Round Table Southern Africa Inkundla October 2021

October, 2021

Issue 9

Inkundla 073 860 3698

Monday 15 November 2021

pro@roundtable.co.za

VP Area Focused Membership Drive Igor Scheurkogel

In the end of August, Werner Swanepoel Round Table Southern Africa VicePresident launched his Area Focused Membership drive, which the current area chairman introduced his area and invited members of that area to get in touch with Round Table Southern Africa to join our great organisation.

The each video text read as follows: Round Table Southern Africa has more than 900 members and 124

tables in South Africa and Namibia and is one of more than 50 Associations worldwide Today we focus on the [....] , which area has 17 tables in various towns.

To young men ( between the ages of 18-40) that want to be part of a group of likeminded men, who wants to make an Impactful Change in their communities, join a friendly table close to you.

To get in touch, e-mail branding@roundtable.co.za #Impactfulchange

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The membership drive ended middle November and the last video will be in the next Inkundla.

Throughout the membership drive RTSA reached 23490 people organically and 63407 people in total. Our Facebook inboxes for enquiring about membership increase with 1500% which gives you about 5 new leads per area.

Well done Werner to a membership drive that got young gentlemen talking about table across our area

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From The President Round Table, what a tasteless affair Sitting here chewing on God knows what… keeping the vulgar taste from manifesting itself into loud, rude bulges of gaging and eventually exploding into dark, bitter, very slimy uncontrollable vomit…

I managed to swallow the whole lot down with a fresh brand that the new guy brought me running. I attempt to lift my head without losing my only two remaining eyes that are now hanging out of my head. The brute power that rushed through my body right up to my face, attempting to get rid of the live, threatening toxic waste I had in my mouth a minute ago, popped them out from their sockets. They are now hanging, rather unsafe, from the wires, veins and other eye stuff on my cheeks. A very old 41er that the Tablers had to bust out of the hi-care unit of the Old Age Home came up to me. He opened my mouth, and with his dirty old fingers, he tugged at my tongue, sitting at the back of my mouth. As he jerked my tongue to its proper position in my mouth, my 2 eyes popped back into their sockets. “That was a good one,” he said, moving to add some more brandy to his bloodstream.

Sitting there, trying to get my taste buds to stop their protest by taking small little sips of brandy and rinsing my blue swollen dislocated tongue, it came to me… I have been swallowing the most brutal, vulgar, flammable, sometimes burning (I mean with actual flames!), 90%+ proof, green, red, blue and in most cases the most feared: clear stuff in tiny glasses. We, as Tablers, swallow anything. Well, almost everything…

In the past 10 years, I have had: Raw chicken feet infused with chillies, raw chicken liver infused with chillies, neat vodka infused with raw chicken liver. Pig’s eyes, pigs ears, brandy infused with raw pigs head. Fish eyes, fish heads, if fish had testicles, I am sure I ate some… (with chillies). Bokkoms with Sambuca, Toothpaste on every solid eatable medium known to man, with chillies. Chilli mampoer with chillies, Witblits with chillies, Blueblits with the mother of all chillies. Chilli powder, chilli paste, grounded chillies, chilli jam with toothpaste tramazini. I had small red chillies, yellow fat ones, big red ones, round fat ones, the green range, and something that I am sure was grown in the garden of hell itself! It was so hot; I still have Preparation H and Ice Packs on chronicle. Then we travel north to our Namibian brothers, where fruit is limited, and I am sure they are forced to distil with that yellow stuff. Not even bothering to remove the pips, they are just too happy to straf you with Grenate, and chillies. More like handgrenate. What goes in must come out…It is possible for a 140 odd kilo Tabler to fit his head through burglar bars to save himself the embarrassment of returning the sergeant’s straf in the meeting venue. It is, however, impossible to pull 17kg ears back through that same bars! Some of the dupa works so fast that Tablers tend not to even break wind during meetings. I once saw a pipeliner so scared that he didn’t even blink until after general. His eyes were so dry we had to rinse them out with Lime and Vodka! He now has a dog…. And the next day… Just like Michael Nicker says: “Don’t wipe, just dab!”. It is so painful it makes that nice soft toilette paper with the little printed puppies feel like a red hot cheese grater! One poep and your eyes water so furiously your cheeks think it’s the rainy season. Once, the morning after a Table

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meeting, I poeped in my boy’s room and had to race down to the pet shop to buy 2 new hamsters and a goldfish before school came out.

BUT, maybe the pain relief was for those less fortunate that Round Table assisted during theCovid pandemic.

So to all those who have difficulty with learning and listening! Keep it up!

Somewhere out there is a Sargeant that will get you to excel at the science of Tabling.

Yet, true to Table spirit, we swallowed whatever was given to us and said: “Thank you that was most reasonable, sir” while walking away and silently calling him by his real name.

To all the Sergeants out there, you know what you are….

Through all these inappropriate fines we received, RTSA still managed to grow membership by 145 members this year and raised in excess of R10,000,000 since the 1 st of March.

The last two years turned out to be a Sargeant, with all kinds of weird and wonderful chilli concoctions for us to swallow.

NO ARTSA for two years, felt like 10 million Scoville Scale Chilli drops...

Limited physical meeting with a curfew might as well have been a Trinidad Scorpion chilli swallowed down with a shot of raw fish eye…

BUT, we must be mindful that chillies are full of health benefits:

It seems that the years of training in the meetings are finally paying off.

Mr Sarge, you would need a much greater punch than a Global Pandemic to get Round Table down!

It improves cognitive function: Evident by the way we have adapted to out of the box thinking.

Combats fatigue: We have seen considerable increases in attendance numbers at Area Meetings and late night Table raids post lockdown.

Reduces Blood Pressure: Show me one married Table whose blood pressure isn’t lower after being able to leave the house and stay out until 12 o’clock.

Chillies also act as a natural pain reliever: Well, that’s probably only because your mouth is on fire, and you cannot give a damn about anything else.

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From the Editor Igor Scheurkogel

Every month I come here and share my thoughts but this month the pen is in your hands.

As we get closer to the end of the year and we start evaluation what we have done this year let me give you the space to do so _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

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Impactful Change

Amazing Race Jacques Engelbrecht

Douglas 224 het 'n Amazing Race ten bate van Outreach kleuterskool aangebied.

Familie-spanne met kleiner kinders spring 10am weg vanaf Douglas Hotel. Die res van die spanne, wat insluit ouer-kinders, volwassenes en besighede vertrek op hul beurt 3pm ook vanaf die hotel. Spanne spring in hul voertuie en neem deel aan speletjies, aktiwiteite en kompetisies regoor die dorp.

Daar is altesaam 10 stasies, elk met ‘n ander kompetisie. Die algehele wenner van die dag is nie noodwendig die span wat eerste klaarmaak nie. Daar is pryse vir elke aktiwiteit sowel as algemene pryse vir gees en besondere prestasie soos besluit deur die beoordelaars.

Na afloop van die kompetisie kom al die spanne bymekaar by Douglas 4x4 klub se baan vir die prysuitdeling en ‘n kuier waar hul geesdriftig stories en “tricks” uitruil van die dag se aktiwiteite.

Al het die frats koue front sy bes probeer het dit nie ‘n demper op ‘n suksesvolle dag gesit nie.

Die dag is gereël met die hulp, en ten bate van Outreach kleuterskool in Breipaal Douglas.

Hulle is 'n geregistreerde NPO en die enigste formele kleuterskool in die nabye gemeenskap.

Outreach ontvang geen toelae vanaf die staat nie en is sedert 2013 eksklusief finansieël onderhou deur 'n plaaslike kerk. Die kerk kan ongelukkig nie meer die verpligtinge nakom nie wat beteken dat sonder borge of bystand hulle nie langer hul deure kan oophou nie. Hulle het dus Douglas Tafelrondte genader met die idee en saam het ons dit ‘n werklikheid gemaak.

Daar is groot, voortdurende nood by die skooltjie en daarom sien ons uit om nog projekte saam met hul te doen. Indien jy in 'n posisie is om 'n bydrae te maak kan jy vir Colleen kontak by 087 187 7335. Besoek gerus ook hul Facebook blad by https://www.facebook.com/DouglasOutreach en sien vir jouself watter waardevolle rol wat hule in die gemeenskap volstaan.

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Helping Henry Stiaan Maasz

The Author came to know of young Henru Grobelaar through a Community Facebook group, where his desperate father was begging for help for his young son.

As a father, my interest was immediately piqued, and I continued reading.

Henru Grobelaar is young man of 21 years, someone that should be having the time of his life with his friends, who should be chatting up This is where the Power of Round Table girls and attending parties…. Someone old Bushveld Area again made me humble. At one of our RT19 businessmeetin gs, we where enough to join Round Table. raided by RT Pretoria 136, RT TP151 as well as Sadly though, this is not the case. Henru has our Esteemed Area Chairman Mr Vos Botha. been bedridden for more than 20 years after We had a discussion about Henru, and within 10 surviving a car accident that damaged his minutes we were able to raise close to R20 brain and severely paralyzed his body. His 000.00 towards food for Henru. At our Winter father, a single parent has been looking after conference RT Pietersburg 22 and Tzaneen 96 and caring for Henru’s every need since then. raised this tally by another R13000.00.

Henru also has another 3 siblings which We are not talking about massive figures here, Hendrik raised as a single parent. but speaking to Henru’s family, we know that 19 gave me mandate to contact Henrik Round Table made a massive difference to their Grobelaar (Henru’s Dad), and to try and see lives by just doing what we love. where we could help.

It just again showed me, that we should never It came to light that the one thing that they underestimate the network that we as tablers desperately needed was Nourishment for have. This network if utilized correctly is very Henru. Henru can only use a certain product, simple way of making #IMPACTFULCHANGE and that product is very expensive. A 400g tin costs R500, and they use 3 a week. Henru’s RT19 Would like to thank RT Pretoria 136, TP father is working 3 jobs and looking after him, 151, RT Pietersburg 22 and RT Tzaneen 96 for helping us to make someone else smile. to try and sustain the household.

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Feeding the Community Nikko Maree

Somerset West 31 helped the Steph’s Ladels of Love initiative to feed almost 200 people.

Tablers and their wives helped with food preparation on the day and baked cup cakes for the little ones. All where greeted with happy smiles and full tummies.

A gift straight from the heart Rigardt Esterhuizen

On the 7th of October Paarl44 had a blood drive in collaboration with the blood donating service in Paarl. We made a nice poster and shared it across all social media platforms.

Four of our members donated blood at the event. This was Paarl44 5th blood donation drive for the year. We are aiming to do one last one for the year. The total amount of donations on the event was 105 people.

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Blood Drive Marcu Kriegler

Blood donation is such an underrated activity.

It requires only 30 mins of your day, and a pint of blood.

Only 1% of South Africans are active blood donors.

A pint of blood only lasts 42 days after donation, that’s why it is so important to actively and regularly participate in donating blood at your nearest SANBS to save a minimum of 3 lives after your 3rd donation.

The first 3 times donating blood is a very crucial part in the blood donating process. It may not save lives yet, but it is where the journey of becoming an active donor starts.

After the first 3 donations, your blood can be used to save a minimum of 3 lives who desperately need it.

It does no harm to donate your blood, your body automatically regenerates the blood you have donated over a 2-3 month time period.

And if you are one of the many troubled by the fear of needles, your willingness to save lives should overshadow that fear.

The SANBS makes the process so quick and effortless, it’s hard NOT to participate. As a member of The Round Table, it is an excellent way of getting more and more people involved in the blood donating initiative that started so many years ago.

As an active Tabler and donor, I want to reignite the passion for saving lives in each and every person I know, and who better than my fellow tablers.

Our previous blood drives this year saw great success, in May we managed to get 43 people from and on behalf of Round table to donate on the same day. The smiles from the SANBS staff filled all of our hearts with pride and hope, for this was only the beginning of our blood drive initiative.

As for our 3rd blood drive of 2021, smaller in comparison to the rest of the year’s blood drives. A small number of Pretoria 136 members actively participated in donating blood at our preferred SANBS branch at Atterbury Value Mart.

A quick and swift time was arranged at 9 AM and 4 of Pretoria 136’s members along with a guest and a Pretoria 136 41er Riaan Louw all together donated 6 pints of blood on the day.

A small effort to say the least, because I believe an effort is still a difference made, and a difference made is a fellow South Africans life saved.

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Committed to Huis Maerua Children’s Home Mark Kissler

RT 34 undertake an annual event for a weekend getaway so as to ‘spoil’ the children on a camp by spending time with them, playing, laughing, eating sweets and show them just how valuable they are to us. It is not an event for the feint at heart as one comes to the realisation how fortunately we grew up.

These children are a lot of fun to be around with and the time spent with them is irreplaceable. All children of the world are special so these kids deserve a dose of the ‘normal life’.

In both 2020 and 2021 we had to cancel our intentions of a weekend camp to assist this child fostering initiative due to Covid-19 regulations. In 2020, with the generous support of Dulux Namibia, we were at least able to procure paint and renovate the entire interior of all three houses and treat them to a small hotdog braai on a Wednesday evening.

This year we are planning a fun day in October. Yet the need is now with 65% of cash donations having dried up due to the global pandemic.

The Namibian Government subsidises a mere N$ 473.00 per child per month. With the rampant cost of living, especially the increase on food items, no organisation can survive the plight and offer the children what they need. We noticed an email flyer requesting for basic food items sent out by management of Huis Maerua Children’s Home and decided to act immediately.

A gift card from Checkers was in our possession and we decided to purchase the items they need on the flyer including 30kg of spaghetti, 30kg of rice, 15L of juice concentrate and coffee to name just a very few.

There are so many people in need and we wish we could help them all. Of course this is not quite possible and whilst we aim to assist as many as possible we are very grateful for the continued relationship with Huis Maerua.

We look forward to the fun day and hope you too can assist.

If you wish to make a donation of any kind, please contact Liana Etsebeth at Huis Maerua at +264 61 383 250 or via admin@huismaerua.org.

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Membership Drive

Natal South Coast WWW.ROUNDTABLE.CO.ZA

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The Hopeful Children’s Centre in Goreangab Mark Kissler

Let’s talk about economics. You don’t have to be Dawie Roodt, one of the best-known economists in South Africa, to grasp the inverse concept of demand and supply. So why is this article commencing on this social science you ask? What does Round Table have to do with the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services?

Let’s dig into it!

We as tablers strive to create a better world and uplift our immediate community to enable every child to reach their full potential. Round Table is a social organisation and our mandate as per our motto reiterates our values, beliefs and traditions at the beginning of every table meeting: Adopt, Adapt, Improve.

Our duty is to minimise the mismatch of demand and supply and do our part in reaching equilibrium for our community. So pretty much we set out to leave no child experiencing hunger or cold, to possess clothes and attempt to conquer just the first of the five needs as expressed in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a study released in 1943.

Whilst this task might not reach its target in our table career, we remain responsible to uphold the banner and promote our rondel. Not so to proliferate ourselves but much rather to create a network of likeminded young men to reach a common goal. We possess capitalistic mindsets, but our hearts are social and we are

deemed to take hands, join forces and create a better world for tomorrow’s generation.

When Windhoek 34 became knowledgeable of a charity project of 200 blankets being sought by the Hopeful Children’s Centre we investigated the matter. It is a really small, not to say tiny, dwelling on the outskirts of the poor area of Goreangab, Windhoek.

Founded and run by Bianca this centre looks after the needs of poor children in the surrounding neighbourhood to help children with attending to their school homework and feeding those that are malnutritional due to a lack of food at home. How can these children become the next great leaders of industry or government if they cannot focus due to the shortcomings at home?

Windhoek 34 rose to the occasion and collaborated with the smart, extravagant and gorgeous Yana Haenisch. Yana is a student and entrepreneur well known for her past performances in pageants. She is the holder of the title Miss Supranational Namibia 2019 and the 1st runner up of the international pageantry Miss Supranational 2019, which took place in Poland.

Thankfully the residents of Windhoek already assisted with 140 blankets and therefore we ‘only’ needed to drop off another 60 blankets and did so on Friday, the 23rd of July.

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A perfect example of a true tabler is Loubser ‘Kudu’ Rousseau. A 41er as from 2021 he was not only an exemplary tabler who held many portfolios at table and area level. No, Kudu continues to assist where possible and cannot shake the ‘table bug’. As a matter of fact, the entire gang of Rousseau’s has received this ‘incurable disease’. This is a good thing.

Imagine the support you have from home when your wife and children are supportive of your tabling pastime. Isn’t it a privilege?

The needs of Namibia remain there and have to be addressed continuously by engaging the government and the private sector, but for 60 children we were able to approach Maslow’s hierarchy law and promote their lifestyle just a little. So, do you aspire to be kind and give back to your community?

Tabling is Irremediable Mark Kissler

Some men join Round Table, check it out and don’t last. They have surely not understood the wealth of lessons and networking capabilities this institution has to offer. It is a fraternity that is life changing and in the best way so. There are many instances where members learn valuable skills not learnt at university or at your daily job. Note though, that tabling and its rewards are associated with your input. If you are unwilling to do your part, to invest in the brotherhood, you will fail in gathering the experiences and not receive the reward you never knew you were missing.

So why is it mentioned that the Rousseau’s are infected? To put it lightly, they still table with all their heart. The wife, Cathy, has after Kudu’s tabling retirement still engaged with Windhoek 34 to do a Winter Knights handover. On a sunny Saturday in mid-July the couple and their sons facilitated this handover to Annegret who has distributed 20 blankets, bedding, clothes and shoes collected during Winter Knights. Annegret in turn distributed these items to less fortunate Namibian citizens in Okahandja. Most of these individuals have lost their homes, employment or both during the 3rd Covid wave and are unable to cater for all their needs or that of their children. In some instances, the life partner of a recipient has even succumbed to this virus.

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Winter Knights Progression through collaboration Mark Kissler

1 + 1 = 25!

Believe it or not, but the equation above is correct. Ordinary arithmetic would disagree, but not the mathematics of charity.

The simple fact of the matter is this: when the Community/Covid Warriors Namibia and Round Table Windhoek 34 decided to join hands and assist affected communities the result was to the benefit of 25 individuals who were in dire need of help.

We ordered 25 ration packs from Agra, a national wholesalers that caters mainly for the farming community. The ration packs contained maize meal, pasta, rice and soup packets to name but a few. Pieter Senekal, a member of the Covid Warriors and 41er of 34, engaged with us to drive impactful change in our town. In terms of the Winter Knights mandate, we purchased the ration packs to the amount of N$ 5,000 which were distributed further by Pieter and his team.

The handover was done on the 14th of July and it was great to unite forces and do what we do well, one step at a time. We are very proud to be associated with a fellow humanitarian charity organisation whose ideals, vision and general goals are so closely related to those of Round Table.

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Several hundred individuals, ranging from little toddlers to retired senior citizens live here. It is a very poor community, albeit an upbeat one. For the safety of the tablers and to ensure no unruly behaviour of the masses we engaged with the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) who were more than willing to assist us.

Officer Silas and his team welcomed us at their outpost close to the road block and escorted us to the informal settlement.

300!

Mark Kissler

Yet another handover for our very successful 2021 Winter Knights campaign, this handover was definitely a very special one for 3 simple reason: 1. It was the first ever handover Johan has attended; 2. The number of beneficiaries far surpassed any other handover for 34 in terms of Winter Knights in 2021; and 3. Christo Murray was the convenor and took charge of the event.

It was a Friday afternoon, the 16th of July.

Winter was in full swing and we felt the urge of putting the donated funds to good use as quickly as possible.

We were met by the residents with high anticipation of the much needed blankets.

The settlement is close to a riverbed and just days prior to the actual handover we received reports of morning temperatures of -15˚C. Whether this reading was correct or not, it was bloody darn cold in that week.

Riaan assisted with the ordering of the blankets at PEP Stores whilst Johan and Mark were on duty to collect these and transfer blankets to the handover premises.

Christo took charge of the overall handover and ensured that everything went smoothly.

Once again we were so grateful to have received assistance from the Namibian community to make this handover a reality.

Thank you, Namibia. You are one magnificent country and your people make it so very beautiful.

The recipients of a total of 300 blankets were the residents of the informal settlement of Kapp’s Farm, a community of people just 20km east of Windhoek close to the road block on your way to the Hosea Kutako International Airport.

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The Heart Warmers Competition Mark Kissler

Innovation is a concept one hears about regularly! It promotes ideas, products and new methods of going about things.

Subsequently, the fundamental aspect of an idea becomes a tangible, perceptible item.

We at Round Table are always faced with a prominent challenge: how do we ensure the community out there is knowledgeable of our existence and heritage? How do we promote our projects to attract maximum visibility and have the resulting exposure whilst being mindful of costs?

In a world dominated by the ever-increasing usage of social media and correlating shared content that goes viral we need to remain attractive and ensure that users of social media find Round Table relevant and engaging. It is our duty that our good work does not go unnoticed and advocate for our causes. It must be packaged to entice the readers, or in this instance, followers.

In 2021 Windhoek 34 decided to conceptualise a format of increasing its followers base organically. We posted on Facebook and Instagram that we would donate 34 blankets to a charity of the winner’s choice if they would follow our page and tag two friends whilst listing the cause they wish to support. This was our take on ensuring future posts would be noticed by more people and hence hopefully attract more potential donors and partners going forward. The criteria of beneficiaries as per the Winter Knights mandate needed to be upheld.

The winner chose the Lidar Community Foundation as their beneficiary. This is an NGO that acts as a shelter and assists in youth empowerment programs. 34 was so impressed by this organisation that we not only handed over the 34 blankets. No, to top it off, we handed over 34 packets of 2.5kg maize meal too.

A massive thank you goes out to Johan who performed his first ever lone handover himself.

He did us proud and managed the tasks of procurement and handover all by himself on the 21st of July.

Round Table is the perfect example of a spark plug. It ignites the passion in one’s heart to do good deeds. Round Table surely ignited Johan’s will and desire to take care of his community and be a true Winter Knight.

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The tale of Riaan – 34’s Winter Knights Mark Kissler Convenor Once upon a time….

Nope, this article can’t start like the first chapter from a story written by the Grimm brothers.

Earlier this year when it was the turn of the delegates of Namibia’s oldest table to volunteer to convene the designated projects for 2021, Riaan Stadler put up his hand to become the table convenor for Winter Knights just shortly after having been inducted into 34.

It is so refreshing to see a tabler who is willing to dedicate his time to make the most out of his tabling career. Riaan is a very busy man as can be deduced from the article written on him earlier this year so the author shall refrain from delving into information already known to the entire RTSA. Not able to attend every single meeting (who can?) he surely makes many of us feel like we are underperforming. This chap is like a high performing back office. During the entire span of Winter Knights, from pre-distributions in May up until the end of August, this gentleman was more than essential to making Winter Knights a success on table level. Calling him vital or instrumental is not adequate, but the lack of a better word makes this impossible. Perhaps we should come up with an adjective that describes a tabler who performs at 134% all the time.

This article is twofold. In a dedicated way we wish to thank this fellow brother for all he has .

done to carry this project, Secondly, we also wish to report on two separate handovers he facilitated during the campaign.

It was Riaan who has was the master of logistics in enabling the handover of eighty blankets to the Ongwediva maternity ward in the north of Namibia. With the generous supplementary donation of sanitary and baby products, Indongo Toyota also ensured that the blankets are well received by the hospital staff of the public healthcare facility.

On a separate occasion our entrepreneur friend was the driving force of delivering a total of forty large, warm blankets of high quality to the Hands of Hope Foundation – courtesy of Nambob. If you follow social media and Namibian newspapers just a little you shall quickly see how this foundation tries their very best to assist those in need.

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with Ladies Circle Windhoek, combined efforts to assist this campaign and their marginalised beneficiaries. A combined N$ 8,650 of funds were spent to purchase hygiene refill baskets, clothes and blankets as well as diapers procured by Ladies Circle Windhoek, graciously sponsored by CIC.

Handover at N/a’an ku sê Primary School Mark Kissler

Originally founded in 2009 as a day care centre called Clever Clubs, the N/a’an ku sê Foundation registered itsnvery own private school in 2020. This organisation believes that every child has the right to an education.

We couldn’t agree more.

As the work is wholly funded by donations, the N/a’an ku sê Foundation started a drive called ‘Support a child, sponsor a care basket’ in aid of the children at their school. Various items can be donated by the public at large to assist this community project. Various basket items are available for donations to varying prices to suit everyone’s pocket.

Funds were sourced from the 2021 Round Table Namibia Area Winter Knights campaign to the amount of N$6,000 with the generous remainder being donated by Skip and Suzette Scheepers, the latter who has requested the handover in honour of her husband and our brother we lost in May. The project fits well with the mandate of the Winter Knights campaign and our aim for community upliftment.

A big ‘THANK YOU’ goes out to our media partners and all sponsors of Winter Knights 2021. Special mention is made of Future Media Namibia, PEP Stores Namibia, Indongo Toyota, PayToday and Dynamic Mobile Solutions (DMS) who ensure that Winter Knights remains a successful fundraiser and community upliftment projects for the less fortunate.

The handover took place on Friday, the 3rd of September 2021, at the head office of N/a’an ku sê Foundation at 2 Chapman Street, Klein Windhoek at 12:00. Ian Pienaar was the lucky delegate to speak in the interview to the media representative of NMH, Claudia Reiter, the journalist who was so kind as to provide us with newspaper coverage in addition to the on-air release by Future Media.

Round Table Windhoek 34, in collaboration

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Learning Desk Mark Kissler

Succession Planning

The growth is evident. During our September council meeting Namibia Area Chairman Jens van Vuuren presented the number of increase in tablers for Namibia. Whilst this is a more than adequately brilliant start into the future of Round Table one may not forget the importance of grooming our latest inductees into respectable members of society that will lead on the charge at Round Table for us and the generations yet to come.

That pointed out, the year is slowly drawing to a close with the last Area Meeting being held in a few days from now. Christmas party planning is commencing and we are all very keen to take a much deserved break in December.

Our current 34 Vice Chairman Marius already has to make plans on the matters of who shall hold office of which portfolio in 2022. This is never an easy task to employ the correct team as the council needs to be balanced between experienced tablers and the young ones, those who appear to have never ending amounts of energy yet still require the guiding hand of the oldies around the table and the 41ers.

There are seven basic steps to consider during the ongoing process of succession planning:

3. Let them know and explain the stages (not all members are destined to become the chairman for their table, but inform them on the process to progress from being a biy to being a man).

4. Step up professional development efforts (do your best to make table better and set a standard which others want to maintain or even outperform).

5. Do a trial run of your succession plan (allow the members to take charge or nudge them towards taking on a little more responsibility to enrich their enthusiasm).

6. Integrate your succession plan into your annual strategy (plan ahead and groom the future leaders of this organization).

7. Think about your own successor (whom would you like to see to take over your role next year).

So with the above in mind please consider your path of being a small but very integral part of Round Table. All good things take time but start the process now and you’ll be amazed by how much you can achieve for yourself, your table and your community.

Success(ion) is a matter of planning.

1. Be proactive with a plan (always keep in mind where you wish this organization to move forward to).

2. Pinpoint succession candidates (talk to members and trigger their interest in portfolios and projects).

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Membership Drive

Natal North Coast WWW.ROUNDTABLE.CO.ZA

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Unity in Brotherhood Barberton Family Fellowship Weekend Stephan Lea Warren Hearnes turn to host an infamous Barberton 67 Yale party. He did so in style with the tablers wives and kids joining in for a fun filled weekend on their beautiful farm.

Saturday started off with a not so little cycle through the farm. Once completed, tablers cooled down with some well-earned refreshments in the river. The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent relaxing / laughing and capped off by a superb potjie cooked by Dawie vd Schyff, AKA. Mot. Great fellowship was had by all.

Round the Rondel Tour 2021 Nikko Maree What started as a “Brandy and Braai”-idea to meet new brothers in other areas, quickly became reality when Walter “Huiskat” Groenewald drove me to start with the project. Our aim was to promote fellowship among young, like-minded men and in doing so, have some fun our bikes.

Op Saterdag, 28 Augustus, het ons in Caledon ontmoet en mekaar onmiddelik begin moed inpraat om die reën aan te durf. Die wolke het dig voor ons gelê, maar die Fellowship tussen die manne was onblusbaar. Ons het juigend weggetrek, 7 motorfietse en een ondersteuningsvoertuig, 5 Tafels teenwoordig en selfs ‘n gas.

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We only took gravel roads and immediately the challenge became apparent, there is more slippery mud on our way than talent on our bikes… Luckily the support crew had the right medicine on hand and as Tablers do, we Adopted our challenges, Adapted our techniques and Improved our emjoyment!!

By die Boathouse in Malgas het ons nog ‘n gas van die Suid Kaap Area ontvang en die laaste stukkie oor die pond tot in Buffeljagsrivier aangevat om die dag se rit te voltooi. 250km, alles grondpad net om ons broers van die Suid Kaap weer ‘n slag te kan sien Muddy bikes, wet bodies, cold temperatures. Nothing stopped us from having a great time with the gentlemen from South Cape Area. Area Chairman, Mario “Lid” Marais, spoke to us about the importance of FELLOWSHIP and gave us all some lekker gees to kick the evening off. Banners and Pins were exchanged, and friendships were cast in stone to last forever. Verdict for the tour…. 11 Tablers, 7 Tables, 2 Areas and 2 guests! We Found Fellowship!

Hiermee sal ek graag vir Billy en Jaco van Swellendam 179 bedank vir hulle gasvryheid, Lid vir sy entoesiasme en al die WP Area Tafelaars wat saamgekom om die naweek so spesiaal te maak. Voorwaar iets om vir altyd te onthou.

Ons is reeds aan die beplan vir Round the Rondel 2022 en sal graag soveel moontlik Tafelaars saamnooi om die Fellowship selfs nog groter te maak! Next time we would like to meet even more Areas…

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Nyama dinner with 34’s Paramount Chief espective right, but Mboma is simply a little faster. There is no denying that.

Mark Kissler August 26 th is officially known as Heroes’ Day in Namibia, a public holiday which commemorates the Namibian War of Independence which began on 26 August 1966 at Omugulugwombashe in the Omusati region.

With South West Africa gaining independence from South Africa in March 1990, we celebrate the liberation struggle annually in August to remind us observantly of why we perpetuate the liberation struggle after all.

Great, now you have a brief overview of a portion of history of our country. This article is not, however, on any liberation nor on any struggle (unless 36 believes it to be). This article is first and foremost presented in the format of thanksgiving, blessings and the concept of visionary excellence. That’s quite a mouth full, isn’t it?

Don’t worry though, it will all make sense in just a jiffy. Most of us are almost too young to still remember, if even born during the apartheid era, how things used to be and how our ancestors went about them. Whilst that is a good thing, we should never forget our history.

The history of Windhoek 34 started in 1955 and the successful charted of Namibia’s first Round Table in 1956, though many at Walvis Bay 36 strongly contest this. If you can count, you’ll know which table was first, no matter all the excuses we are presented with. We all know Mboma and Masilingi are great athletic sprinters and world class sportsters in their

That is the comprende?

same

with

Windhoek

34,

So let’s focus on the fellowship and teamwork and get back to the aforementioned public holiday. We as Namibians were keen on the long awaited and dearly needed day off on Heroes’ Day. As it fell on a Thursday, many of us took annual leave on the subsequent Friday to fully indulge in a getaway over an extended weekend. So that is exactly what 34’s IRO/PRO had done.

With the rather recent move of our chairman to the coast, Swakopmund to be precise, it was of tremendous importance to ensure a visit to him and discussion over coffee would be held between the two portfolio officers. After all the chair is the leader, our very own Paramount Chief, of Windhoek 34 and yet a little far away.

There was no fixed agenda but a proper catch up session including personal and work life were discussed on the Friday.

As a man who has been at table a lot longer than most active tablers, his guidance, expertise, vision and plans were sought. So can you imagine that a mere coffee meeting would be cutting the conversation short and not conform to the requirement of getting through the non-existent agenda?

As graceful as our chief is, he proposed a dinner, which turned out to be quite the feast.

Even for Namibian standards this was quite the delicious and over-the-top catered braai you hoped for.

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A truly magnificent evening, inclusive of his brother, sister-in-law and their two children, was shared and the memories thereof will long be remembered.

It was a productive time of catching up on all matters related to Round Table whilst in the background the videos of Basil Calitz and Koos du Toit on a former Rough and Tough Rally were playing to our amusement and thorough entertainment on YouTube. The hospitality presented by Ernst was short of nothing, maybe just an additional hour. Thanks for that dent in an otherwise pleasant evening that was great fun, curfew!

We all braai together sooner or later, but one only realises the importance thereof if it has become a rarity due to various factors – in this instance the distance of over 370km. Be reminded to visit your fellow table maatjies when you travel. The value thereof is not to be underestimated.

Ernst, your plans for Round Table, vision, mindset and reasoning have presented an argument for this organisation to last long and prosper. You’re a formidable host and fantastic braaier – to be continued, very soon!

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The Opi Kopi Delegation Mark Kissler What do you get when you have five tablers in a car, the smell of coffee in your nostrils and dawn is announcing the arrival of a new day?

Of course, the answer is simple: the transition of tablers to the Namibia Area September Council Meeting!

Held at Opi Kopi guest farm in the Erongo region, roughly a 230km drive from Windhoek, 34’s delegation of Ian, Marius, Christo, Jacques (he started at 34 but is presently at 36) and Mark were on their way to the smalltown of Usakos.

To state that it was refreshing to catch up with all attendees in person after the last council and area meetings were held via a video communications platform is an understatement.

was Sathyagulan Thambapilai from Hochland 154 whilst Jacques Lottering was the secret SAA. The former’s ‘treats’ weren’t as hot as those Carolina Reapers that Mr Barnard is so fond of, but their sting lingered quite a bit longer. We believe this was a quick but thorough detoxification session for all tablers in attendance.

Marius as Vice Chairman stood in for Ernst and presented the Chairman’s Report whilst Mark explained the finances up to the last day of August.

The road trip home was most certainly an interesting feature to conclude the day. We somehow struggled to find our way back to the tarred road of Usakos from the guest farm. We could see it, yes, but it took us quite some time to find the correct spot where we could cross the railway lines.

We are most certainly looking forward to the Area Meeting being hosted by Welwitschia 213 in early October at Kuduberg guest farm near Omaruru and being able to meet up with two special delegates from RTSA Exec.

As per request of the Area Chairman most obliged and the dress code for the day was a little more casual. The venue was a brand new one for Round Table and a very nice one indeed.

34’s Chairman, Ernst, could sadly not attend due to him being in isolation at the time. We surely missed him but did our part not to let him down and represent our table in the blockbuster fashion the rockstars of 34 do.

Discussing all the points on the agenda and reaching consensus, the Sergeant at Arms was

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Projects Stutterheim Golf Day Erenst du Plessis As the defending champions of the Border Area Sporting Trophy, Stutterheim Round Table 103 challenged the rest of the Table in the Area to a game of golf at our Charity Golf Day. East London 1, Aliwal North 55, Gonubie 182 and Cathcart 75 stepped up to the challenge. Which took place on 02 October 2021.

The weather forecast looked like it might be a bit wet on the course but luckily everyone stayed dry. All enjoyed the fun format of 4 ball scramble, although the golf was not the best according to some, they did however admit that the company was great, and all had lots of fun.

We need to thank all the sponsors that made it possible to make it such a fun day of fellowship and to be able to give out some awesome prizes. We had prizes for the top 8 teams and two closest to pins and a team prize for closest for 2.

But the main competition was the international one for the Border Area Sporting Trophy, that was again successfully defended by Round Table Stutterheim 103.

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Cathcart 75 Golf Day Jean Windvogel Cathcart Round Table No 75 hosted our annual golf day at the Cathcart Country Club on Saturday 23 October 2021. The golf day featured, amongst other things:  “clay pigeon challenge” on the 9th hole  “beer for a year” hole in one challenge on the 18th hole  Refreshing pitstops on various holes  A wine auction  A hunt auction We cannot be more grateful for the support we received for our golf day. More than 50 golfers participated and there were many people who joined in for the evening festivities. Our golfers endured a very gusty wind but that did not dampen the fun experienced on the day. We played a fourball American Scramble format which attracted many non-golfers to join in the fun.

The day ended off with good company and a delicious supper of steak and chips. A successful wine and hunt auction was held, thank you to all who supported the auctions.

A very big thank you to all our sponsors who contributed to a highly successful day, without your generosity our day wouldn’t have been possible.

We would like to thank the following Sponsors : Armstrong Farms - Ascendis - Autoboys - BKB Border Irrigation - Border Kei Vets - Border Seeds

C&E Bodyworks - Caltex - Davies Optometrists - Esher Farms - e’Molowhetu Fenfield Reds - Hi Q (Queenstown) Jacksons Isuzu - Kermar - Lindisfarne Dormers - Loan Oak Seedlings - Love Tyres - McCormick Agri - Mega Feeds - MMG Nissan - Monte Feeds - Multitrust - Nuvance - Paradoxus - Pick 'n Pay (Queenstown) PPS - Provident Animal Health - Riverview Trading - S&J Enterprises - SAB - Sakata Seeds - Santam - Sheard Auctioneers - Stan Stone - Stutt Trading - Target Line - TKY Tracker - Tractor World - Virbac - VJ Angus Voermol - Winston South Devons -Zoetis

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Coffee and Cars Thabang Maahlo Situated in the epicenter of two long-running roads that cut through a monochrome business park, there is a picturesque cafe with beautiful wood-finished tables kept by glass walls that are painted with subtle greys and whites. On its terrace, there are more tables and a lot of sunlight. Even with all that sunlight, you can still appreciate the incandescent lighting that gives warmth to the cold winds that barrel around the tall buildings of Illovo.

Grate Café is the daily caffeine dealer for the white-collar workers that fill those buildings.

This was the site of Coffee and Cars, an annual event that intends to collect donations for Oliver’s Village in the form of blankets, clothes, money, and non-perishable foods.

Oliver’s Village is a self-sufficient community completely disconnected from the national energy grid that runs community-focused projects: Early Childhood Development Computer Training Feeding Program The morning of Coffee and Cars is usually very cold, although I think it’s more the buildings blocking out the morning sun than it

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Paul Hoeksema

Mossel Bay 32 Golf Day

On Saturday the 9th of October, Round Table Mossel Bay 32 held its 3rd annual Golf Day on award-winning Pinnacle Point Estate. Apart from a short burst of rain just before the shotgun start, the players were greeted with a spectacular day that made for great playing conditions. The value for money golf experience played in a Betterball Stableford format, delivered some great golf with representation from the greater South Cape Area. Mossel Bay's Hydration Taskforce (aka the travelling 'nat gat') set out to do rounds on the course to ensure smiles in abundance, to snap a couple of photos of course, to make sure the players did not go thirsty. On the business end of the event, congratulations to all our winners, well played!

Mossel Bay 32 would like to thank all the players that tee'd off for a great cause and would also like to send a shoutout to Area Chairman Mario Marais (Oudtshoorn 33) and Neil Enslin from George 30 that stepped out to show their support. In true Round Table ethos, all proceeds will go to a Mossel Bay 32 sporting initiative aimed at alleviating a less fortunate primary school by gifting the right equipment to enable their little sports stars to reach their full potential. A special thank you goes out to our sponsors for making this day possible: Pinnacle Point Estate, Pam Golding Mossel Bay-Tiaan Schutte, Belgravia, The Electrical Guy, Rauch Gertenbach Attorneys, AB Properties, GetGo Home Loans, ESI Attorneys & Finwel. Be sure to follow our social media platforms for more information on our next not-to-be-missed Golf Day.

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generally being cold at that time of year. The setup was relatively quick once everyone had a cup of the old thinking juice, most of the pieces were set in place before we even arrived at the event, so everyone pretty much knew what they had to do though some tasks were assigned on the day as well. Not too long after everyone got their bearings and into position, the first few cars started to arrive.

Old-timey vehicles with a glistening coat of paint and deep engine grumble, looking like they just drove out of their era and straight into the 21st century, bustled in followed by a slew of Porsche 911s that spanned from the 1960s to the latest model – one was purchased only a week before the event.

Soon you could hear the turbo spooling of the modern cars, and the event was in full swing, there were Tablers at both ends of the roads helping people park and showing them where to go. There was also a ticket booth where participants stood a chance to get a free breakfast.

As the cars kept driving in, the donation pile got larger and larger. Participants started huddling around the very old and rare cars— this is what it’s all about: getting people together under a single banner to do good and have a good time doing it. The day went along smoothly with people walking with coffee in one hand and a camera or cell phone in the other. At some point, the sun started to peek out through the overbearing buildings and along one side of the street where the sunshine sanguinely shone, people were standing in appreciation as if they were courtside at a highly spirited sporting event.

All in all another successful Coffee & Cars event, and as we eagerly await the next one we hope to see you there.

Legacy Amphitheatre Lourens Smit That, can it ever really be understood or a common definition ever be found and can legacy ever really be planned for?

As some tablers time with 267 is drawing to a close and we began to reflect on all we had achieved; one thing got us thinking and began to stick in our minds leaving a legacy for the future tablers and the Hermanus Community.

What’s the purpose is, is a question seldom asked by many but when it is – and is thought about deeply, it can create a lasting impact through all of time. We all live our own life story, and those stories are rich and important. But we need to connect the dots. Too often we get stuck in isolated little stories that fail to sustain us or effect real change. “Legacy is not a trivial thing. As a profound connection across time, across generations, it can be either a burden or a gift. It's where the power is. OUR LEGACY, the things we do and say and think and aspire to every day, is creating the future right now.

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A Train with new Tracks Marko van Rensburg In 1979 an article appeared in the Pretoria News – Stating that the miniature train had been shut down by the City Council because it was deemed not safe for public use. The late Neil Smith and Pretoria 87 Tabler – Clive Rodda, then contacted the Kimble Family and they had agreed to purchase the entire train setup voetstoots for the sum of R15000.00.

Accounting for Inflation – this would total to approximately R473219.29 in 2021.

This was done before discussing the matter with Pretoria 87 – @ the following meeting – Clive and Neil proposed the project and Clive Rodda was Nominated as the convener of Pretoria 87’s Biggest project ever at the time.

Loads of work needed to be done before the train could run again!

The sleepers were rotten, the steam engine was “Kaput” and in need of a rebuild and the station buildings needed to be freshened up!

New rail lines were donated by a local Gold Mine. New concrete sleepers were designed in house and donated by a local concrete supplier.

The rails were rebuilt by a local company under the guidance of Tablers.

The steam engine was being rebuilt by Pretoria based miniature railway enthusiasts. The Railway station got some much-needed TLC from Tablers and their wives.

The train was originally built by a Mr. Gus Kimble and was known as one of the finest miniature trains in the world. The Grand Opening – To be in the next issue of - Pretoria 87 Saga – A Train with new Tracks

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October, 2021

Mossel Bay 32 Waste Challenge

Never think ocean pollution doesn't affect you. Not only does it harm and in a lot of cases kill marine life, but small organisms also feed on broken-down plastic (microplastic) and have been found in plankton as well as whales. When smaller organisms are eaten by larger animals, these fish species land in our dinner plates along with the chemicals originating from these brokendown plastics.

On the 18th of September, Round Table Mossel Bay, family and friends set off on their 4th Beach Cleanup of the year to take part in #WorldCleanupDay2021. The environmental project coincided with the RTI Round Table Family Waste challenge and another considerable amount of waste was removed from our local beaches.

Thank you to Michélle and her team of volunteers from Ladies Circle, 41er Heinrich Strydom & his family, our Area Chairman Mario Johan Marais and his kids as well as all the other happy helpers that were involved and joined us.

Round Table Mossel Bay has committed to planning and actioning a beach cleanup every month.

Please follow our social media platforms for more information on future events

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Banana Drop Tiaan Schoeman On Thursday the 9th of September 2021 we at Round Table 136 helped Kungwini Welfare Organisation by donating 30 x boxes of bananas to hand out to the community.

Pretoria Collective receives a donation every week from Novasun.

This gives every Pretoria Table a chance to collect bananas every 5 weeks.

This is a very strong project as it feeds a lot of people in need.

Pretoria Round Table 136 together with Kungwini we try to drive impactful change in our community.

We would like to thank Deon Ferreira from Pretoria 19 for convening this project for the whole of Pretoria Collective.

Mukuyu Raffle Tiaan Schoeman

Its always fun when you can convene a project where someone can win. Especially if it’s a weekend away for up to 16 people to the value of R7600. This project was run from August till the end of September 2021. We could not have done this without Mukuyu Game Lodge who was super awesome during this Raffle.

On the 6th of October we had were live on facebook to do the lucky draw. Tensions were high as everybody wanted to win the prize. This also created lots of sports between all the 136 members as we sold 118 tickets. Congratulations to our winner Dominique Stapelberg. Interesting fact. She was also the first person to enter the raffle.

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Membership Drive

South Cape WWW.ROUNDTABLE.CO.ZA

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Table News Somerset West 31 Visits South Cape Area Spring Conference

Nikko Maree ( Superskaap) In the spirit of Fellowship, Somerset West 31 visited Mosselbay 32 for the South Cape Area Spring Conference on the weekend of 1-2 October.

Six Tablers from Somerset West 31 took to the road and had a blast with the boytjies from George 30, Mossel Bay 32, Oudtshoorn 33 and Swellendam 179. Even though the Boks secured a win against the Kiwis, all eyes where on Mario Lid Marais as he led a well prepared workshop on “Infinite”.

Wat die naweek selfs meer spesiaal gemaak het, was om vier Tafels bymekaar te hê met opeenvolgende nommers…

30…31…32…33…Kameraadskap is gesmee en vasgelê by elke man van Somerset West 31 wat ou vriende vir die eerste keer ontmoet het.

Ons bedank graag weereens die Tafelaars en hul gesinne van die Suid Kaap vir hulle gasvryheid, geduld en goeie GEES!! Julle is almal TOPS! Spesiale dank aan Paul Hoeksema, Mosselbaai 32 Voorsitter, vir sy relings en bystand deur die naweek.

Ons sien uit om gou weer by julle te kuier!

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The Induction Transduction

the rondel, placed alongside us at meetings and soaking up what we, led by our Kaiser Ernst, are doing in terms of social responsibility, networking and plain fun. Come on, we are the ‘adjacent cells’.

Mark Kissler

Now obviously transduction makes reference to their attendance at business and social Yebo, today’s headline of the article sounds meetings, Jollie Ollie gatherings, friendly braais like the name of an episode for the popular hit and in particular their involvement in our comedy series The Big Bang Theory. So let’s projects and ancillary handovers. go all Sheldon on you, the reader, and be as May you enjoy your table careers and grow as quirky and as technical as our favourite nerds: individuals. Table is often referred to as The Induction has the following meaning: the University of Life. If you stay on long enough process by which the fate of embryonic cells is and go through the paces, are willing to provide determined (as by the action of adjacent cells) your input and take on challenges in the form of and morphogenetic differentiation brought convening existing projects, proposing and implementing new ones and taking up a few about. varying portfolios during your stint, you may be Whereas transduction means: the process by fortunate and graduate as 41er. which a virus transfers genetic material from one bacterium to another. Viruses called bacteriophages are able to infect bacterial cells and use them as hosts to make more viruses.

This all makes no sense, does it? That’s because the English language has, at times, multiple meanings. We are of course referring to the newly acquired membership with full voting rights at the table of Windhoek 34: Johan ‘mooiste meisie’ Geldenhuys and Richard ‘Barbie wig’ Becker.

Now don’t think for even a second that the above explanations are way too far away from what we are on about here. No no!

The ‘fate’ in the meaning of induction already substantiates the play on words. It was destiny that these fine gentlemen were introduced to

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Monthly Social Rigardt Esterhuizen We as Paarl44 have a tradition that we social once a month to learn about each other and for the women from the table to also fellowship with each other. This pas month it was Trompi’s turn to host the table with a LEKKER “bring & braai”. The braai was great and the fellowship was even better. This great tradition is changing fellowship into us becoming one big happy family. The social trophy was handed to one of our pipies. We are excited to see what this pipe will host as his social event.

South Cape Spring Conference AB Tromp We as Paarl 44 have a tradition that we social once a month to learn about each other and for the women from the table to also fellowship with each other. This pas month it was Trompi’s turn to host the table with a LEKKER “bring & braai” In the weeks following up to the conference we sat around the Table and we set our goal to improve on the norm and do something different to hype up excitement for this event. A great amount of time and effort went into the preparation and planning with a team, for the most part, that had never hosted such an event before.

The Friday was brim-full of “GEES” with a lot of us, as is the usual case with these weekends, outrunning our own pace. Pure elation to see everyone again with the area in just about full attendance and many of the areas’ 41’ers

joining the celebrations. The morning of the meeting proposed a fairly big challenge for the most of us, although the welcome(or in this case care-) package, did offer some relief for the heavy heads and low energy levels. A meeting and workshop of pure class was well run and well managed by the South Cape Executives and their strict Sergeant, Laurie Boshoff. What a generous and strict man he was, not even letting our Area Chairman escape his strong rule. The South Cape Area was also blessed to have 4 new Member inductions on the day. A commendable achievement for our area, and we look forward to the value our new members and future leaders will bring to the table(pun intended).

Infinite Tabling in action.

A very special welcome message video was compiled for our new inductees from both

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RTSA and RTI executives. A memorable moment for the young Tablers.. The braai was great and the fellowship was even better. This great tradition is changing fellowship into us becoming one big happy family. The social trophy was handed to one of our pipies. We are excited to see what this pipe will host as his social event.

Blessing us with their presence, we had the ever-present support of our Garden Route Ladies Circle representatives, Michelle Jacobsz, Judy Theunissen and Jenene Venter.

Thank you for keeping the traditions and support alive. Also joining our meeting was past area chairmans, Dave “I love myself“ Meyer and Glen Boscombe, both past Area Chairman from the old Knysna 59 Table, and a strong attendance from our 41’ers. Thank you for joining and providing your insights as well as returning the long lost Area Chairman Gong.

Another very unique occurrence was having Somerset West 31 travelling all the way to come and enjoy the weekend with us, and boy did they bring the “GEES”. This resulted in us having 4 sequentially charted Tables all in one room, George 30, Somerset West 31, Mossel Bay 32 and Oudtshoorn 33.

To close out this spectacular weekend, we hosted a themed event for the Saturday evening. Attendees we’re each assigned a Nation of RTI to represent on the evening and they did not disappoint. 41’er, past Table and Area Chairman, Clive Parsons and his wife Michelle decided to really throw caution to the wind with their creative attire representing Norway. If Prime Video caught sight of you guys they might very well consider another season of Vikings. They shared first prize for the best dressed with our new inductee Neil Enslin and his wife Jocelyn also very creatively representing Great Britain & Ireland.

It would’ve not been a traditional area weekend without some Buffalo & Muffalo inductions, four of each, and a perfect opportunity to usher in our brand new Buffalo Wall. Intentionally created for these inductions and hand painted by our very own Paul Hoeksema. Another highlight of the evening was the one-off Buffalo Butcher’s Block designed by Mossel Bay 32 that was auctioned off to contribute to the clubhouse fund, and the generous bid was won

by Somerset West 31. We hope it finds a great spot in your display case.

A weekend many of us are likely to never forget and a HUGE thank you for those that attended.

I think we can safely say, we completely smashed our goal to host an improved Spring Conference experience.

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Buffalo Induction-muur Trek Aandag!

AB Tromp Mosselbaai se eie grafiese kunstenaar en voorsitter Paul Hoeksema het die Suid-Kaap se trots op hul klubhuis muur vasgevang. Want, soos meerderheid Tafelaars sal weet is die Suid-Kaap die oorsprong van die Buffalo Rule en offisiële Buffalo Zone. Hier word die reël gelowig en met trots gevolg deur die hardebaarde van die Suid-Kaap. Dis ‘n ernstige saak en wanneer uitgevoer word sal die party wat aan die skerp kant van hierdie reël gevang word met groot verleentheid sy straf uitdien. As jy lag is jy sag. Nadat die welbekende Buffelsfontein die pragstuk van Buffel-muur opgemerk het, het hulle dit goed gedink om ons te bederf met mandjie propvol Buffelsfontein lafenis, onder andere heerlike Buffelsfontein Brandewyn en Lager om uit te lood aan ons span rowwe lede.

Die gelukkige wenner, ons splinternuwe lid, Arno Stander.

Vanuit die offisiële Buffalo Zone, sê ons vir Buffelsfontein span dankie!

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Letters from Tablers Making a difference in One Person’s life Wian Vogel Matters Dear Brother’s, One of the perks of being part of our wonderful organization is the fact that you can pick up the phone and with one phone call you have all your brothers to assist someone in need.

Our aim is Impact for change. We sometimes forget that impact for change can also be a simple thing as Smile. And a smile we definitely did get. I was recently approached by a loving mother that wanted to give her child the best birthday party ever.

The family was tremendously affected by the Covid -19 pandemic. But with the little money they had left they wanted to make this day very special for her. The mother met me at our Community Center to look at the venue to see if it will work for the birthday party. Little did I know that her daughter had a chromosomal condition called down syndrome. I was honored to meet Cindy on that day. She looked at me and said, “I only want a 30th Birthday party with my family and friends” This was an eye opener for me, and right my hart crumbled. Here you have a beautiful 30-year-old woman that only wants a birthday party.

With lockdown in 2020 this was not possible for her, and as lockdown processed money also became an issue. Something in me changed that day and I offered them the Community Center for free. My only request was to take the money that was set out for a venue hiring and spend it on Cindy. To make this day the best day ever. We at RT136 donated a cake towards the party and we were honored to present Cindy with the cake and also sing for her on this beautiful day “23 October 2021”. Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition where a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. This additional genetic material changes the course of development and causes the characteristics we have associated with Down Syndrome.

While behavior, mental ability, and physical development varies from person to person, many individuals with Down syndrome grow up to hold jobs, live independently, and enjoy normal recreational activities and quote: A brother is a friend God gave to you, a friend is a brother your heart chose for you. Other than a parent’s love, I feel that there is no greater bond in love than there is between brothers.

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Visiting the foster home to collect the counter top me and Joanie the foster mom had a little chat over coffee while waiting for her husband to get the top from storage about what they are going through with the pandemic and how some of the donators they had had withdrawn as their businesses where struggling and closing down. There was a moment where I could not make any sense of the world we live in. It broke me a bit that when it came to kids that people cannot look past race. As these to house with completely opposite demographic both battle with the same problem when it comes to getting help or donations. It that moment a saw a glimmer of hope, when Joanie told me hold for a moment.

Impact that we make Marko Hall One of the memories I will carry with me is the day I made such an impact to inspire a beneficiary to help another in need.

One of my clients has a safe house they support when and where they can. Can you imagine looking after 4 babies, 6 toddlers, 5 tweens and 3 teenagers that went through what you won’t even want to wish on your worst enemy? Now take all these kids in a 5 bedroom house with the only help from government at R9/kid per day and whatever they receive from willing donators. When my client contacted me to assist with some plumbing work I pounced on it with no hesitation. The sink counter completely collapsed and a new top was needed. Compaired to what some of the kids there has gone through this might not seems as much needed help but with no sink dishes don’t get clean, bottles don’t get washed. As fate would have it one of our beneficiaries had just what I needed.

She came round the corner with box in hand, with her little ones with some bags in hand. My heart melted, she handed me some of their extra maize, soap, toothpaste and a few extra much needed items for the safe house. Even with her not having much she took it on her to help someone in a worst space. I at first declined as I felt bad taking from someone in need as well, not that she allowed me to decline. Her words that followed made my heart pump table even more. “I am doing this because of your passion for helping, you made me believe that help can come from anywhere, even the plumber fixing our geyser on the roof.” These words made me feel proud of us, every tabler from all over the world.

Why did I join table? Was to find something bigger than myself, in that moment I realized how big it can get and chasing the next bigger thing. In days I feel that I wish we could do more, this day will ring in my mind to make me realize, that it is not always how much we do but when we do it how we can change life’s in that moment.

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Being a Young Tabler Marcu Kriegler Being one of the youngest in this young-man’s organization means I have a lot more to learn than those older than me.

It is a truly humbling experience, being able to learn from others that only want to see you succeed in life, and won’t hesitate to stand by you when things get tough.

Being 20 years old and having a very long and bright table career ahead makes me hopeful of what I can achieve while I’m part of this organization.

As I have said many times before, I will always be grateful to have all my table brothers a part of my life. While I have learnt a lot by what they have to teach me, the learning never stops. I always have questions, and every time It really means the world to me that those who someone can help me answer them.

I look up to, those who teach me, those who As a young man it is hard to see yourself as an guide me, see me as one of their own and not equal to those 10-20 years older than you, and some kid who wants to prove a point. always having the highest respect for those older than you, but once I joined the I sometimes cannot express how much it Roundtable, it became harder and harder to see means to me that these gentlemen i look up to, that barrier that age creates. have seen in me that I maybe haven’t seen in In this table family you are welcomed as a tabler, not a 20-year-old, not as someone you don’t have to respect because they are younger, not as someone who is a lesser.

And that is one of the reasons I enjoy being a tabler, being able to surround yourself with people that have the same respect for you, as you do for them. It makes you feel at home, at peace and most important, accepted.

myself. And that they can help me achieve what I want to accomplish in life, in my table career and my personal goals. That is what I believe brothers are for, to help you become the person you want to be.

I look forward to all the learning, all good and bad times and most importantly all the lessons And I am well on my way with the help of these amazing people I can call Tabler brothers.

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As both past and honorary members we are here today to place a burden of leadership on the young men of the future, to help them to raise their hands and to make it easier for them to enter into the fray. As such, some musings from someone that now has the benefit of clarity of the rear-view mirror:

The clarity of the rear-view mirror – Arno Kotze Part 2 My name is Arno Kotze, proud Honorary Member of Pretoria 136 and I’ll be your Master of Ceremonies whilst you read this article (Note: Part 2 of 2).

The late Mr. Rogers from the American show Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood once said: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Gents, I’m proud to say that I have seen those people helping. They call themselves ‘a brotherhood’ that proudly wear something called a Rondel on their chests. I’m proud to say that those helpers are part of an organisation of international impact bound by single acts that change the world!

The time is now: you are the shapers of our Association’s destiny!

Don’t compromise. Don’t stand back. Don’t wait for someone else to do it. Don’t put it off till next time, or next week, or next year. Don’t waste a single one of those precious 24 hours in a day. You can’t save them up, you can’t stomp them out, and you can’t buy them back. Similar to the past members before you, it is your responsibility to ensure a Round Table for tomorrow’s generation.

Absorb as much as you can: study this organisation (its constitutions and history), its people and become proficient in its structure and tactics. Once capable, you will find that there is not a single problem that you won’t be able to resolve…within Round Table and your personal life. There are current Tablers and past members with a wealth of knowledge that love nothing more than to give an opinion – embrace it!

Be a balanced Tabler: Stiaan Maasz, Round Table Pretoria 19, during his tenure as Bushveld Area Chairman had a single word slogan: ‘Balance’. Your time within this organisation comes at the cost of ‘time spent’. Balancing your time spent on family life, your career and Table journey (both community service and fellowship) is crucial! Luckily, they are all mutually beneficial and if done with some cognisant planning: priceless!

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Table with a sense of pride and a sense of professionalism: a mantra used by past RTSA President 2017/2018, Andrew Lea. Let decorum guide you, let Rondel-passion drive you and let professionalism be the cornerstone of your Table career. It is not your right to be a Tabler, it is a privilege! Act accordingly.

Travel outside the four walls of your clubhouse: other than prima fellowship with some of the most pure-of-heart people that you’ll ever meet on your journeys, you will learn a lot. There is not a Table in our Association that hasn’t had the exact same problem as what your Table might be facing or that your Table has not already successfully weathered.

Sunscreen: we are a hands-on organisation which means a lot of time spent outside for projects. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proven beyond doubt by scientists! Look after yourself today, for tomorrow!

Round Table Walvis Bay has over the past few years ran a Blood Drive in our Table, this is a way of giving back that just takes 20 minutes of your time, nothing else.

Gents, there is no such thing as the perfect Tabler, only Tablers that strive to be! Appreciate this journey, you don’t know how much it means…until it’s gone!

Each unit of blood donated can be separated into its constituent parts and used to enhance the lives of at least 3 patients and save lives in the process

Yours in Table

Only 0.8% of the Namibian Population donates blood, this making our blood supplies in our country very low and during peak holiday times in our country, there is not always enough blood to assist those that need it.

Blood Donation Update Byron Westerdale

RT 36 tries to hit the blood bank every 56-60 days as that is the time you need to wait between donations. We make each visit entertaining for the NAMBTS staff and fellow donors as we try lift everyone’s spirits as there are a few nervous donors now and then.

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From The Global Ginger Part III: Traveling Abroad Personal Security Suggestion: When travelling ensure that all your personal belongings are safeguarded by yourself.

Inform yourself thoroughly, prior to your trip, of the safety risks in the country/countries you intend to visit.

As we are aware, we are exposed to crime everywhere. Basic precautionary measures will contribute to ensuring your safety, for example: Do not attract attention to yourself with expensive jewelry and clothing.

Take care when you pay for something avoid flashing all your cash.

Get to know the foreign currency and use a note that requires the smallest amount of change to be returned to you.

When travelling by public transport have the correct amount of cash at hand, take care when you hand over the money and keep your eye on it.

If secure, keep your passport, travellers’ cheques, and extra cash in the hotel safe.

Alternatively wear it in a money belt under your clothing and keep only the money you intend using in your pocket/handbag/wallet.

Know where you are going. Keep a map with you and consult it regularly. Make sure that you have the contact details of where you are always staying on your person.

Obtain information from the hotel in which you are staying on security related precautions in the area.

Remember that when you are travelling to another country you, unknowingly, stand out making you an easy target for criminals.

Keep certified copy of your passport, visa as well as the South African Representatives contact details with you.

You should ideally avoid countries experiencing war and/or civil/political unrest. If the trip is unavoidable, ensure that you prepare yourself by having all the necessary information and contact details of your hosts and South African Representatives in the country of your destination.

South African travelers and the law Do not become involved in activities that may be, or are, illegal. Please remember, once you leave South Africa, the rights enjoyed under the South African Constitution and laws cannot be guaranteed or enforced in the countries you intend to visit. If arrested abroad, the South African Government cannot intervene to secure your release from prison.

Although Government cannot secure your release, Government is in a position to intercede with local authorities to seek to ensure that your rights, under the laws of the arresting country, are fully observed and that the minimum standards for treatments of prisoners are applied.

For more information on South Africans in prison abroad (click here).

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Important Notice: Possession or smuggling of drugs is a criminal offence in almost all countries.

Penalties are harsh and can lead to a lifetime imprisonment or even the death penalty. Do not accept or carry parcels, baggage, or any items that you have not packed personally.

Do not offer to collect parcels, letters, documents, etc. on behalf of other persons.

Attempting to smuggle drugs is not worth the payment that you may be offered.

Should your passport be damaged in any way, it is advisable to obtain a new passport before travelling.

Always keep a certified copy of your passport and visa on your person while on holiday.

To cater for unforeseen emergencies, ensure that a friend or relative is in possession of your travel plan, contact details, a copy of your passport, visa pages as well as an identity document.

Make sure that you are familiar with the health risks of the country or countries you intend visiting. Get all the recommended vaccinations and/or medication before travelling. If you need to travel with medication, ensure that it meets the requirements of your destination(s). Take your prescription along.

Ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months with enough blank pages.

Additional passport photographs are very useful should you need a temporary passport or emergency travel certificate.

Make sure that your family, friends or colleagues know what your movements will be while away. Leave a detailed itinerary with them. Contact them regularly by email, a phone call or SMS. Remember if you are a dual national you must leave and enter South Africa on your South African passport.

Always act within the prescripts of the law.

Travel Tips Obtain as much information as possible about your destination.

Take out sufficient travel insurance to cover hospital treatment, medical evacuation and even death. Pre-existing conditions and the risk associated with your destination or the activities you plan to partake in can influence the travel insurance cover you need.

Register your trip prior to leaving South Africa or whilst abroad.

Double-check whether you require a visa or permit for the country or countries you are visiting or transiting.

Keep a copy of your passport information page, relevant visas, travel insurance, travellers’ cheques and credit card with you but not with the originals. Leave a copy in an envelope with a friend, relative or a work colleague.

Once you destination

arrive

in

your

country

of

Do not give your passport away to anyone (see remarks on certain countries of the Arabian Peninsula below): Do not give your passport over to anyone except immigration officials or if requested to do so for reasons of identification e.g. Police or Hotel check-in reception. It is illegal for an employer to ask to hold onto your passport for any reason and you should never agree to do so, regardless of whether this is stipulated in an employment contract.

The problem that is being experienced by South African citizens in some countries of the Arabian Peninsula goes back a long time and

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is rooted in the system of sponsorship as practised by these countries vis-à-vis foreigners. It is important to note that sponsorship imposes several serious obligations on the sponsor. He/she typically has to provide accommodation, transport, basic sustenance, minimum medical care and repatriation.

Added to that, he/she has a traditional obligation to the private debt that his/her sponsored worker may incur. It is the latter circumstance that, more than anything else, prompts the sponsor to retain her/his employee’s passport.

Make contact Once you have arrived in your country of destination, contact your local embassy and report that you are in the country. Also contact friends and family at home and let them know that you are safe and give them your contact details. If you find yourself in trouble, contact the police or your local embassy.

Part I - III covered the following topics: Be prepared.

Diplomatic and consular missions of many countries have, over the years, sought to address this complaint with the governments of the countries involved, to little avail. However, until the sponsorship system is not radically altered, the passport issue under discussion will remain. Besides establishing a preferential position of trust with his/her employer, there is not much an employee can do in the circumstances.

Do you have your passport?

The Department does not condone the practice but recognises that it reflects the peculiarities of the expatriate labour system in that particular part of the world.

Registration of South Africans Abroad -

Intervention, legal or otherwise, must be weighed against the benefit and importance of the individual employee’s labour contract. It is reasonable to assume that the decision ultimately rests with that employee.

me while I am abroad?

What happens if your passport is stolen/lost while abroad?

Visas/Permits.

Travel Insurance.

Flights abroad.

Driving Abroad.

ROSA. How can the Embassy or Consulate assist

Health Risks.

Personal Security.

South African travelers and the law.

In the final instance the South African Government confirms that the South Africa passport is the property of the Republic and is made available to a citizen for purposes of travel.

Travel Tips.

Once

you

arrive

in

your

country

of

destination.

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International News

RTI Move for Mental Health Mark Kissler 70% of the year 2021 has passed by…

Already! It is mid-September and we feel it coming on. The year has been long, but the year-end holidays are still too far away…

We feel so tired, or exhausted rather, are demotivated and look back on what has happened this year up until now. What is in store for us for the next three months before we go on vacation? Can we even afford a vacation trip this year? Will 2022 bring about any positive change?

There are so very many questions in our heads, questions that are open-ended. These questions add invisible weight on our shoulders, the weight becomes heavier by the day and keeps us up at night, unable to shut the eyes for more than just a few minutes, no matter how tired we are. Unable to shed the problems in an instant we long to diffuse the ticking timebomb we do not realize we carry with us.

Are we men? Yes, definitely and unapologetically yes, we are humans with XY chromosomes. Do we get lonely, sad and at times overwhelmed with everything that is happening? Yes, we do have such feelings.

Do we experience sorrow and grief, dissatisfaction with life as we have grown used to and the urge to just break free? Yes, again, we do tick the box.

Hmmm, so why do we tend not to talk about it?

Why is our false masculinity and the way we were taught not to be ‘weak’ so dominant?

No one has all the answers to the above and actually the answers don’t matter at all. What truly matters is one single thing: CHANGE! Our motto is so widespread and used daily (adopt, adapt, improve). How about we take this opportune moment of self-realization and implement those three little words that carry more magic than any make belief spell cast out in any Harry Potter book.

Round Table International has embarked on a new ‘project’, a project of such great importance it has the power to change the way we table, the way we attract new talent and improves on the successes we have. They came up with: Move for mental health.

Here in Southern Africa we are especially prone not to give in, we are made to believe that we are MEN and men don’t cry. My dear chaps, a few tears are not emasculating. An outbreak of emotions does not define you as a sissy.

The 10th of September was World Suicide Prevention Day. Take a moment and think.

Have you lost someone who saw no other way out than to end their own life?

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Research shows that most suicides occur during the months of spring and summer.

That seems to be odd but is true for either hemisphere.

There has been more than enough pain and suffering the last months or even years. If you feel you can’t go on anymore be sure that you are not alone.

With the beginning of spring, we want to create awareness of mental wellbeing and emotional intelligence. Depression is not a myth.

May today be the first day you want to enforce a change on your own life. Choose to be happy though you can’t see how. Smell the fresh morning air and take a deep breath. Rome was not built in a day nor will you be healed immediately. Open your heart and allow to be ‘weak’. You have friends and family who love you and care for you. Though you might not realise it: you are their rock too.

It is up to us to ensure that our brothers around table are well. Suggest to take a friend on a short hike, pack a flask with coffee and let the outdoors soothe your and their soul. It is never too late until it is too late. Be a proactive friend and ensure you are the hand your brother needs.

If you are the one who is uncertain about your emotional wellbeing, buddy, please seek a brother at Round Table you feel close to. Get talking, get the pain off of your chest! Don’t be afraid of sharing. In doing so you shall lessen your burden and hopefully gain a new perspective.

In closing, please remember this: go out there today, join RTI and make a move for mental health. It starts with us and we have the power to make a positive change, an impactful change. Enjoy the small things and life and do it for yourself. You are great and you re loved.

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Membership Drive

STNOFS WWW.ROUNDTABLE.CO.ZA

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