onthe2ndofNovember2024,RoundTable Zwartkops195hostedit’sfirsteverLongestDrive Competition WiththeassistanceoftheWalmer WoodsDrivingRangewhowelcomedtheevent atnochargetothetable,alongwithDan GoldbergofClubMatePortElizabethwho suppliedandoperatedtheBallTrackerwhich displayseachgolfersdistance,flightpatternof theball,andcurve

Wehadnumerousentrantstothecompetition whichturnedouttobeasuccessfulandfunday Zwartkops195hostedabraaifortheentrantsand publicwhocametosupport,sellingBoerieRolls andotherrefreshmentstokeepeveryonewell hydratedandfedforthoselongdriveshots!

Bytheendoftheday,thewinnerswerein,the Longestrecordeddriveforthedaywas319 metersbyMichaelHansel,closelyfollowedby DodgyDavefromZwartkops195with284 meters,asistradition,Dodgyforfeitedhisprize tothenextLongestDrive Theprojectraised awarenessofRoundTablespresenceintheBay areaandintroducednewprospectstoRound Tableasaresultofafunfilleddaywithamazing prizessponsoredfromwithinRoundTableand ClubMate

FromlambhamperstofreeGolfDaysattheSt FrancisLinksandevenafewprivatecoaching voucherstohaveyourveryownPGAcoachshow youthe“Ropes”ofyourswing&Drive! Zwartkops195willlooktogrowthisprojectasa stapleinthecomingyears!

Carl Olivier

Adelaide 194 Celebrates 50 Years

WehavethehonourtoannouncethatAdelaide194isturning50thisyear Establishedin1974,itisanabsoluteprivilegetobeabletoparticipateinthe activitiesoftheTableandtokeepthelong-standingtraditionofcommunity servicegoingthroughourcontinuedeffortstodriveimpactfulchange

Keeping our soup kitchens going

Adelaide194hasbeencontinuouslycontributingtoourtown’ssoupkitchenprojectsfor5yearsensuringthat3 soupkitchensinAdelaidecankeepservingthevulnerableresidentsinourcommunity Thesoupkitchenis givingfoodtoanestimated400peopledailyandthisismakingamassivedifferenceinourcommunity. Bysupplementingtheirproteinandfreshvegetablerequirementsweareensuringthesustainabilityofthese projects Thisisaninitiativewearetrulyproudofandonewewillcontinuouslysupport

194's Newest Member

Wehadthehour&privilegetoinductournewestmemberlast week,BenduPreez.

Benhasanamazingstorythatwewilldoafeatureoninalater edition Hewasgivenasecondchanceinlifeandforthatreason hejoinedRoundTablehopingtouseitasaplatformtoalsogive otherpeopleasecon1dchanceinlife.

194 assists with Bedford

Half-Marathon

Adelaide194hadtheprivilegetoassistwiththeBedfordHalfMarathon againthisyearandwelikealwayshadthegeeswaterpointtomotivate therunners&walkerstogettothefinishline.

Wehadaamazingtimewithlotsofgeesandmanagedtoputourname outtheretoshowpeoplethatweareassistingourcommunityand projectsinourarea

Nico Schneider

Easter Egg Collection Algoa108

A while ago, during one of our meetings, our Chairman, Willie Opperman put it to the table as to who wants to run which project during the year. As the first project of the year, the Easter Egg Collection was up for grabs. Everyone remained silent Then I thought, as one of the first projects I attended while being a Pipeliner, it seemed pretty straight forward and I put my hand up This was to be the first project for me as a Tabler, I thought, “Okay cool, should be fine, seems simple enough ”

I had absolutely no idea as to what really went into it Yes, it is a very simple non-profit project, but there were many things that I had not considered These are the small things that one can only learn through experience That said, and at a little close to the last minute, the dates were set and the plan was in motion!

It was decided that the venue would be Newton Park SuperSpar This was an exciting and also tense time as Algoa 108 had never been there, as so we all waited with bated breath for the approval from management. Thankfully, we did not have to wait too long, and the approval was given

The next few steps were organising the posters, transportation of the gazebo, banners and collectionbox for the collection days Of course, no Easter Egg Collection would be complete without the ever-famous Easter Bunny! And so, a bunny suit was hired! Everything was in place

The first collection day, on the 16th o March went very well! It was very windy though, to the point where the gazebo had to be tied down to Warren’s car. The rest of the banners had to be taken down as well! At least, the wind provided some much-needed cooling for those wearing the bunny suit, which at the time, were our 2 newest Pipeliners, Dylan and Wesley Yates Well done to them for taking it in their stride and with such great spirit

After a very successful day, we packed up everything and headed back to the clubhouse for some fellowship. I must say, after the first day, a lot of the stress had been relieved! But there was still the second collection looming Fast forward through a hectic work week and we were back at Newton Park SuperSpar the following Saturday morning Sadly, this was not as busy as the first one Despite the weather being much better, it was very quiet

With the combination of both collection days, Algoa 108 managed to collect over a thousand Easter Eggs The value of these eggs, combined with the cash donations, brought the total value of our collection to just over R4300! The cash was used to buy non-perishable foods to add to the Easter Egg handout Our named beneficiary, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Care Home was invited to our clubhouse for the handout on the 28th of March We had even set up a mini-Easter Egg hunt for the children Even the easter bunny made a guest appearance! Needless to say, the children were all very excited and extremely happy It was a fulfilling occasion

I would like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to my brothers at Algoa 108 and of course Newton Park SuperSpar Without your help, we would have never been able to give the less fortunate children of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star such an awesome Easter. The planning, collection days and the handout totaled 64 man-hours.

Craig Falconer

Recognition for a 41er

Round Table Kirkwood 78 is proud to acknowledge Johan Swart, affectionately known as "Oom Vleis", for his unwavering dedication and exceptional service to the community, particularly through his involvement in the Kirkwood Wildfees. As an honorary past Round Tabler (41er), Johan’s remarkable contributions to both Round Table and the broader community continue to inspire and set a high standard for service and leadership

In collaboration with the ATKV, Johan Swart has played a pivotal role in organizing the Kirkwood Wildfees, a popular festival that attracts over 40,000 visitors to Kirkwood each year His tireless work behind the scenes many hours of meticulous planning and coordination has helped make the Wildfees an event that showcases the very best of Kirkwood’s culture, hospitality, and spirit.

The festival, which spans an entire weekend, not only provides entertainment but also brings significant economic benefits to the community Local businesses, including guesthouses and retail outlets, experience a substantial boost as thousands of visitors descend on the area, drawn by the vibrant festival atmosphere.

Johan's commitment to the Wildfees, alongside his broader contributions to the community, reflect his dedication to service and growth His involvement has helped elevate the town of Kirkwood.

Round Table Kirkwood 78 is incredibly proud to call Oom Johan Swart one of our own, a past tabler who continues to serve and give back to his community in extraordinary ways His legacy as a true community leader is an inspiration, and we celebrate his contributions with immense pride.

Murray Middleton

Jeffreys Bay / Humansdorp 252

Golf Day

Onthe30thofNovember,theannualRoundTableJeffreysBay/Humansdorp252GolfDaybroughttogether golfenthusiastsandcommunitysupportersatthescenicHankeyGolfClub

Theevent,knownforitscamaraderieandpurpose,wasatremendoussuccess,withgolfersenjoyingperfect weather,challengingfairways,andgreatcompany Thedaywasn’tjustaboutswingsandputts itwasabout makingadifference Thankstotheincrediblesupportfromplayers,sponsors,andvolunteers,fundswereraised tosupportvariouslocalcommunityprojectsandinitiatives

Aheartfeltthankyougoesouttoeveryonewhoparticipated,fromthegolfersshowcasingtheirskillstothe sponsorswhosegenerositymadetheeventpossible Here’stoanotheryearofbuildingstrongercommunities, oneswingatatime!

Pieter du Toit

Life Nkanyisa Ice Cream Handout

Tis the Season for Giving Christmas Party and Ice Cream Handout! The holiday season is a time for spreading joy, and this year, Round Table Kirkwood 78 was delighted to contribute to the Christmas celebrations at Life Nkanyisa Care Centre.

Father Christmas made a special appearance, much to the delight of the 600+ residents, distributing gifts and bringing a festive spirit to the day The smiles on the faces of the residents were a testament to the joy and warmth that filled the room as everyone gathered for the celebration

Kirkwood Life Nkanyisa Care Centre is a facility that plays a vital role in caring for some of the most vulnerable members of our society The compassionate staff, paired with the hospital’s dedication to providing the best care, ensures that the residents feel valued, supported, and part of a community

In addition to Father Christmas’ visit, Round Table Kirkwood 78 donated over 600 ice creams to the Christmas party, adding a refreshing touch to the festivities The ice cream handout was a simple but heartfelt gesture that brought extra smiles to the faces of the residents, who were able to enjoy a sweet treat as they celebrated the season

It was an incredibly rewarding experience for Round Table Kirkwood 78 to contribute to the Christmas cheer at Life Nkanyisa The day’s events reminded us of the importance of giving back and supporting our local community We look forward to continuing to spread joy and making a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

Murray Middleton

Easter Egg Collection

My First Year as a Round Table Member

My first year as a Round Table member has flown by so fast it feels like yesterday that I was at my first meeting at the Algoa 108 Clubhouse

Meeting new people that are now brothers for life is something I owe to this incredible organization.

I was brought into Round Table by past Algoa 108 Chairman Michael Ward, who unfortunately moved abroad halfway through my first year If I had known 10 Years ago what I know now about Round Table I would have been a member a lot sooner.

My first meeting was a Project Meeting in March when the guys were getting ready to do their Annual Easter Egg collection A non-profitable Project that just requires manpower and time I was very new to all the formalities of these meetingsaddressing the chairman, putting up your hand on when to speak, standing up when you are addressing the room, introducing yourself to a whole bunch of new people - it was rather scary at first, but the motto states Adopt, Adapt, Improve

The Table members listened to my ideas and never once shot them down, I thought to myself these men actually listen to what one has to say The meeting finally came to a close and the members sat around the bar discussing personal life stories and informing me about Table and what it means to them.

Willie Opperman, the current Algoa 108 Chairman, told me about how he was a member at not one table but three, one in a different province and one just around the corner from P E I never knew how big this organization was until then And still had no idea of the new brother that I haven’t even met yet.

I was part of my first Raid that following week when Michael and I attended a Zwartkops 195 Project Meeting Boy did things get serious there I got to learn that each Table does things differently and not one is the same. I met Carl, Dave Greg and the smallest person I’ve ever met with the most passion for Table, the one and only Duncan Morris These gentlemen where so welcoming to me, a person they had never met before I felt almost like family immediately

Notlongafterthat,IattendedmyfirstAreameetinginHumansdorpwhenTable252hostedtheCVCMeeting I gottomeetawholenewsetofbrothersacrosstheEasternProvidenceArea Nico“Sniper’Schneider,Area Chairmanatthetime,welcomedeveryonefromfarandwide,newfacesandold BrothersandFriendsforlife I haveneverknownanythingthatwassoheartfeltandwarmasIfIhadknownthesemenforyears.

TheyearprogressesandfromGuesttoPipeliner,fromPipelinerImetTableveteransinlike

Paul“TableroftheYear”Ferriera,Bhavesh“Bhavi”TiekamandMarinus“Godfather”Rautenbach41ersasthey arecalled.Abreedofmenthatnotonlyhelpyou,butassist,listen,guideandteacheveryonethewaysofa108 Tabler ForthemIamtrulygrateful

Itwascomingclosetotheendoftheyear,Ihadmadefriends,brothers,anewfamilythatareirreplaceable. WithouttheassistanceoftheAlgoa108RoundTablemembersIwouldnothavetheconfidencetowritethis report I’dfeeltooembarrassedtoputmyselfonpaperlikethis

Fastforwardto2024,anewyearforAlgoa108,anewgroupoflike-mindedmenwiththegoalstodrivean impactfulchange.Anewexecutivecouncilhadtobechosenforthatyear,IneverthoughtIwouldevenbe consideredtobeontheexecboardof108,buthereIam,astheSecretarymemberofthecouncil

GoingfromaguestinFebruaryof2023toAchievingAlgoa108TableroftheYearinFebruaryof2024wasan amazingsurprise Ididn’tknowhowmuchimpactfulchangeIhadinmyselfuntilthe7membersaroundourtable broughtitoutofme WillieOpperman,ShaneTait,MichaelWard,MarkWard,WarrenBigara,CraigFalconerand SchalkRossouwwithoutyouguysIdon’tthinkIwouldstillbeapartofsuchanamazingorganizationthatis RoundTableSouthernAfrica Ilookforwardtomanymoreyearsaheadwithyougreatbunchofmen,friends, brothersforlife.

RoundTable-therearenotenoughwordsthatIcanwritetoshowthegratitudeIhave,andwhatanhonouritis tobeamemberofanInternationalOriginationlikethis ThereisNObetterandwillNEVERbeabetter organizationthanthis.

Sheldon de Ridder

of a 41'er Reflections

Wise words once shared by Suren Packery

Iwas,andIstillam,honouredtobeTabler,

ButwhatdoesitmeantobeaTabler?

WhenweexplainTabletonontablers,wetalkaboutourcharitywork,wetalk aboutthesocialaspectsofTable.

Sometimeswerefertotheskillsthatonewilllearninrunningprojectsand leadingportfolios

Weevenalludetothenetworksthataredevelopedforourpersonaland businesslives

Andthisallistrue,Tabledoesimbueuswithalltheseskills

Butmaybeitisn’tonlyaboutthememberships,theprojects,themoney,the socials

TablerevealsandbuildsCharacter

Itmakesyouabetterhuman,abetterperson,abetterfather,abetter friend Abetterpersoninoursocietythatiscryingoutforbetterpeople!

UltimatelyTableshapesandconstructsyourintegrity,itnurturesyour morals,itcreatesgritandresilience.

MostImportantlyItrevealstheManyouCanbe.

Formepersonally,it’stheimportanceoffamily,friendship,andbrotherhood

Inaworldthatoftenseemsincreasinglydisconnected,thesebondsareour anchors,oursourcesofstrengthand joy Familyisthefoundationuponwhichourlivesarebuilt It'stheunconditionalloveandunwaveringsupport. Nevertakeitforgranted

Friendshipischosen.Itenrichesourliveswithlaughter,camaraderie,andthe comfortthatwe'renotaloneonthis journey Friendshipsofferussolaceintimesoftroubleandjoyintriumphs

TableisBrotherhoodisboth…It'saboutasharedpurpose,sharedgoals,and theunwaveringcommitmenttooneanother.Brotherhoodteachesus loyalty,resilience,andtheprofoundstrengththatcomesfromstanding together It'snotlimitedbyblood;it'sdefinedbysharedvaluesand experiences

Theseconnectionsremindusofourhumanity Theyprovideasupport systemduringlife'schallenges

Theyshapeourcharacter,influenceourdecisions,anddefineoursenseof belongingintheworld.

Thesearethreadsthatweavethebeautifultapestryofourlives

RoundTableistheloom

Barefoot Bowls for Winter Knights

TheWinterKnightsprojecthaswitnessedremarkablesuccessatRoundTable252,highlightedbyourrecent BarefootBowlseventheldattheSt FrancisBowlingClub Theeventexce sold-outvenue,showcasingtheenthusiasticsupportofourcommunity Eagerlysupportedbythebraveparticipants,cashdonationsweregiven, reflectingthecompassionandgenerosityofoursupporters.Additionally, ticketsaleswerebeyondourexpectations,contributingsignificantlytoou fundraisingefforts Thefundsraisedwasusedtopurchasewarmblankets andessentialfoodsuppliesforindividualsstrugglingduringthewinter season.

Inadditiontoaidingthoseinneed,ourprojectextendeditsreachtolocal animalsanctuaries Theoutpouringofsupportresultedinsubstantialdona ofanimalfood,ensuringthatourfurryfriendsarealsocaredforduringthe Throughgenerousdonationswewereabletodistributeasignificantnumb

Additionally,wepurchasedoverR10,000worthofnon-perishablefoodsw supplieswerehandedouttolocalsoupkitchens,providingmuch-neededsupporttoourcommunity Wealso extendedourhelptothelocalSPCAandtheJBayAnimalSanctuary,ensuringthatbothpeopleandanimals benefittedfromtheinitiative

Throughcollectiveefforts,wehavemadeameaningfuldifferenceinthelivesofbothhumansandanimals, driving#impactfulchangefurtherandfurther.

Thankyoutoeveryonewhocontributedtomakingthisprojectasuccess!

Pieter duToit

Freediving into the Unknown

Dr.

Terrence Bellinghan’s Talk

Makes a Splash at The Sandbar

TheSandbarFloatingRestaurant,known foritsstunningviewsandexcellent seafood,recentlytransformedintoan underwaterexplorer'shaven.RoundTableAlexKenton210’sThomasSutherlandcuratedaneveningthat captivatedbothseasonedspearfishersandcuriousnewcomersalike

Dr TerenceBellingan,arenownedexpertinfreedivingandmarinebiology,tookcentrestage,sharinghiswealth ofknowledgeandexperiencesfromthedepthsofSouthAfrica'ssoutherncoast.Withstunningvisualsand engaginganecdotes,Dr Bellinganpaintedavividpictureoftheunderwaterworld,highlightingthethrilling challengesandrewardsofspearfishing

Theaudiencewastreatedtoamasterclassinspearfishingtechniques,fromchoosingtherightequipmentto understandingthebehavioursofdifferentfishspecies Dr Bellingan'spassionformarineconservationshone through,emphasisingtheimportanceofresponsibleandsustainablepractices

Theeveningwasn'tjustaboutknowledge-sharing;itwasacelebrationoftheocean'sbounty.ChefChrisOvens curatedaseafoodfeastthatdelightedthesenses,featuringavarietyoffreshcatchesthatshowcasedthe diversityoftheregion'smarinelife

Theeventwasaresoundingsuccess,notjustforitsengagingcontent,butalsoforitsfinancialimpact.The eventgeneratedaprofitofR12,556.64.Thissuccessunderscoresthegrowinginterestinfreedivingand spearfishing,aswellastheimportanceoffosteringcommunityandsharingknowledgewithinthesepassionate communities

Whetheroneisaseasoneddiverorsimplyintriguedbytheunderwaterworld,eventslikethisoneofferaunique opportunitytolearn,connect,andsavourtheflavoursoftheocean

KeyTakeaways:

ExpertInsights:Dr.Bellingan'stalkprovidedvaluableknowledgeonspearfishingtechniquesandmarinelife. CommunityBuilding:Theeventfosteredconnectionandknowledge-sharingamongdivingenthusiasts

CulinaryDelights:ChefChrisOvens'seafooddinnerwasahighlight,showcasingtheregion'sfreshcatches FinancialSuccess:Theeventgeneratedasignificantprofit,demonstratingthegrowinginterestin freedivingandspearfishing

Thomas Sutherland

Steak Nights

RoundTableAlexKenton210hashadaremarkableyearwithtwo successfulSteakNights,raisingsignificantfundsforcommunity engagementandcharitableactivities.

OnMay4th,2024,theclubhosteditsfirstSteakNightatMiddleBeach, KentononSea ConvenedbyThomasSutherland,theeventbrought togetherfriends,family,andcommunitymembersforaneveningof deliciousfood,camaraderie,andfundraising.Thehighlightofthenight wasthe8-weekdry-agedsirloinsteakfromKentonButchery,expertly cookedtoperfectionbyMurrayFosterandBenKroon Theeventwas aresoundingsuccess,with66ticketssoldandafinalprofitof R14,528.20.SpecialthanksgotoJene'eduPlessis,Cassidyvan Rensburg,CandiceFortuin,ZelriRossouw,KaraFoster,andJacomien Zaaymanfortheirtirelesseffortsinassistingtoexecutetheevent Additionally,theclubextendsitsgratitudetoJacquesdeWitandJoani deKoningfortheircontinuedsupportofAlexKenton210

Buildingonthesuccessofthefirstevent,Alex/Kenton210teamedup withtheSandbarFloatingRestauranttohostSteakNight20 This secondeventsaw68attendeesenjoyinga300gsirloinsteak,agedfor 3weeks,accompaniedbyanAsianslawsalad,chips,andachoiceof mushroomorpeppersauce.

TheeventraisedR13,373inprofit,makingitanothergreatsuccess filledwithfunandcommunityspirit

RoundTableAlexKenton210isdeeplygratefultoeveryonewho participated,supported,andcontributedtomakingtheseSteakNights memorablesuccesses Theclublooksforwardtocontinuingits traditionofcommunityengagementandfundraising

Murray Foster & Thomas Sutherland

Kenton Wine Fest

Onthe24thMarch2024Alex/Kenton210rana collaborationwithRustenVredewineestatewherewe recreatedtheawardwinning“winemakers”lunch Withtwo itemsontheMenu,aChalmarSirloinsteakandacrispyskin Salmondish,wewereabletoserveandentertain65guests WiththehelpofmyTablemembers,wewereabletoruna backyardkitchenandproduceoneofthehighlightevents ofthefestival.

OurfocusfortheweekendwastoraisemoneyforBushken -apre-primaryschoolinourareawhoisunderfinancial constraint AstheschoolwasoriginallyopenedbyTablers wedecideditisstillourresponsibilitytoensureitcontinues toprovideaservicetothefamiliesofKentononSea

RustenVredeallowedusaccesstotheirdeliciousrecipes whichareperfectlyparedwiththeaward-winningwines Thesteakwasservedwiththeirflagshipwinethe“Estate” andthefishwiththeDonkiesbaaiSteenwhichjustmakes thedishestasteevenbetter.

IntrueA/K210fashionwesetupinourClubHousedownon MiddleBeachwiththebestviewIbelieveofanytableIhave visited.Wehadhoweveroneissue,thewindfromtheeast decidedtodayofalldaysitwouldblowat65km/h However,Tablealwaysmakesaplan,whilefightinghalfthe beachjoiningourpreptableswithourbackyardkitchen,we wenttowarwithanygaparmedwithplasticandductape.

Iamveryproudofwhatourteamachievedontheday,we servedperfectsteakstoorder,andfishcookedandserved asifwewereina5-starrestaurant. Iwouldn’t havebeenabletoachievethiswithoutthem

Chris Ovens

Assisting at the Seagull Regatta

The 30th of December 2024 was a day to remember in Kenton-on-Sea! Round Table Alex/Kenton 210 joined forces with the Kenton Seagull Regatta to serve up drinks and good vibes, contributing to the success of this incredible event With 247 Seagulls taking over the Kariega River, the spectacle was nothing short of epic The sight of these graceful boats gliding through the water was a testament to the growing popularity of this unique regatta.

Round Table Alex/Kenton 210 played a small role in supporting the event, ensuring that participants and spectators alike were well-hydrated and entertained throughout the day, overseeing the bar, while also enabling the event’s Public Liability Cover

Our main goal was to use this event for the great public relations exposure withing the greater Kenton on Sea community. We have worked hard on the reputation that the “local” Tablers are the young “ movers and shakers” of the community, often acting as the enablers of various parties to come together and work together

The Seagull Regatta aims to raise funds for various community initiatives especially on the educational front. This year the auction alone brought in in excess of R1 600 000 (Not the formal official figure as funds is still to reflect in bank accounts)

Our presence here underscored the organization's commitment to community engagement and charitable causes, as we worked a 10-hour shift is a very hot yet festive marque tent.

Dale Cunningham(The main brain behind this event) and his team deserve immense credit for organizing another outstanding regatta Their passion and hard work have made this event an ever growing highlight of the Kenton-onSea calendar

The Kenton Seagull Regatta is not just a thrilling spectacle; it's also a valuable platform for raising funds for local charities Round Table Alex/Kenton 210 is proud to be associated with this worthy cause, which embodies the spirit of community and giving back

Adding to the camaraderie, several Round Table 41rs (past members) were spotted in the crowd, with some even participating in the regatta. This intergenerational connection highlights the enduring legacy of Round Table and its impact on the community and what could be the activation of the next generation of Tablers

Jacques van Wyk

BUTTERNUT COLLECTION/DONATION

On13April2024,HabataBoerdery,RoundTableZwartkops195andRoundTableAlgoa108organised, collectedanddeliveredamassiveconsignmentofButternuttovariouscharitiesaroundPortElizabethaspart oftheWinterfoodspreparationtogearupforourcombinedmajorWinterKnightscollectionWithaveryheavy trailerfilledwiththefinestHabataBoerderyButternuts,theprojectwasagowithbothtablesgearedandin convoy.

Ourfirststop,alocalandrenownedsemi-self-sustainingsettlementinGreenbushes,PortElizabeth,housing numerousfamiliesacrossvariousagegroupsanddemographics.Ourarrivalwasunannouncedandintendedto beamassivesurpriseforthefamilieslivingthereasonlythecaretakerwasnotifiedofourintentiontodeliver.It wasn’tlongbeforethefamiliesstartedcomingouttocollecttheirfillandshareinsomelaughterwithusaswe struggledtoliftthecratesandunpackthemassiveconsignment

Ournextstop,theVistarusMissionStation,situatedinAmbrose Street,PortElizabeth.Onceagain,itwasonlyamatteroftime beforethefamiliesstartedemergingtoseewhatallthe commotionwasaboutWithinminutes,containerswerewheeled inlinetoreceivethedonationwhichwasimmediatelytransported tothekitchenforstorageanduseVistarushaslongbeena recipientandcherishedmissionstationtoRoundTableingeneral ItiswithmassivethankstoHabataBoerderythatwecould supportthesegroupsandcontinueourpledgetomakean ImpactfulChangeinthelivesofourbrothersandsisters

David Allan

Albany Car Wash

Driving Change: Fundraising for the Albany Rugby Team Tour

Whenacommunitycomestogether,incrediblethingshappenOverthepastfewmonths,wehostedthree successfulcarwashes,eachaimedatraisingfundsfortheAlbanyrugbyteam’supcomingtour Throughteamwork,dedication,andthegeneroussupportofourcommunity,wemanagedtoraisenearly R12,000Thisinitiativewasn’tjustaboutwashingcars itwasaboutensuringthateveryplayer,regardlessof financialconstraints,hadtheopportunitytobepartofthisonce-in-a-lifetimeexperience

Formanystudents,thecostofthetourwasasignificanthurdle,onethatthreatenedtokeepthemfrom participatingUnderstandingtheimportanceofinclusivityandequalopportunities,westeppedintohelplower theoverallcostofthetour,makingitmoreaffordableforeveryteammemberOurgoalwassimple:nostudent shouldbeleftbehindduetofinancialdifficulties

ThesupportfromthecommunitywasoverwhelmingCarownerscameoutinnumbers,notonlytogettheir vehiclescleanedbutalsotocontributetoameaningfulcauseVolunteersworkedtirelessly,scrubbing,rinsing, andensuringeverycarleftsparkling,allwhilefosteringanatmosphereofunityandpurpose

Thesuccessofthesefundraisingeventsreaffirmedwhatwealreadyknew whenpeopleuniteforacommon cause,realchangeispossibleWeareincrediblyproudofwhatweachievedandgratefultoeveryonewho playedaroleinmakingthispossible

AstheAlbanyrugbyteampreparesfortheirtour,theydosoknowingthattheircommunitystandsfirmlybehind themThisiswhattruesupportlookslike ensuringthateveryplayergetstheirshot,regardlessoffinancial backgroundWewishtheteamallthebestontheirjourneyandlookforwardtocelebratingtheirsuccessupon theirreturn!

Port Alfred 177

Building Brotherhood Port Alfred 177 attends BMG

ThespiritofRoundTablethrivesonfellowship,networking,andstrengtheningbonds,andthiswasexactlythe experienceGrantKew,NicovonWielligh,andKeananHendrickshadwhentheyattendedBMG-theTri-Area RoundTableConference

BMGbringstogetherTablesfromMpumalanga,Bosveld,andGautengforaweekendofcamaraderie, discussions,andcelebrationofwhatitmeanstobeaTabler

OurjourneybeganwithaflightfromPortAlfredtoJohannesburg,wherewethensetoffbycartoATKVKlein KaribainBelaBela,Limpopo Theroadtripwasanadventureinitself,filledwithlaughter,anticipation,andthe excitementofreunitingwithfellowTablersfromacrosstheregions

Travelingtogethernotonlystrengthenedourownfriendshipsbutalsoremindedusoftheimportanceof steppingoutofourhomecommunitiestoengagewiththewiderRoundTablenetwork

Theconferencewasatestamenttothepoweroffellowship Engagingdiscussions,valuableexchangesofideas, andtheopportunitytomeetnewandfamiliarfacesallcontributedtoamemorableexperience The connectionsforgedatBMGgobeyondjustnetworking theycreatelifelongbondsandreinforcetheshared missionofRoundTable.

EventslikeBMGhighlightwhytravelingissuchanessentialpartofourorganization Byimmersingourselvesin differentenvironmentsandinteractingwithmembersfromvariousregions,webroadenourperspectives,share knowledge,andbuildlastingrelationships.Theexperiencesgainedfromsuchconferencesfuelourpassionand commitmenttotheTablemovement.

AswereflectonanincredibleweekendatBMG,weareremindedonceagainthatRoundTableismorethanjust anorganization it’sabrotherhoodthattranscendsborders.Welookforwardtofuturetravels,newfriendships, andcontinuingtostrengthenthebondsthatmakeRoundTablesospecial

Wildsfees A festival giving back to the community

The Spar Kirkwood Wildsfees 2024 has once again proved to be a massive success for both the festival and the community With over 42,000 people passing through the gates over the weekend, the event delivered an unforgettable experience filled with music, culture, and camaraderie

Round Table Kirkwood 78’s Contribution

As one of the key contributors to the festival, Round Table Kirkwood 78 took on the significant task of managing all festival bars, ensuring attendees had access to a well-run and enjoyable hospitality experience. These included:

The Beer Tent – A buzzing hotspot for festival-goers to cool off with an ice-cold drink

The Wine Tent Bar – Where visitors can relax and watch the live entertainment.

Sombrero Lounge – A relaxed setting for those looking to unwind

Flying Fish Bar – Offering a unique and refreshing selection of beverages

To keep up with demand, the team ran two shifts per day, putting in an incredible 900+ man-hours over the weekend and months of preparation beforehand Their hard work and dedication ensured seamless service, contributing to the festival’s vibrant atmosphere

Giving Back to the Community

Beyond the success of the bars, the true impact of this event lies in the contribution back to the community. 50% of the total profit generated by Round Table Kirkwood 78’s bar operations have been donated to the Wildsfees office, an NPO that distributes funds to various beneficiaries in need

A Festival to Remember

The 2024 Spar Kirkwood Wildsfees once again showcased what makes this event so special a combination of hard work, teamwork, and a deep-rooted commitment to the community Round Table Kirkwood 78 extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported them over the weekend, from the festival-goers to the dedicated volunteers who made it all possible

Here’s to another successful Wildsfees, and we look forward to seeing you all again next year!

Regardt van der Merwe

Port Alfred 177

Boat Race & Rowing Dinner

TheBoatRaceseventonNovember14,2024,turnedouttobeanamazingdayfilledwithenergy,competition, andlotsoffun!Wehadanincredibleturnout,withnearly300studentsandstaffcomingtogethertoenjoythe racesandcheerontheirfavouriteteams Theatmospherewaselectric,anditwaswonderfultoseesomany peopleengagingintheevent

Attendance

Wewerethrilledtohostamixofstudentsandstaff,alleagertotakepartinorwatchtheraces Thehighenergy fromthecrowdmadetheeventevenmoreexciting,withplentyofcheering,laughter,andfriendlycompetition Seeingsomanypeoplecometogetherforthiseventwastrulyrewarding

TheRaces

Theboatracesthemselveswerethehighlightoftheday!Teamsgaveittheirall,paddlingwithdetermination andpushingthemselvestothelimit Someraceswereneck-and-neckrightuntilthefinishline,keeping spectatorsontheedgeoftheirseats.Thecamaraderieandsportsmanshipdisplayedbyallparticipantswere fantastic,andeveryoneseemedtohaveablast,whethertheywereracingorjustwatchingtheaction

FoodandRefreshments

Ofcourse,noeventiscompletewithoutdeliciousfood!WeservedatastymealfeaturingChickenàlaKing, whichwasabighitamongattendees Fordessert,wetreatedeveryonetoMalvaPudding,aclassicfavourite thatleftpeoplecomingbackforseconds Thefoodaddedtotheoverallenjoyment,makingsureeveryonewas well-fedandhappy

FundraisingSuccess

Beyondjustbeingafunevent,theboatracesalsohelpedusraisenearlyR25,000inprofit!Thisisahuge achievement,andwe’resogratefultoeveryonewhocontributed Thefundswillgotowardssupportingfuture studentprogramsandactivities,ensuringthatwecancontinuehostingengagingeventslikethisone. Allinall,theBoatRaceseventwasafantasticdayofcompetition,fun,andcommunityspirit Thepositive feedbackfromattendeeshasbeenoverwhelming,andit’sclearthatthisisaneventworthcontinuinginthe future.Abigthankyoutoalltheorganizers,volunteers,participants,andspectatorswhomadethiseventso special Wecan’twaittodoitallagainnextyear!

195 Easter Egg Collection

The 195 Crabs again had an Easter Egg Collection at the Lorraine Gardens Pick and Pay This year we collected Easter Eggs to the value of R 4,450 We are extremely grateful for the community that helped us to put a smile on some children this Easter

In true 195 fashion, we got together at Mat (aka STEEEEVE’s) house to pack the eggs Afterwards we went to Vistarus Mission Station and Sinethemba house to distribute the eggs. A big thank you to all who helped with this project, and we hope we can collect even more next year to bring more smiles to children

Bushmans River Clean-Up

Alex/Kenton 210 teamed up with Sandbar Floating Restaurant, Sibuya Game Reserve as well as members of the community to clean up the Bushmasriver

We managed to collect 22 hessian bags full of glass, plastic and other wasteful products off the banks.

We had 8 boats and 27 people involved. Waste collection was sponsored but Link Up Internet

A great day was had by all

Ahugethankyoutoeveryonewhocameouttosupport theRoundTable252BloodDrive!

Yourincrediblegenerositymadethiseventamassive successandavitalstepinsavinglives Everydropofblooddonatedbringshopeandhealingto thoseinneed,andwecouldn’tbeprouderoftheamazing turnout

Asatokenofappreciation,wekepteveryonefueledwith delicioushotdogrolls,lovinglypreparedbyourteam Itwasheartwarmingtoseeourcommunitycome togetherforsuchanimportantcause Together,we’vemadearealdifference. Thankyouforbeingheroes!

Carl Olivier

Murray Foster

Community Rugby Fundraiser

WerecentlyhostedtwoincrediblecommunityeventscentredaroundSpringbokrugbymatchestoraisefunds forourrugbyteam'supcomingtour Theseeventsbroughttogetherrugbyfans,friends,andfamiliesforagreat causewhileprovidingplentyofentertainmentandcamaraderie Theatmosphereatbotheventswaslively,filled withexcitementforthegamesandenthusiasmforsupportingourteam

Attendance&CommunityEngagement

Theturnoutforbotheventswerefantastic,withlocalsupporters,teammembers,andtheirfamiliescoming togethertoenjoythematches.Rugbyfansfilledthevenue,cheeringfortheSpringboksandcelebratingeach play.Thestrongsenseofcommunitymadetheeventsevenmorespecial,asattendeesnotonlyenjoyedthe gamesbutalsocontributedtoourfundraisingefforts

Activities&Fundraising

Toraisefunds,weranthebar,soldbraaipacks,andorganizedacarwash allofwhichweremetwithgreat supportfromourattendees Thebarservedavarietyofdrinks,keepingeveryonerefreshedwhiletheyenjoyed thematches Thebraaipackswereahit,withpeoplesavouringdelicious,freshlygrilledmeals

TotalFundsRaised

Throughourcombinedefforts,wemanagedtoraiseanimpressiveR6,782!Thisisasignificantboosttowardour goaloffundingtherugbyteam'stour Wedeeplyappreciateeveryonewhocontributed,whetherbypurchasing braaipacksorsimplyattendingandsupportingtheevents

Botheventswerearesoundingsuccess,notjustintermsoffundraisingbutalsoinbringingourcommunity togethertocelebratethesportwelove Thepositivefeedbackhasbeenoverwhelming,andwelookforwardto hostingsimilareventsinthefuture.Ahugethankyoutoallourvolunteers,participants,andsupportersfor makingtheseeventsmemorable.Wecan’twaitforthenextone!

Boerie Braai

One of Zwartkops 195’s oldest projects is the boerie braai at the Lake Farm Centre during their annual Lake Farm run

Unfortunately, the EP Area AGM is on the same weekend, however in true 195 spirit we reached out to our 41’ers who assisted us with the project for the day. During the day our 41’ers collected R 4,140 that was paid over to the Lake Farm Centre A big thank you to our 41’ers for assisting us with this project!

Grant Kew

Carl Olivier

Grant Kew

Winter Knights Community Braai & Chip Challenge

TheKirkwood78WinterKnightsprojectaimedtobringwarmthandsupporttothoseinneedduringthewinter months Thiscommunityinitiativefocusedoncollectingessentialitemssuchasclothing,blankets,andnonperishablefoodtodonatetoLifeNkanyisaCareCentre,alocalorganizationthatprovidescareandsupportto individualsinneed.

Overthecourseofseveralweeksleadinguptotheevent,theKirkwoodRoundTablesetupcollectionpoints throughoutthecommunity,encouragingresidentstodonateusedclothing,blankets,andnon-perishablefood items.Theinitiativewaswidelyadvertisedthroughsocialmedia,ensuringthateveryonehadtheopportunityto contribute

Inadditiontothecharitabledonations,theKirkwoodRoundTableorganizedacommunitybraaiattheKirkwood GolfClub,fosteringasenseoffellowshipandencouragingmorepeopletogetinvolvedinthedonationeffort. Theresponsefromthecommunitywasoverwhelming,withmanyindividualsandfamiliesgenerouslydonating itemstohelpthoseinneedduringthecoldwintermonths Asentertainmentatthebraaitheconvenorarranged foragolfchippingcompetition Forafeeasetof5golfballswasavailableatthebar Thosewhowereinterestedinshowingofftheirskillswouldthenattempttohitourbannerbychippingaballat it.Successfullyhittingthebannersetofffireworks.

Thiscreatedafantasticatmosphereforagood causewithallproceedsgoingtowardstheproject DonationtoLifeNkanyisaCareCentre:

Followingthecollectioneveningandbraai,allthe collecteditemswerecarefullysortedand deliveredtoLifeNkanyisaCareCentre

Thecentreexpresseditssincereappreciationfor thegenerousdonations,whichwouldgoalong wayinhelpingindividualswhoarestruggling duringthewintermonths

Thecentre’sstaffsharedhowcrucialthese donationswereinensuringthewell-beingofthe peopletheycarefor.

CommunityParticipation

TheWinterKnightsprojectsuccessfullyengaged abroadspectrumofthecommunity.Thespiritof generositywasevidentasresidentscame togethertosupportagoodcauseandenjoyeach other’scompany

TheWinterKnightsprojectwasaheartwarming successthatbroughtthecommunitytogetherin supportofLifeNkanyisaCareCentre Lookingahead,theKirkwoodRoundTablehopes tocontinuebuildingonthesuccessofthisproject, ensuringthatthespiritofgivingthrivesinour communityyear-round.

Murray Middleton

Elderly Care Home Upgrade

RoundTableJeffreysbay/Humansdorp252dedicatedtheirdayto makingadifferenceattheAmalaOldAgeHome.Theteamrolleduptheir sleevesandgottoworkupgrading,repairing,andpaintingthefacility's hairsalon

Theireffortstransformedthespaceintoavibrantandwelcoming environment,bringingsmilestotheresidentsandstaffalike. Thisprojectnotonlyimprovedthesalon'sfunctionalitybutalsouplifted thespiritsoftheelderlyresidents,showcasingtheimpactofcommunity serviceandteamwork

Welovetheworktheladiesheredotobringasmileonourelderly residentsofthecommunity!

WewouldalsoliketothankUltimatePaintsAndrewStevensonfor donatingallthenecessarypaintandpaintingequipmenttotransformthis salonintosomethingvibrant!

Herald Cycle Tour

On 18 February 2024, Round Table Zwartkops 195 in partnership Laerskool Altona Primary, our team hit one of our favourite funfilled events, The Herald Cycle Tour! With visits and assistance from our local 41er “Paulie” and budding prospective pipeliner/guest Jaco, we started the day getting our gazebo, tables and nutritious snacks and cooldrinks ready for the rush of cyclists due to pass us by.

Sometime later, after the initial setup, we were all ready to receive our first passing of cyclists Fruit and drinks in hand for our front runners in the race, our stations were prepped, our people spread out and we were quickly passed by the first storm of racers making their way to the finish line. Just in time for us to start preparing some breakfast and assistance for the rest of the racers.

Zwartkops 195 has been in partnership with Laerskool Altona for this project for many years, the schools dedication and supply of the much needed refreshments has made our stop, in front of the school, one of the most frequently visited stops for the race, it’s always such a pleasure to be able to assist and spend time with both competitive cyclists in the race and casual cyclists taking part who never fail to stop by the Zwartkops 195 gazebo for a chat and chow, and occasional tyre repair Huge thanks to Altona Primary for supporting the event and making us a part of this legacy project!

Pieter du Toit

David Allan

Kirkwood 78 Golf Day

On February 24, 2024, the greens of Kirkwood 78 came alive with excitement as we hosted our muchanticipated Annual Golf Day which was an IPS format! The atmosphere was electric, with great music, heaps of laughter, and some seriously impressive golf swings gracing the course

This year, we were thrilled to welcome 98 players, ranging from seasoned golfers to enthusiastic newcomers, all eager to test their skills and enjoy a fantastic day out in the sunshine

Top Golfers:

The competition was fierce, but emerging victorious were:

Keith Barbier - with an impressive 40 points

Erik Meyer - also with 40 points, showcasing the tight competition (count out)

·Stefan Ferreira - securing 38 points

·Morne Rudman - tying with Stefan at 38 points (count out)

Bevan Delmar - rounding up the top 5 with 37 points

Top Non-Golfers:

Celebrating the spirit of inclusivity, our non-golfers showed their mettle too! Congratulations to:

Wilber Fick - leading the pack with 34 points

Jacques Ehlers - close behind with 33 points

Stefan Olivier - securing a commendable 32 points

Rikus Ferreira & Frikkie Buys - tying at 30 points (Count out)

We extend a heartfelt thank you to all our participants for making this day truly memorable, whether swinging clubs or cheering from the sidelines Your enthusiasm and sportsmanship added to the vibrancy of the event

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors and the incredible contributions made at the auction, your unwavering commitment to our community fuels our ability to make an impactful change, one swing at a time.

As we reflect on this fantastic day, let's carry the camaraderie and spirit of giving forward, knowing that together, we can continue to make a positive difference in the lives of those around us Here's to many more years of laughter, friendly competition, and meaningful impact!

Estiaan Ferreira

VlakVark 500

TheVlakVark500isthebiggestannualprojectof Adelaide194andservesasourprimaryfundraiserfor theyear

Theeventconsistsofanall-inclusiveVlakvarkhunting packageforparticipantswherethemembersof Adelaide194andthesurroundingfarmsintheAdelaide areaworktogetherforthebenefitofthecommunity. Weensurethatalltheattendeesarethoroughly entertainedduringtheirweekendhuntingexperience andalsoshowcasetothemallthegoodworkthat RoundTabledoesinthecommunity.

Thisyearwehad58attendees,withsomeofthem comingfromasfarasGautengandCapeTown

WithAdelaidebeingasmalltown,RoundTable Adelaide194ensuresthatwesupportlocallywithallour purchasesfortheevent Alocalcafepacksourlunch packs,alocalbutchersuppliesourmeatandwefully booktwoaccommodationestablishmentsinAdelaide

AroughestimationindicatesthattheVlakVark500 infusesanestimatedR400,000intotheAdelaideand surroundingeconomy,withtheprofitsgeneratedby theprojectalsobeingplowedbackintothecommunity

Everyyearweattempttointroducenewattendeesto theevent Thisyearwewerefortunateenoughthat whentheRoundRableworkinthecommunitywas showcasedoneofthenewattendeespledgedR10,000 towardsoursoupkitchenprojects.Thiswasgreatly appreciatedbyAdelaide194andistestamenttothe generosityofpeopleattendingtheevent

Wesincerelythanktheattendeesandcontributorsof theVlakVark500.Yourparticipationandcontributions enablesustocontinuallydriveanimpactfulchangein ourcommunity Nico Schneider

Continuous Community Support

AsthemembersofAdelaide194,weareproudto saythatweareabletocontinuouslysupport variousbeneficiariesinourcommunity,someof themforthepastsevenyears

DisabledStudentfromAdelaideattending schoolinPortElizabeth Forthepastfouryears,Adelaide194hasbeen assistingadisabledstudenttoresidein PortElizabethinordertobeabletoattenda schoolthatcanaccommodateallherneeds Weprovidefinancialassistancetocoverher boardingcosts,stationaryandothernecessities Occasionally,whenthefamilyrequiresadditional assistance,weassistwiththataswell.

PrimarySchoolsinAdelaide

Adelaide194alsosponsorsannualawardsforthe topperformersingrades5-7forthreeprimary schoolsinthearea Theawardsarecertificatesof acknowledgmentfortheireffortsandalsoincludea financialreward Wealsosponsorawardsforther unner-upassometimestheyjustneedthatlittlebitof additionalmotivationtoperformattheirbest. Forthepastyearwe'vealsoassistedaspecialneeds schoolinAdelaidewiththeirnutritionalrequirements Sometimesdeliveringitourselvesandonother occasionsarrangingforsupplierstohaveitdeliveredor settlingtherequestedaccounts.

We'vealsoassistedthemwitharranginganAwardseventforrecognizingthosestudentsthatperformtothe bestoftheirabilities

ElderlyHomeOuting

Beingasmalltown,itsometimeshappensthatthechildrenoftheresidentsofthelocaloldagehomehas movedtodifferenttownsorcitiesforbetteropportunities Thisresultsintheelderlyresidentsoftheoldage homebeingabit“stuck”andsometimesinneedofabitofacheeringup Inordertocounterthe“blues’,Adelaide194annuallyarrangesforapicnicandbraaioutingfortheelderly residents.

Wearrangetransportfortheminminibusesandbakkies.Theindividualsthatrequireassistancewiththeir mobilitywe’llloadintotheminibusesandthenit'swheelchairsandwalkersonthebackofthebakkies Attimesit canbeabitchaotic,butit'sgoodfun

We'lltakethemtoourdesignatedlocation,have,haveabraaiwihthem,givethemacoupleofdrinksandensure thattheyarewellentertained Itistheyearlyhighlightforsomeoftheresidentsofthehome Afterwardswewill returnthemtotheHome,walkersandwheelchairsonthebackofthebakkiesagain,andmakesuretheyare returnedsafely

ThisyearwewerefortunateenoughtoreceiveadonatedWalker ThiswasthendonatedforwardtoHuisCorrie DreyerinAdelaide.

SoupKitchens

Adelaide194hasbeensupporting2soupkitchensforthepast sevenyearsbysupplementingtheirproteinandfreshproduce requirementsonamonthlybasis

Assomeofourmembersareavidhunters,there'salsothe occasionalgamedonationthatgoesalongwaytoassistin feedingthe400individualsthatthesesoupkitchenssupport

We'vealsohadarequestfromanadditionalsoupkitchenfor supportlatein2024andwehopethatwecansuccessfully contributetothethirdsoupkitchengoingforward

Assistingwithannualcharityauction

Whenwearenotalwaysabletoassistbyhostingprojectsas fundraiserswealsoshareourknowledgeandexperiencesonthe variousplatformsavailabletoraisefunds

Weassistacommunityorganizationwiththeirannualonlinecharityfundraisingauction Thishasgonefrom strengthtostrength,andforthepastthreeyearswe'veseenanannualrevenueincreaseof10%perannum. Onceagainhavinganavidhunteramongourmembersenablesustomakegamedonationsoccasionally,which isthendistributedaspartofthefoodparcelsthatthecommunityorganizationdistributes

Wewillcontinuewithoureffortstocontinuouslyassistourcommunityinourquesttodriveimpactfulchange

Nico Schneider

Table Chairmen’s Year in Review

Grahamstown 11

It’s been a challenging and often difficult year for Grahamstown Round Table. Many of us have faced personal and professional challenges, whether it’s been rebuilding a business after a blaze or replacing a home’s floors after a flood

But by far the most difficult part of the year was the devastating news of the passing of our friend and Grahamstown 41er, Ryno van Rooyen An incredibly passionate and dedicated Tabler, that many of us were extremely privileged to Table with Even as a 41er he was still always there to help and support Table and the community. I know that I don’t just speak for myself when I say that he is sorely missed.

Having lost a number of tablers to the big Four-Oh recently, and with a few more of us very nearly there, one of the primary goals I set out for the year was to foster more fellowship within our Table I wanted to create a welcoming environment and to make Grahamstown Round Table an attractive prospect for young men looking to serve their community I think the progress on this front has been plain to see, as we have several guests who have seen the value in what table has to offer and will soon be making the step up to join us as Tablers

Another goal, along the same lines, was encouraging more travel in order to promote a broader view of Round Table as an organisation and get Grahamstown more involved in the wider Round Table family. Whilst various commitments made it difficult to achieve all our travel goals for the year, we were represented at all Area conferences and ARTSA and more promisingly, we had some Tabler’s and guests experiencing their first raids and Area events this year

The major project focus for the year was to get the Round Table Preemie Project up and running, creating a firm foundation to help it grow in coming years We did a complete branding project and launched the website (https://preemieproject co za) complete with knitting and crotchet patterns for making the iconic octopus plushies, as well as other ways to get involved with the project. To date we ’ ve distributed 20 full preemie packs to the local maternity ward, which include a beanie, blanket, jersey, booties, scent hearts and octopus plushy We also received clothing for the project that was too large for preemies, which was donated to Child Welfare

We definitely couldn’t have made all this happen without the generous sponsorship of all those who sponsored materials and time to make these packs A big shout out to Deep Clean Services in Grahamstown for ensuring the packs were properly sterilized and safe. Finally, a big thank you to Megan Herholdt, who was the driving force behind getting the packs together and without whom the project would never have gotten off the ground.

Grahamstown Round Table is also very proud to have been able to contribute to a number of other causes within our community this year, including sponsoring a local cricket tournament, donating furniture to an old age home, getting involved in the Pink Trees for Pauline cancer initiative and of course taking part in the annual Winter Knights project to distribute clothing and blankets within our community

Yours in Table

Grant “Puffy” Gordon Chairman 2024/2025

ReflectingonMyYearasChairman:AJourneyofGrowth,Challenges,andAchievements ServingasChairmanoverthepastyearhasbeenanextraordinaryandtransformativeexperience. It'sbeenayearmarkedbychallenges,learning,andpersonalgrowth.AsIreflectonmyjourney,I wanttosharethekeylessonslearned,thehurdlesovercome,andsomehighlightsthatdefinedthis pivotalyear

KeyLearnings

OneofthemostprofoundlessonsI'velearnedduringmytimeasChairmanistheimportanceofclear, transparentcommunication Leadingatableinvolvesconstantengagementandunderstandingthediverse perspectiveswithinit Lateron,Irealizedthatfosteringanopenenvironmentwhereeveryvoiceisheardnot onlybuildstrustbutalsoensuresthatallmembersfeelinvestedinthedirectionwe’reheading.Whetheritwas duringbusinessmeetings,socialdiscussions,Imadeitapointtobeclearanddirectwhilealsoremaining empatheticandapproachable

Anotherkeylearningwasthesignificanceofdelegation Thetemptation totakeontoomuchmyselfwasstrong,butIquicklyrecognizedthat empoweringothersandentrustingthemwithkeytasksisessentialfor bothpersonalgrowthandtablesuccess.Thisnotonlyhelpedmemanage strengthenedtheleadershipskillsofthemembers

Lastly,Ilearnedthatleadershipisaboutadaptability Theabilitytopivot inresponsetochangingcircumstancesorunexpectedchallengeswas crucial.Wefacedmomentswhereourinitialplanshadtobeadjusted, whetherduetoexternalchallengesorinternalresourceconstraints. Thekeywastostayflexibleandleadthetablewithaclear,steadyvision, whilebeingopentonewideasandstrategies

PersonalGrowth

ThroughoutmyyearasChairman,therolepushedmetoevolveasaleaderandasanindividual Itdemanded thatIstepoutsidemycomfortzoneandbemoreself-reflective OneaspectofpersonalgrowthIexperienced wasanincreasedsenseofemotionalintelligence Leadingadiversegroupofindividualsrequiredmetohone mylisteningskillsandbetterunderstandtheemotionaldynamicsofthetablers.Ibecamemoreattunedtothe motivations,concerns,andaspirationsofmymembers,whichultimatelyallowedmetobeamoreeffective leader

Ialsobecamemorecomfortablewithdecision-makingunderpressure AsChairman,Iwasoftenrequiredto makedecisionsthatcouldhavesignificantimpactsonthetable Thesemomentstaughtmetotrustmyinstincts andjudgment,butalsotoremainhumbleandseekadvicefromotherswhenneeded.Ilearnedtobalance confidencewithhumility,andtounderstandthatleadershipisnotabouthavingalltheanswers,butknowing whentoasktherightquestions

Perhapsoneofthemostimportantaspectsofpersonalgrowthcame frommanagingtheinevitablemomentsofdoubt Thereweretimes duringparticularlydifficultsituationswhenIquestionedwhetherIwas makingtherightchoices.However,thesechallengesultimatelybecame themomentsthatdefinedmygrowth Theyremindedmethat uncertaintyispartofleadership,andnavigatingthroughitwithresilience andperseveranceiswhatshapesastrongleader

ChallengesFacedandOvercome

Noyearinaleadershiproleiswithoutitschallenges,andminewasno exception OneofthemostdifficultobstaclesIfacedwasnavigating organizationalchange.Leadingalargeteammeansmanagingdifferent personalities,expectations,andaspirations.Attimes,therewere disagreementsoverstrategicdirection,whichcreatedtensionwithinthe group Ihadtostepintomediate,facilitateconstructiveconversations,andaligntheteamwithasharedvision

Itwasnotalwayseasy,butitwasrewardingtoseehowopendialogueandtransparencyhelpedusmovepast thesechallengesandworkcohesivelytowardscommongoals.

Maintainingthemoraleofthetablersduringthesechallengingtimeswascrucial

Whilethethesehurdleswere difficulttoovercome,thesupportofacommittedteamwasinvaluable Imadeitapointtoacknowledgetheir hardwork,celebratesmallvictories,andkeepthebiggerpictureinmind Itwasthroughcollaboration,mutual respect,andconsistentcommunicationthatwewereabletoturnchallengesintoopportunitiesforgrowth

HighlightsfromtheYear

Despitethehurdles,therewerenumerousmomentsofsuccessandpride throughouttheyear.Oneofthemostrewardinghighlightswasthegrowth anddevelopmentoftheteam.Overthepastyear,Ihadtheprivilegeof workingcloselywithmanytalentedindividualswhoconsistentlywentabove andbeyondtosupportthetablesgoals Watchingthemtakeonnew challengesanddeveloptheirskillswasoneofthemostfulfillingaspectsof myrole Itakeprideinknowingthat,asChairman,Ihelpedcreatean environmentwheretalentcouldthriveandindividualsfeltempoweredto reachtheirfullpotential

LookingAhead

AsIstepawayfromtheroleofChairman,Idosowithadeepsenseofgratitudeandawealthofexperiencethat Iwillcarryforwardinallaspectsofmylife Thisyearhasnotonlyshapedmeasaleaderbuthasalsobeena journeyofself-discovery,growth,andtransformation Iamproudofwhatweaccomplishedandexcitedtosee whatthefutureholdsforCradock37andtheincredibleteamIhadthehonortolead Inconclusion,myyearasChairmanwasoneofimmenselearningandgrowth Thechallenges,whiledifficult, ultimatelyshapedmeintoabetterleader.Theachievements,bothbigandsmall,remindedmeofthepowerof teamworkandresilience Iamleavingthisrolewitharenewedsenseofpurposeandadeepappreciationforthe journeywe'veshared Thelessonslearnedoverthepastyearwillcontinuetoguidemeinallmyfuture endeavors,andIamconfidentthatRoundTableCradock37isinastrongpositiontocontinuethrivinginthe yearstocome

YoursinTable

John‘Celeb’Tom Chairman2024/25

Kirkwood 78

MyyearasChairmanstartedoffgoodwiththecombinedInductiondinnerwe hadinKenton

ReflectingbackatmyyearasChairmanthetimehasgonesoquicklyby. Justasyougettheholdofthingsit'simetogiveovertothenextChairman Iwasprivilegedtohaveanawesometeamandtablebehindmeandguidingme throughouttheyear

PersonalExperience/Growth

ThroughoutmyChairmanIlearnedquitealottobealeaderandthetablethe bestican BeingaChairmanofaTablealsoteachesyouhowtocommunicate whenitcomestoprojectstomakesuretheprojectsisasuccess Asasoleproprietorandthekindofbusinessihaveidon'toftendoreports,running meetings,makedecisionsthatinvolveotherpeople BeingaChairmangavemethat opportunitytorunmeetings,makedecisionsofwhatisbestforourtable Soittook meoutofmycomfortzoneandgavemeconfidence

Challengesovercome

AsbeingpartofalargegroupandbeingChairmanofthislargegroupsomewhere alongthelinetherewillbechallengesfaced

ChallengesthatwehadinthepastincludedraidingothertablesinandoutofArea.Astheyearwentonwe definitelyovercamethechallengesbydoinglocalraidsandoutofArearaids

WeatKirkwoodformedaverygoodbondwitheachotheroverthepastyears Everyonethatispartof Kirkwood78knowstheirresponsibilitytowardsprojects,socials,andattendingAreaconferencessoitmakesit easyformeasChairmanandmakesmyworksomuchlighter

Allthechallengeswefacedduringtheyearweasatableovercame.

HighlightsofmyyearasChairman

TheremanyhighlightsfrommyyearasChairman,fromallthesocials,attendingAreaconferencesandmaking newfriendsthatbecamefamily ItwasaprivilegeformebeingChairmanofKirkwood78andbeingpartofthis greatorganization

Whatstoodoutfrommyyearwastheamountofpeoplewehelpedthatdoesn'thavemuch,toseethatsmile ontheirfacesissomethingIwillcarrywithmefortherestofmylife Helpingpeoplewithmuchneededfood parcels,helpingpeopletowalkagainafterlosingtheirleginacaraccident,helpingtomakekidsdreamscome true

LookingbackattheyearIhad,I'mpleasedtosayIwillleaveKirkwood78Chairman2024/2025thewayI wantedittobeasmyChairmanyear

InClosing

IwanttothankKirkwood78foreveryone'scontributiontowardsthetableandtheefforttheguysputinwith everyproject,everysocialandintoeveryportfoliotheyhave I'mlookingforwardtotherestofmytablecareerandtopartofRoundTableKirkwood78.

YoursinTable

RegardtvdMerwe

Chairman2024/2025

TheyearstartedoffwellwithWillieOppermanintheChairmanseatandweallhadanide whatwewerewantingtogainthisyear

Westartedoffstrongwithourfirstfewprojectsdone&dustedwhilealsotryingtofocus membershipdriveswhichdidseemtoworkforus

Afewmonthsintotheyearandwemanagedtoinduct2newmembersatARTSAwhichd notendwellfor108,asamonthor2lateroneofthemwasinmajorvehicleaccidentleavi himparalyzed Unfortunatelyhedidnotthinkhewouldbefittobeinvolvedintableany longer Wethenlostacouplemorememberstoemigration,oneofwhichwasourinitiallyelectedChairmanfor theyear

Alargechunkoftableknowledgewaslostwithexperiencedmembers leaving,thisresultedintheremainingmembershavingtolearn&learn quickly–someofusquickerthanothers

Wehavehadaroller-coasterofayearwithallofusbeinginourportfoliosfor thefirsttimebutlookatwherewearetoday Iamsuperproudofwhatwe havemanagedtodoasRoundTableAlgoa108.Aspecialthankyougoes outtoour41ersforallthesupport&advice.

Weadaptedtoournewfoundsituationandportfoliosandcameoutas betterTablers

WehaveconnectedalotmorewiththeotherRoundTablesinPortElizabeth namelyPEWest142&Zwartkops195 Withvariouscombinedprojectsthere hasbeenalotmorefellowshipbetweenthePETablers

Wealllearnttostep-in&playourpartwhenprojectswererunandnotonly 1or2peopleputtingeffortin ItisaTableproject,notjusttheconveners

Wehavethegroundworklaidoutforthemajorityofourbiggerprojects&weknowwhatisexpected,weneed tostartplanningthoseeventssooner,soitdoesnotendupputtingusunderanimmenseamountofpressure unnecessarily

IcanhonestlysayIamproudofwhatwemanagedtoachieveduringthislastyearwhilefindingourownfeet& learningday-by-day

Nowthefocusshiftstotheyearahead&letus108tothestandardsof10GREAT.Wehavewhatittakes! YoursinTable

ShaneTait

Chairman2024/2025

ItiswithgreatprideandgratitudethatIlookbackontheyear2024. Thisyearhasbeenoneofimmensegrowth,unwaveringcamaraderie,and significantcontributionstoourcommunity RoundTablePEWest142continu toupholditslegacyofservice,friendship,andleadershipinPortElizabeth In2024,wewelcomedanewmemberintoourfold,ensuringthatthespiritof theRoundTableiscarriedforward Ourmonthlyfellowshipeventswereahighlightoftheye events,thebondsofbrotherhoodhaveonlygrownstron

Thisyear,ourtablehasbeendeeplycommittedtouplift fortunateinourcommunity.Fundraisingin2024wasbo andrewarding.ThroughinitiativesliketheBeerPongTo MusicTriviaNights,andothercreativeevents,wenoton neededfundsbutalsobuiltawarenessofourcausewith community Iextendmyheartfeltgratitudetothespons participantswhomadetheseeventssuccessful PEWest142proudlyrepresentedourregionattheRoun SeychellesAGMduringJune2024 Ourparticipationat testamenttoourcommitmenttothebroaderRoundTa Theseinteractionsprovidedvaluableinsightsandstreng withothertablesacrossthecountrywhilealsofostering relationswithvisitingmembersfromothercountries

While2024hasbeenayearofsuccess,ithasnotbeenwithoutitschallenges Economicpressureshavemade fundraisingmoredifficult,andmaintainingconsistentmemberengagementamidstbusypersonalliveshas requiredinnovativeapproaches However,theresilienceanddedicationofourmemberandpastmembers ensuredweovercamethesehurdles Whilethemembernumbersdecreasedtoonesolemember,weare remindedthatoutoftheashesthephoenixwillriseagainlikethesuninthemorning.

Iwouldliketoextendmysincerethanksto:

OurMembers:Yourdedicationandhardworkhavemade2024asuccessfulyear Alsoaspecial acknowledgementtotablersfromothertablesthathaveguidedandsharedadvicefreely.

OurFamilies:Fortheirunderstandingandsupportofourcommitments SponsorsandDonors:Yourgenerosityenablesustomakeadifference CommunityPartners:CollaborationwithlocalbusinessesandNGOshasbeeninvaluable

Aswemoveinto2025/2026,IamconfidentthatPEWest142willcontinuetothrive Ourgoalsforthecoming yearincludeexpandingourcommunityoutreach,increasingmembership,andstrengtheningourfundraising efforts Together,wewillbuildonthesuccessesof2024andcontinuetoservewithhumilityandpassion Inclosing,2024hasbeenayearofimmenseachievement,drivenbythespiritofserviceandbrotherhood IamhonouredtohaveservedasChairpersonandamdeeplygratefulforthetrustandsupportofmyfellow tablers Letuscontinuetolightthewayforward embodyingthevaluesofRoundTableinallwedo YoursinTable,

DewaldNiemand Chairman2024/2025

Port Alfred 177

OurYearinReview:AJourneyofGrowth,Resilience,andRenewal

Aswereflectonthepastyear,it'sclearthat2024wasayearofcontrasts one markedbybothremarkableachievementsandsignificantchallenges Webeganthe yearwithgreatmomentum,fueledbyenthusiasmandasharedvisionforgrowthand communityimpact However,asthemonthsunfolded,wefaceddifficultdecisionsthattestedourresilienceand unity

NavigatingChallengeswithPurpose

Thelatterhalfoftheyearbroughtunexpectedhurdlesthatrequiredtoughchoices Whilethesemomentswere challenging,theyservedascriticalturningpointsforus.Weembracedtheseexperiencesasopportunitiesto learnandgrow,returningtoourcorevaluesandfocusingonwhattrulymatters:thestrengthofourbondsand ourcommitmenttoourmission

RebuildingStrongerConnections

Inthefaceofadversity,wedoubleddownonfosteringastrong,cohesivegroupoftablers.Throughopen communication,mutualsupport,andarenewedsenseofpurpose,wecultivatedacultureoftrustand camaraderie Thisperiodofreflectionandhardworklaidthefoundationforamoreconnectedandresilient team

ImplementingPoliciesforStabilityandTransparency

Recognizingtheneedforsustainablegrowth,weintroduce policiesandproceduresaimedatenhancingstabilityandpr transparencywithinourorganization.Thesemeasureshave streamlinedouroperationsbutalsoreinforcedourcommit accountabilityandintegrity

ARemarkableImpactonOurCommunity

Despitethechallenges,ourdedicationtocommunityservic unwavering Weareproudtosharethatwenearlydoubled ofmoneygivenbacktothecommunitythisyear Thisachie testamenttothehardwork,passion,andgenerosityofeve reflectingourunwaveringmissiontomakeapositivediffere

LookingAhead:AmbitiousGoalsfor2025

Aswelooktothefuture,ourgoalsarebothambitiousandinspiring.Weaimtodoubleourmembershipinthe comingyear,expandingourreachandimpact.Additionally,wehavebeguntoreformandstrengthen relationshipswithouresteemed41ers,fosteringconnectionsthatenrichourorganization Weareparticularly excitedaboutthepossibilityofoneofour41ersjoiningusforanhonoraryyear,symbolizingtheenduringbonds andsharedlegacywithinourcommunity

InGratitudeandAnticipation

Weclosethischapterwithgratitudeforthelessonslearned,thechallengesovercome,andthemilestones achieved Thankyoutoeverymember,supporter,andpartnerwhostoodwithusthroughitall Yourdedication andspiritaretheheartofoursuccess.

Here’stoanewyearfilledwithgrowth,unity,andcontinuedimpact Together,wewillrisetonewheights,fueledbythelessonsofthepastandthepromiseofthefuture

YoursinTable

GrantKew

PortAlfred177

Adelaide 194

ThisyearstartedoffquitechallengingforAdelaide194asweweredowntoonlythree membersatthestartofthenewtableyear2024 Wehavebeenonamembershipdriv acoupleofmonthsandwewerefortunateenoughtoinductanewmember,BenDuP tothe194family.Astheyearprogressed,wecontinuedanaggressivemembershipdri andwearefortunatetohave2pipeliners(potentialtablers)for2025 Asofthestarto 2025tableyearwearesadtobelosingyetanothermemberofourteamtothe41’rs, NicoScheider

2024hasbeenwithoutincidentforAdelaide194,butsuccessfulwithprojects Wewerequitesuccessfulwithourannualprojectsandassistedatafewcommunityevents Iamalsoproudtosaythatwewereabletocontinuetocontributetoourlong-termbeneficiaries Beingableto beareliablesourceofsupportforourbeneficiariesisagreatindicatorofhowweaimtodriveimpactfulchange inourcommunity.

Thebiggestchallengefortable194thisyearwasgettingtogetherformeetings,decidingondatesforprojects ororganisingprojects.Andreasonbeingthatourtablersarespreadoverdifferenttownsduetowork.Butwe prevailedandthatisbecauseofouramazingcommunicationskillsandthatwedecidedtoworktogetherasa teaminorderforustoreachourgoal

Ourmaingoalforthe2025tableyearistoyetagainpushmembershipmoreinawaytoreachouttopotential tablersinoursurroundingareasinorderforustostayanactivetableforyearstocome

OnethingthatI’velearnedthisyearaschairmanisthateverytablerplaysanimportantrole,fromjoetablerto chairman.

Lastbutnotleast:; thebestthingIexperiencedthisyearwastraveling,todoareaconferences,raiddifferent tablesetc Thisisawayyoulearnsomuchmoreabouttabling,soIurgeallnewtablerstotaketheopportunity totravel,itwillbeanawesomeexperience-everytime

YoursinTable

RichardLaubscher Chairman2024/2025

Zwartkops 195

Fromearlybeginningsyearsago,beinginductedasamemberinRoundTable,no yearhasbeenassignificantformeas2024beingtheincomingChairmanofRound TableZwartkops195

Whatbeganasaseeminglymammothtaskwithhighexpectations,ambitiousbudgets andsimpleyethardtoreachgoals,leadustoendtheyearwithsuccessfulmembership growth,collaborationbetweenthePEtables,increasedvisitstoothertables,anda smashing50thandSpringConferenceforZwartkops195madeevenmorespecialaswesharedourmilestone yearwithRoundTableAlgoa108whocelebratedtheir60thyear Zwartkops195hasnotbeenwithoutit’schallenges,pastorpresent,thisyearsaw massivecollaborationbetweenthe3PETables,fromthejoinedButternut collectionanddeliveryatthestartofWinter,totheconclusionoftheWinter KnightsProjectwhereoverR100000inclothingwasdistributedbythe3Tables tothoseinneedthroughouttheBayArea,theseprojectssawintertablesocials, newfriendshipsbeingforged,disputesbetweenTablersbeingquelledasweall realizedourpositionandresponsibilitieswhilelearningtorespectdifferencesin opinions

“Recruithard,tableeasy”,wisdompasseddownfromour41ersbeforeusandthe every195member,2024sawstronggrowthforourTable,withtheinduction

ofnewmembersandintroductionofnewguestswhoshowedtheirgritandwerepromotedtoPipeliners,and thenearmarkedtobecomeofficial195membersfortheincomingyear2025 Withnewguestsatthedoorand the195namebeingspokenmorefrequentlyatsocialsandprofessionalgatherings,ourtableisfinallystartingto reachthegoalofservicingourcommunityen-massbyattractingethicalanddedicatedindividualswho voluntarilyanswerthecalloftheRondle Despitehavinglostsome memberstoimmigration,41ersclubinductionsandeventheodd sabbaticalfromTable,195Standsstrongaswesetoursightsto 2025

Nothinginlifeiswithoutitsfairshareofchallengesandtrials, reflectingontheyearsofarit’scleartoseethatwhetherwe acknowledgeitornot,Tabledevelopsus,howeversmallthe changesare,theeffectssuffernotransparency,thepersonal developmentI’veseeninourmembershasbeenphenomenal, thededicationandcommitmentshownareaneverdeveloping aspectofeachofourmembersandthedrivingforcebehindevery actiontakenbytheTableandmyselfasChairman,noselfrespectingTablerstandsachanceatbeingasuccessfulchairman withoutthesupportofhismembersandtherightleadership qualitiesthatarehonedduringone’syearasleaderofhisTable.Disputesarediscussedinmeetings,differences ofopinionsaremetwithswiftfairnessandrespectforeachother’sviewpoints,Zwartkops195isbeamingwith camaraderieandstrengthasnumbersgrowpullinglikemindedindividualstogetherunderthebannerofthe Rondle

Aswelookto2025,Zwartkops195willagainseeit’sdelegatesinclusionintheEasternProvinceAreaTable,the revivalofoldprojectsthatwerestapleto195andthereturnofastronglegacymemberasChairmanleading into2025

Iwouldliketothankeachandeverydedicatedmember,pipelinerandguestformakingRoundTableEastern Provinceashiningbeaconforthoseinourcommunitywhofaceadversity,toeveryfriendandbrotherinTable whoanswerthecalloftheRondle,andtoeverymemberofthisever-growingfamilyoflikemindedindividuals whosharetheirstoriesandtriumphsasone

FromZwartkops195totheworld,seeyouallnextyearforanotherunforgettablepageinthebookofTable YoursinTable

DavidAllan Chairman2024/2025

Alex / Kenton 210

RoundTablehasgottheabilitytoclimbhighlikeajetintothesky,ittakesaninitialburst ofenergytogetthingsgoing,butonceintheairitseemstobeabletoalmostoperate easily.

Wellthatistheimpression,behindthe“hood”whereonlyafewreallyevergettosee, youfindagroupofrelatively“normal”guys,tryingtomakeadifferenceintheir communities,ontheirowntime,laborandefforts.

ItisinthoseeffortsthatRoundTablemembersbenefitthemostasitcanatanymomentbeatrialbyfireinthat changesinyourdayjob,familyandfinancialsituationscouldconvergewhileyouaretryingtogettoevents, functions,enjoyfellowship,networkandevenjusttrytobelong

Shouldyoubeoftheluckyfewthatfindawaytonavigatethecomplexitiesoflifewhileembracingthe experienceofRoundTableyouwillwithoutadoubtrealizethateverythingcomesbytakingactionandmakinga plantomakeitwork

Ihaveattimesbattledtojuggleeverythingaswellasmy“self-inflicted” tendencyofsayingyestomultipleportfolioswithinRoundTable HavingbeenClubChairman,AreaChairmanandRoundTableSouthern AfricaBrandingManagerandStrategicPlanneroverthemonthof March2024wasbothfunandchaotic

RoundTableAlex/Kenton210hasoverthelastfewyearsmovedcloser toacommunitycollaborationinstigator,wehavelookedtopartnerand workwithmoreorganizationsthanbefore,andwhilewemightnothave raisedmassiveamountsofcapitalthisyear,butwehavesecuredaprime venueonMiddleBeachKentononSeaforServiceclubs 9yearsand 11monthstobeexact

ByformalizingourcollectivestrengthsRoundTable,RotaryKentonon SeaandNSRIwillberebuildingacollectiveorganizationalspacewhere serviceorganizationscanestablishthemselvesanddriveimpactful changeevenfurther

WehaveworkedcloselywithSunshineCoastTourism,BUCOKentonon Sea,PamGoldingPropertiestomentionbutafew

Wehavegrowninnumber,currentlyon13members,diverseinbackgroundandages,whilenotevenstayingin thesametown

Wehaveactivelypromotedinformationsharingandthepassingonofknowledgeandinstitutionalknowledge tobeexactwithinourclubandthoughnoteverythingmighthavebeenabsorbed,Idobelievethatthrough work,experience,fellowshipandeffortwehavebecomeastrongerTable

Somethingthatmightnotbeseenasa“pure”projectwasatrialeventconceptfortheEasternProvinceArea AGM WehostedatotalnewconceptInductiondinnerstructureandAreaAGM,allononeweekend RoundTableAlex/Kenton210hasforyearsnowattemptedtochallengeourselvestoseehowlowwecanget thecostsofaconferenceandorevent,andthisoneisnothingnewtothatconcept

Numerouslearningswereachievedfromthis,somesuccessesincludedoneofthehighestTablerandpartner attendanceasa%inmanyyears.

(mostladiespresentataladiestourasa%)

WebudgetedonalossandhadaverylowregistrationcostforTablerstoattend,substantiallylowerthanthe generaltrendinrecentyears

Itwasfarfromperfect,butwebelievethereweresufficientpositivelearningsandexperiencesonofferto continuetoevolveourconferencesintheyearstocome Italsoallows,thosenewtoRoundTabletonoticethat withnetworkingandcontactsmanythings,thoughtnotpossible,canbeachieved Whatmostpeoplewouldnotknowisthatitisthroughthe relationshipsandpartnershipsthathavebeenbuiltupover thelast2-3yearsthatwewereabletodoit.Itisthroughthe work,sometimesdoingfavorsatownexpense,thatweend upbeingabletoachievesomethingspecial

ThiseventsavedeachTablerinEasternProvinceAreaa significantamountintravelandotherexpenses,notto mentionthetimeasalltheearlyyearactivitieswere condensedtooneweekend

WealsohadRiverRamble,aRoundTablefellowshipeventaimedatbringingRoundTablememberstogether, somethingspecialanduniquewasthatthisyear,throughthenetwork,wewereablebringinaTitleSponsorthat allowedustonotonlybrandatanextlevelbutalsoallowedfordecentcashprizestobeawarded

Collaboration,networkingandteamworkmadeitpossible.WenowallowthiseventtoflowovertoRoundTable

PortAlfred177andhopethattheytoowillcontinuetolooktogrowthisevent

IwouldlovetoseeRoundTableAlex/Kenton210gettingtheirteethintoamainlineevent/projectthatcan produceenoughrevenuetocoverourdelegatestravelexpensestoconferences,whilealsobeingableto providetheclubChairmanwithatravelfund,untilsuchatimewewillhoweverneedtocontinuetodoour smallerprojectsclaimour25%adminfee

Aswitheverything,InowapproachtheendofmyroleasclubChairmanofAlex/Kenton210andlookforwardto seeingwhatcomesnext,notjustformebutforthefutureofRoundTableandtheimpactsthatcanbedriven together

YoursinTable

JacquesvanWyk

Chairman2024/2025

RoundTable252hetdiejaarmet10lede+1erelidaangevat,enalvroegindiejaarbegin methulpaandiegemeenskap Diemeerderheidvandietafelaarsby252isnogjongmanne metbaiejaresetafelwatvirhullevoorle

Met252watgoedstaanmetnommersvir2024wasdaarnieaandaggegeeannuweledevir diejaarnie Onsheteerdergefokusopkameraadskap,areabyeenkomste,raidsenommeer tedoenasTafelvirdiegemeenskapasdievorigejaar

Diejaar2024by252wasnjaarmetbaiegoeiekameraadskaptussendietafelmanne,alleareabyeenkomste wasbygewoon,elkeeenmetsyeieplesiereenlesse,genietenwardeerd Onshetditookweerreggekryomtebeginraidmetnpaarraidsvirdiejaarennogmeerbeplanvirvolgende jaar.

Alwilonsspogooralleswatvirdiegemeenskapgedoenwas,isdiewaarheiddatonsaltydmeerkandoenen elkejaardaarnasalstreefomdeurgoeiedadenogbeterdadetekanmoontlikmaak Ekasvoorsitterhetdiejaargesienhoebelangrikisdiekameraadskapaantafel,wantsonderditisTafelnie Ek waswaarlikgelukkigomnspantekonhewatsogoedmetmekaaroordiewegkonkomdatnieeenprobleem onskonkeernie.Elkeprojekenbyeenkomswasdiemannedaarregomtehelpentegenietenwasditrerigvir mynvoorreggeweesomsaammetmyspanmylaastejaaraantafeltekonsaamvasvat,genietenaltydsal onthou!Dankie!

Diejongmannewatvolplanneenlusvirtafelis,voorspelnbaiebesigetoekomsby252,metamazingprojekte watvoorlevirdieverbeteringeindiegemeenskap.

Tafelgroete

ChristoffBreed

Jeffreys Bay / Humansdorp 252

Year in Review Executive Council

Public Relations Officer

AsmytenureastheEasternProvinceAreaPublicRelationsOfficercomestoanend,itisastonishinghow swiftlythetimehaspassed Initially,Iwasuncertainaboutwhattoexpect,especiallysucceedingThomas,who hadanexemplaryyear Iembracedthechallengeandendeavoredtomeetthehighstandardssetbeforeme

Highlights

ApersonalhighlightformewaswhentheToundTableSouthernAfricaAssociationCouncilmembersconsisting ofPresidentAnthonySmit,VicePresidentVosBotha,TreasurerWesselDreyerandBorderChairmanDalton ThompsonattendedtheEasternProvinceAreaWinterConference Thewisdom,experience,andexpectations sharedbytheseexecutiveswastrulyinspiringtoobserveandhear. MyhometableofKirkwood78,alsohadthepleasureofhostingthe presidentandvicepresidentforahuntingtrip Itwastrulyaprivilege ThankstotheeffortsoftheEPAreaChairman,theareaexecutive membersalsoreceivedasponsorshipfromBucoandOldMutualaffiliated VanWykandAssociates.Thiswasourfirstforayintosecuringcorporate sponsorshipsfortheareaandIhopethatitisanendeavorfuturecouncils willcontinuetopursue ProjectsIwouldliketohighlightisthesuccessfulWinterNightscampaign ranbythePEtables,Algoa108,PEWest142andZwartkops195 Their effortswasagreatsuccess.Additionally,thecontinuoussupportrendered byAdelaide194tovariousbeneficiariesissomethingthatalltablesshould aspireto

Challengesfacedandovercome.

InitiallyitwasachallengetogetcontentfromthePROsoftherespectivetables Astimeprogressedandourrelationshipsgrewstronger,receivingcontentgotbetter CollaboratingwiththetablePROscreatedanenvironmentwhereskillscouldbe shared,andweallexpandedourskillsetduringthisterm KeyLearnings

DuringmytenureasPROI'velearnedhowtocommunicatewithdifferentindividuals ontheirlevelandhowtoguidetheteam I'vealsolearnedhowtobetterrepresentthebrandandhowto showcasethegreatworkthatRoundTabledoes.

Theresponsibilitiesassociatedwiththeportfoliohasalsogreatlyimprovedmypublicspeakingskills Thekeytosuccesswascommunicationandcollaborationwithothertables’PROs

Socialmedia

Facebookiscurrentlyourbiggestpublicityplatform,however,wealsoutilizeInstagramandLinkedIn Statisticsacrossallthreeplatformsindicatesgrowthwithconsistentadditionoffollowersandexpansionin reach

Inclosing

I'veexpandedmyskillsetafairbitduringthisyear,servingontheExecutiveCouncilwhileworkingtoimprove theEasternProvinceareaandallthetableswithinit Iwouldjustliketothankmywifeforhercontinuoussupportduringthelatenightsofmakingcontentvideosand alwayssupportingmytablingcareer.

ThankyoutoeachandeverytablePROforworkingtogetherandmakingmyjoblookeasy Itwasagreat pleasureworkingwithyou

YoursinTable

RegardtvanderMerwe

EPAreaPRO

Treasurer

FellowTablers,

ItfeelslikeyesterdaywhenIhadtostandinfrontofyoutopresentthebudgetfor2024andwhatanawesome yearithasbeen.

ItstartedwithanawesomeweekendatARTSAinMosselbay(WelldoneonEPAreaforwinningthefood Table!).InJunewehadourfirstExecWeekendatOysterBayandtheghostofmissingThomaswillforeverbe remembered.WethenheadedintoWintercon,CVCandthenthesecondExecweekendwasheldinKentonin October Theyear’sconferencesendedwiththeSpringConferencehostedbymyTable,Zwartkops195!

Fromthefinancepointofview,Istartedwiththefollowinggoals:

Iwanttotakethisopportunitytothankallthetreasurersthatassistedwithachieving thesegoals!

IhavealsoraisedmyhandforVice-Chairmananditwillbeagreathonourifyouwill allowmetheprivilegetobeyourVice-Chairman EventhoughIwillnotbetheTreasurer nextyear,Iwillstillassistthearea Tableswithpreparingfinancial statementsaswellasimprovingthe financialprocessfollowedintheEPArea

AfinalbigthankstotherestoftheExec Teamforanawesomeyear!

YoursinTable

CarlOlivier

EPAreaTreasurer

Vice-Chairman

Ayearpastsoquickly,feelslikejusttheotherdaywegraciouslyaccepted ournewrolesfortheyearthatpastattheBushmansRiverTownHall WhatahonouritistorepresentEasternProvinceAreaasViceChairman andservingunderJacques“GrootVoël”VanWyk.

Notreallyknowingwhattoexpect,Iaskedalotofquestionsonthe“howto” frommyfellowtablersandwanttothankeveryoneforhelpingandgiving advice

ARTSA‘24inMosselBaywasmyfirststopasEPViceandwhatagreat weekenditwas,massivefellowshipandmeetingupwitholdmateswiththe bonusofmakingnewfriendshipsdon’tcomebetterthanthis Itreallywasa greatweekendandcongratulationstotheSouthCapeguysforputting everythingtogether IhadtheprivilegetoattendKZNTri-Areaandhada greatfellowshipweekendwithourEPChairandalltheothertablers.

WedidacoupleofraidswiththemembersofKirkwood78andvisitedZwartkops195,Algoa108and Alex/Kenton210fortheirofficialEPChairmanvisits Thankyouallforhostingus AsmembershipisthemainpriorityoftheVice,IcansaythatEPhadapositivetrendwithregardstoinductions andresignationsfortheperiodFebruary2024–March2025.Notabigpositive,butatleastpositive. Membersgoingovertothe41ersrankswillalwayshurtaswell

IwouldliketothankmyTable(Kirkwood78)andtheEPExecutiveCouncilforallthesupportandbeliefthatyou putinme Tomyparents/employers,wifeanddaughters,thankyoufortheunderstandingandpatiencethat goeswithmewantingtoattendeverything

Tablingcankeeponebusyanditsnotalwaysnicetobeawayfromfamilyonweekendsbutbeingpartof somethingmuchbiggerthanonecouldimaginemakesitallworthwhile Ihopethatnext yearwillbeagreatoneforEasternProvinceArea Allthebestforeveryoneintheirnewroles atAreaandExeclevel

YoursinTable

Daneel“Shades”Meiring EPAreaViceChairman2024/25

ReflectingonayearatthehelmofEasternProvince

AlmostafullyearhaspassedsincebeinginductedasRoundTableEasternProvince AreaChairman.

HonoredandPrivilegedtoservewhatIbelievetobethebestyoungman’s organizationintheworld Iam1ofalmost30000menInternationallythatbelongto somethingreallyspecial

InsomewaysRoundTableislikeatalent,inthatyouonlyreally seemtoreapbenefitifyouputtime,effortandworkintoit Some willgettoseemorewhilesomemightgettoexperienceless,such islife,howeverthosethatwillinglyparticipateanddotheirutmost withintheirmeansdofindunbelievableexperienceandfellowship.

LookingbackoverayearIcansaythatwehaveachievedmostif notallthemajorfocusareaswesetouttoachieve,startingallthe wayin2023atourChairman-ViceChairmanmeeting,orCVCas werefertoit

Therewenotonlydeviatedfromthestatusquooverthelastfew years,ofhavingtheeventhostedintheincomingAreaChairman’s hometown,toatownwhichoncehadaRoundTable,Graaf-Reinette Itwastheintentionofbringingthe Rondel(TheiconicsymbolofRoundTable,thatlooksalittlelikeadartboard)toacommunitywhomighthave startedforgettingaboutthepossibilitiesthatRoundTablecanofferacommunity

Overtheyearwehave“workshopped”ourconferencesstartingattheCVCwhere,asacollective,webuilton thetwoconcepts,GrowTableandGrowRoundTableMembers

OurgoalwastogetagreateramountofTablerstocometogetherandinteractwithoneanotherintheyearto follow.

ThepreviousyearoneofthethemespresentedtousbythethenPresidentofRoundTableSouthernAfrica wasthevalueoftime,andhowoneshouldlooktonotwasteyourownandevenmoreimportantlythatofyour fellowTabler ThatthemeIwantedtoextendonintheyear,havinglookedatourEasternProvinceAGMArea Conferenceandbeyond WelookedtobuildaconceptthatwouldallowasmanyRoundTableEasternProvinceTablersandtheirFamilies tojoinoneweekendevent/activity,combiningclubinductiondinnersandthetraditionalAGM,asopposedto previousformats

Itwasnewanditsucceededinbringingthenumberstogetherata greatlyreducedcostintimeandcapitalwhichwasourfocus Heapsoflearningopportunitiespresentedthemselvesandin hindsightweshouldhavelookedatmorevenuestoaccommodate theclubsinductiondinnerastheFridaynightwasalittlerushedas wemovedbetweenvenues.

Wehadoneofthebiggestladiestourattendancefiguresasa percentageinmanyyears,thisspeaksvolumesastooneofour otherareasthatwewantedtocontinuetogrowfromprevious years,the“FamilyVibes”focus Onceagainnothingnew,those beforemestartedthehardyards,ourfocuswastobringmore couplesandfamiliestoevents.

Somethingthatwehavefoundtobealittleofa concernisthelossofinstitutionalknowledgeonce youloseseniormembersofRoundTabletothe41rs club

ISomemightnotknowbutRoundTableendwhenyouturn40,amechanismaimed atkeepingtheorganizationvibrantandrelativelyyoung

Italsogoesdeeperthanmerelyknowledge,asknowledgeandexperienceinRound Tablepushesonetodomorealmostalwaysleadingtocouncilpositionsatyourclub, executiveportfoliosatprovinciallevel,executiveportfoliosatassociationleveland evenbeyond ThatiswhatIwantedtofocuson,ingettingourrelativelyyounggroup ofTablersintothepositionwheretheywouldbeinspiredtotakethenextstep, maybenotthisyearorthenext,butitisdefinitelyengrainedintothebackoftheirminds

TrainingandportfoliointeractionswerehadintheearlypartoftheyearposttheAGM,doneindigitalformatto allowforconvenienceandtimesaving,whilegettingouractionplansout

Wehaveregularlyusedsurveystogaugethegeneralfeelandcomfortofourmembers,sometimetotheir frustrations,Imightadd,butitgaveme/usvaluableinsightintothehealthandmindsetoftheRoundTable clubsinourarea OurLadieswerealsobroughtintotheloopwithregardstocommunication,facilitatedbymy wifeDaleen,withthesoleaimofkeepingtheminformedaboutmoremajorthings

ComingbacktogrowingtheTablerconceptmentionedearlier.Weintroducedoutsideoftheorganization guestspeakers,toexposetheTablerstoabroadernetworkandenrichtheirexperienceatconferences, blendingthestructuredapproachofconferencestonowalsoincludingamoreinteractiveelement Onemethodintroducedagaintosavetimewastorequestreportingpriortotheconferencestoallowall memberstoperusethefeedbackandhopefullylearnfromtheexperienceoftheirfellowTablers.

WehavestartedmovingeverclosertoanofficialAreaSponsor,somethingwhichweaimtodevelopfurther Thisyear9partieswithintheBUCObuildwareandhardwarefamilysupportedusthroughsponsorship,whichwe aretrulygratefulfor.

SomethingnotreportedonasmuchaswhatitshouldistheskillstaughtandpromotedbyRoundTable,mostof whicharesubtleinnature,likehowtorunameeting,howtopresentsomethingorevenjusttobeableto mobilizeagroupofpeopletohelpingimproveoursurroundings.Thosearebutafew,tomentionsome. Inaddition,Process,TeamworkandFamilyvibesweresplinterfocusareasweusedtotieintheoverallfocusof growingTableandgrowingtheTabler Thisincludedbutwasnotlimitedtogettingasmanygentlemenon boardwithregardstoprocesses,toolsandexpectationsinvolvedw

Overthelastyearandabit,Ihaveseenfirsthandhowthedifferent eventsandprojectsinstigatedandfacilitatedbyRoundTable memberscontinuetoimprovethelivesofcommunities RoundTableactivatesyoungmentobeanddomore.

WehavetakentheaverageexperienceofourRoundTablememb fromayoung29yearsaveragetoayoungyetexperienced39ye groupofmen.

Iamproudthatweasanexecutivecouncilandmembersofthe Eastern provinceAreawereabletodriveconsistentimpactfulcha ourcommunities.

Mytimeatthehelmhasnowcometoanend,andInowfocusonth lastfewstepsbeforehandingoverthereinstoaverycapableinco chairman.

JacquesvanWyk

TRUNK TALES 2024