Like all things in life, travel is something that all should experience, At least this is what I’ve been told growing up. Being part of this Organisation only makes those chances that much more closer and realistic.
I was the lucky awardee of the RTSA travel bingo draw held back in 2022 at BMG Weesgerus. When I learnt where we had a Twinning agreement with, first thoughts was how am I going to do this.
As the time drew closer, our outgoing ARTSA IRO assisted in helping make contact and get the communication going. Mr Timo from Dubai 1 was amazing in all he assisted, leading up to the time for me to depart South Africa on my 1st international experience. I’m by nature a very calculating person, nothing left unknown, but I choose to live slightly different and didn’t google or research unless I had to, so I went in with no expectations but to take it all in, a proper tourist. I landed finally in Dubai at the international airport and already was taken back at the scale and size. Never had I experienced the magnitude of buildings to which this experience would just expand further the more I ventured.
I met up with Mr Timo at the hotel to book in and enjoyed a afternoon around the palm islands. A meet and greet was arranged on the top floor of a adjacent hotel where members from Dubai 1, Doha 4, Kuwait 5, Dubai Creek 11 and past 41er’s joined for a dinner with a view.
Saturday saw the annual meeting being held with around +-25 people in attendance, past chairman, presidents, 41ers and Ladies circle member in attendance. This was said to have been one of the best attended meetings in a long time and I’m happy to have been there to witness it. We table slightly different in ARTSA and to seeing the difference’s gives such a unique feeling of expectations and potential. At the end of the day, we want what’s best for ourselves and one another.
Mr Timo and the other RT brothers showed me to their version of the HARDCORE HUT through multiple venues, where I witnessed Whitney Houston voice double who could sing better than she ever could and that I hope any others traveling to RTAG & Dubai would experience this GEM.
My stay was short and sweet but I did as much as I could in the time given and would like to express my gratitude to all involved, extensions & RTI, RTAG, ARTSA for the opportunity.
Kitted with the Round table Gauteng area branding, Round table Edenvale 63 in collaboration with Round table Boksburg 17 gathered together at Karaglen Spar in Edenvale on the 1st of April for a drive to collect Easter eggs. These Easter eggs were to be distributed to under privileged kids with the purpose of making Easter special for them.
There were two members from Edenvale 63 Round table and 1 member accompanied by 1 pipeliner from Boksburg 17 Round table present on the day. We were met by the Edenvale Lions club who coincidentally had arranged to do the exact same drive on the same day at the same place so we decided to join forces with the Lions with the agreement that we would share the collections of the day. Building relationships with, and supporting other organisations similar to ours is important as we can then have a greater combined impact in our communities by working together.
During our collections we focused on driving membership and we managed to gain 3 guest on the day. The Easter egg drive was the perfect ice breaker to create awareness of what Round table is and spark the interest of potential guests.
69 Marshmallow egg boxes were collected to the value of R4761.00 of which 25 boxes were donated to the Lions club. Afterwards a few of us got together for a bit of fellowship and social at a restaurant nearby.
In the early hours of Easter morning we went to the Abraham Kriel Maria Kloppers orphanage to hide some Easter eggs for this was the Easter egg hunt many of these kids have only dreamed about. Approximately 700 marshmallow eggs were hidden all over the playground.
With great anticipation it was time for the great Easter egg hunt. All at once excitement and laughter broke when approximately 30 kids came out running and started searching all around the playground for Easter egg treasure. Big and small. One of the bigger lads was running around at top speed after the hidden mallows and had a shirt full within the first 2 minutes. I reminded him about the importance of sharing too which he responded cheerfully “Yes, I will share them in the house… I am an “eggspert” at this”. This cracked me up and planted a lasting smile on my face for the rest of the long weekend.
Our Second stop was at Abraham Kriel Bermuda house in Glen Marais. A house for orphaned girls during the school holidays. There were 7 kids and we donated 10 boxes of Marshmallows. The house mother had a picnic planned the following day where they would enjoy the Easter eggs.
By Just Spending a few hours in the morning this was a great start to the long weekend that left us with a sense of achievement and that warm fussy feeling you get inside when doing good. Emotions of appreciation for being able to be a part of such an amazing organisation where we can make a difference in so many lives in so many ways overwhelmed me once again.
Hark, fellow knights of the Round Table! Let me regale you with the tale of our recent adventure at Weesgerus in Modimolle for the annual ARTSA conference. From April 27 to April 30, 2023, Round Table Southern Africa assembled for this grand event, and the weather was on our side the entire weekend!
Upon arriving on Thursday, I received numerous pep talks and motivational speeches that fired me up with enthusiasm, and I got the tent setup. What a sight it was to behold! Round Table Gauteng Area camped at the bottom of the resort, forming a little make-shift village. Middelburg 126 also joined us for this splendid occasion.
That evening, we made our way to the hardcore hut for a wild gathering with other tablers. The “Boer and Hoer” party was in full swing, and we were having a blast. Hanno was doing body shots off a slightly large gentleman at the bar, and his outrageous antics had everyone within a 2 metre radius running for the hills. But no matter, as we continued to revel in the festivities!
Thursday evening was the opening of ARTSA 2023, hosted by Round Table Bushveld Area. Our president Werner Swanepoel took to the stage to welcome us to the greatest event of the year, and we danced and mingled with both new and old friends. As the night drew to a close, we retired to our campsite, eagerly anticipating the big day to come.
Friday morning came all too soon, but we were ready and raring to go. We headed to the forums for heavy discussions on the age rule, budgets, and new aims and objectives being added. We heard many tablers speak out against the age rule, but no one dared to advocate for it. Nevertheless, the discussions were lively and filled with valuable insights.
After a brief 30-minute break and a quick swim, we headed to the hardcore hut to set up for the Area Food Table Competition. Last year, Round Table Gauteng had performed poorly, so this year we were determined to make a comeback. We were organised and efficient, and all the gents and their partners from RTGA pitched in to do their part. We blew the judges away with our delicate starters, brutal mains, and soft, fluffy dessert.
As the evening wore on, we visited the other food tables, and the competition was fierce. We were left second-guessing our efforts, but we soldiered on. We returned to the hardcore hut for round 4, then hit the sack to prepare for the BIG day.
Saturday morning arrived, and it was time for the AGM. Dressed to the nines, we descended upon the conference hall, ready to vote. There were no more discussions to be had; it was time to make our voices heard. RTSA voted in spectacular fashion, and minds were blown. It was a close run, but the motion never passed. After casting our votes, we headed to the pools to relax and unwind.
That evening, we gathered one final time for the Presidential Gala dinner. The ladies looked stunning, and the gents didn’t look too shabby either. We celebrated our achievements over the past year and bid farewell to the outgoing and incoming chairman and councils. Round Table Gauteng won the food table trophy, breaking a curse that had lasted for over 11 years. The pride had been restored!
We thank Round Table Bushveld Area for being such amazing hosts, and we thank Round Table Southern Africa for arranging such a great weekend where we can connect, share ideas and catchup with old & new friends.
If you are a tabler, be proud and walk with your head held high. You are one in 700 out of 59 million people who gets the privilege to wear the Rondel.
On a warm Saturday morning in Boksburg North, Centenery Hall Eeufees Saal was abuzz with activity as tablers from Boksburg 17, Edenvale 63, Golden East 181, and Jukskei 217 gathered to bring joy to 200+ children. Our mission was clear: to fill their little hearts with happiness.
As is customary, we started off with a chow to boost our blood sugar levels, and split into small teams to prepare food, sort gifts, and inflate the jumping castle. We even lowered a small human through a window to provide electricity for the party.
The entertainment kicked off with Chris from Miles of Smiles stilt walking and juggling, and the kids were amazed. They quickly formed a line to get inflatable animals made. The Ice Cream truck arrived shortly after, and the kids and parents swarmed it.
Next up was a magician who wowed the kids with his tricks, while they enjoyed their lunch. Rysky then led the gift ceremony, where we distributed over 150 bags of stationery sponsored by Manitou South Africa and PEP South Africa.
It was a morning well spent, doing good for others who may never experience the true joy of Christmas. We thank all the tables and sponsors who contributed to making this day amazing. As Henry Ward Beecher once said, “In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.”
My name is Richardt Rautenbach, Round table Boksburg 17 guest.
On Thursday the 24th of November I was given the opportunity to join in on Round Table Middelburg’s Business Meeting.
Cuan Maizey, Wez De Kock and I took on the rather grueling 140km trip together.
I am happy to say that this was my 2nd official meeting in Total and I am pleased to say that the gents from Middleburg, chairman Gavin “Jaja” Geldenhuys and his fellow tablers, were hospitable and accommodating.
Upon arrival at the meeting I was welcomed in like an old friend. I was educated on the way the Men from Middelburg go about their meetings and proceedings. They politely reminded me of the dress code and my bedside manners. 😁
The evening was a perfect blend of orderly conduct and light-hearted banter. Well-orchestrated and handled by Gavin “JaJa” despite the 3 of us with our best efforts to delay and disrupt the nights schedule.
My regards go to the Sergeant for giving us our just deserts. Needless to say, Tuna, Tabasco and Zappa don’t pair well but it was most reasonable Mr. Sarge.
I wholeheartedly encourage all members of the RTSA & RTI who are considering making the rather lengthy trip to Middelburg to definitely pay a visit to the Middleburg Tablers and join one of their meetings.
A 10 out 10 experience that I fully encourage all young gentlemen to experience.
As my table career gets to the end, it was the last project, I had to end my career. With a few already done, what an honor it has been. #proudtobeatabler
“Kids to the Sea” is a project that came about from the unfortunate reality that most of the things that our children take for granted, such as annual family vacations, are just a dream to many children.
The “Kids to the Sea” project are arranged and managed by Round Table Northridge 117 club and is executed in collaboration with five other Round Table clubs, all of whom share a passion for service to the community. These tables include Harrismith 140, Umhlanga 155, Durban 2, Margate 46 and Pietermaritzburg 12. Leave on a Saturday from St Laurence Children’s Haven in Discovery West Rand Johannesburg and sleep over at Harrismith 140. Leave the Sunday morning to go through to Margate 46, spend the week there. Leave Friday morning to Durban 2 and Umhlanga 155 to enjoy the day at Ushaka. Leave afternoon to sleep over at Pietermaritzburg 12. Saturday traveling back to Johannesburg.
Over the last few decades, this project has ensured that approximately 300 children have been taken on a life changing trip to the sea for over the last 31 years.
The project also contributes to fantastic fellowship across at least 6 tables and several ARTSA regions. It is driven by one of our aims and objectives, namely “To emphasize the fact that one’s calling offers an excellent medium of service to the community”.
As a dad and family man with a daughter of 9, it made me so proud to she how she understands to share her dad for a week with kids that does not have. All the smiles and thank you during the 8 days. People chatting to you on the beach or at water park, asking what table all is about. All the sponsorships via table`s, facebook. Kindness of the public to share with whatever they can. The world is still a good place to live in.
My wish for this project to is still live on for many years to come, I salute all my table brothers involved with this project, may table and you all be blessed.
Once upon a time, there was a small town that was struggling to raise funds for a local charity. The town had tried everything from bake sales to car washes, but nothing seemed to work. That is until a group of young and adventurous locals came up with an idea – an epic round table tube race.
The spirit of Sabie can only be captured by walking the winding magical bamboo forest, climbing to the summit of the mystic mountain, wandering through the pine forests, and traversing the abandoned train tracks.
Once a year, the people of the nearby towns would gather at the base of the Mystic Mountain, for the annual Round Table Tube Race. This was a tradition that had been passed down for generations and held a deep significance for the community.
As the sun rose on the day of the festival, the townsfolk began their adventure which led to the foot of the mountain. The air was filled with excitement, as people chattered and laughed with one another, their voices echoing off the surrounding cliffs.
As the festival grew in popularity over the years, more and more people began to camp at the base of the Mystic Mountain. Tents dotted the landscape, and the sound of laughter and music filled the air.
As the cool Friday night fell, live bands took to the stage, their music echoing off the mountain walls. The people gathered around the tent, dancing and singing together, their voices blending into a joyful chorus.
The music was a mixture of upbeat tunes and modern rhythms, each band bringing their own unique style and energy to the festival. Some played haunting melodies, while others brought the crowd to their feet with lively, upbeat tunes.
The next morning it was time for the Tube Race – The race would take place on the town’s river, which was known for its wild rapids and swirling eddies. The goal was to have people compete against each other in a race down the river, while sitting on a round inflatable tube, like a giant doughnut.
As the race began, the teams quickly realized that the river was much more challenging than they had anticipated. The rapids were stronger, and the currents were more powerful. The teams had to work together to navigate the twists and turns, and some even had to use their hands to paddle.
On the warm Saturday evening, and the small town was bustling with excitement as people prepared for the music festival. The festival was held in a large Marquee tent, which had been amplified by a vibrant and colorful stage, surrounded by food trucks and vendors selling all kinds of treats.
As the sun began to set, the first band took to the stage, and the crowd erupted into cheers. The music was a mix of rock and folk, and it echoed through the mountains as people danced and sang along.
As the night went on, more bands took to the stage, and the music got louder and more energetic. The tent was now packed with people, and the smell of delicious food filled the air.
Children ran around, their faces painted with bright colors, while adults sat on blankets, enjoying the music and the warm summer breeze. Friends caught up with each other, sharing stories and laughter, and strangers bonded over their shared love of music.
As the final band began to play, the tent was alive with energy. The band was a proudly South African group that had been practicing for weeks, and they brought the crowd to their feet with their high-energy performance.
The festival came to a close, and the crowd slowly dispersed, but the energy lingered in the air. People chatted and hugged, reluctant to let the night end. The festival had brought thousands together, and it was a night that no one would forget.
People started making their way home, the sound of the music still echoed in their ears, and the memories of the festival lingered in their hearts. It was a night of community, music, and celebration, and it had brought the people closer together. The next year’s festival was already being planned, and everyone was already looking forward to another night of music, food, and good times.
The round table tube race had become a huge success, and the town had raised more money than it ever had before. Everyone is already looking forward to next year’s race, and the local charity are thrilled with the support they will receive.
From that day on, the round table tube race became an annual tradition, and it brought the community together for a day of fun and fundraising. It was an epic event that no one would ever forget.
Round Table Gauteng attended the Tube race this year again not only to help, but support the project and partake in the festivities, here once a year we get to meet with old friends, celebrate and drive impactful change in the Sabie / White River Communities.
As the people dispersed, they knew that they had been changed by the festival, that they had been touched by the power and mystique of the mountain. And they knew that they would return the following year, to share more stories, to connect with each other, and to once again feel the magic of the Round Table Tube Race at the feet of the Mystic Mountain.
Through it all, the Round Table stood in the center of the festival, a silent witness to the magic of the night. As the music faded and the last embers of the hopeful souls died out, to return again next year.
The Nerves and excitement kicked in all at once as this would be my first ever trip abroad personally and in Round table. I did not know what to expect and over packing is an understatement to say the least. 5 x 23 kg bags including Swedish tartan Quilts, socks and scarfs as well as the Men’s mental health awareness.
The buildup on the pre-tour WhatsApp group fueled the excitement and the anticipation was not even close to how the actual experience was.
Prior to our flight out of South Africa I had pre-arranged with tablers whom I have never met to at our lay-over destinations to and from Estonia which was Frankfurt and Zurich. Our first Layover was in Frankfurt Mein where we were met by Christoph Dietz the area 7 chairman, Peter Kubera the IRO and David Klunspies the PRO of Round table 18 Wiesbaden with a little surprise Birthday party for my Fiancé, with Champaign, donuts and a cupcake with a candle.
This was my first experience of borderless tabling and meeting lifelong friends for the first time internationally.
When we landed In Tallinn we were excitedly welcomed by the Estonian tablers and immediately received some Coq. What a sight it was for them seeing me rock up with my boerboel short pants in the middle of the winter snow in Estonia.
Vardo Loks, Mart Meyel, Tarvo Tromp and Aleksander Ottokar were our designated drivers and pre-tour guides. We were the First to arrive at the pre-tour and half year world meeting unsuspecting of what an awesome time that was to come Benita and I strolled to the harbour and through the old town a bit before going to the hotel and rested a bit as the next day the pre tour would begin with the one and only fish days event. At 11pm that evening a message came through on the whatsapp group that welcome drinks are happening. We joined Marc Garmeshausen, The French swiss gentlemen who were only there for the weekend and some of the swiss gentlemen who were on the pre-tour with us namely Marc Fluhmann, Marcel Suter, Thomas Spicher and Yves. Needless to say we only got back at 4am the next morning after partying at a local club with the two French Swiss guys.
The following morning we got called from the reception desk by the pre-tour group saying they are waiting for us and we need to leave. Then we heard a knock on the door, it was Julle from the Netherlands and Aleksander our pre-tour guide who basically helped us out of bed, This was the start of a fantastic pre-tour which would prove to be a time I will cherish for the rest of my life.
On our first day we went to the fish days, which is an annual Estonia round table event that takes place. An event where the tablers from across the country get together to have fun and team building. With some winter sports, Fish dishes, a bucket full of caviar, Hot tub in the snow and sauna. The fish days after party was an American pop culture dress up party where people dressed up as characters from Donald trump to cowboys and Hulk Hogan to Hugh Heffner. Then the After After Party started and we went to a local club, I cannot recall what time we were back at the hotel.
Spa and Sauna is a thing in Estonia and we were booked at only best Spa resorts in Estonia. The next morning was my first proper Spa experience after which we took the Ferry across the Baltic see to Saarema where we had a fantastic lunch and dinner. Aleksander Ottokar gave some great speeches that evening about Round table and how awesome the organization is being able to do these kinds of things and how we are lucky to be a part such an amazing organization with a network that makes this possible. The next morning we had an awesome tour of the Kurresarre castle and learnt some if the History of Estonia.
Every day they mixed us up in the two busses to that we can all get to know each other, Julle had the great idea of playing “never have I ever” to spice things up a bit..
Back on the ferry to our next stop Haapsalu where we were met with some more Estonian tablers and went to the local billiards club to play some 9 Ball. Back at the hotel I learnt a new board game from the Netherlands. Julle, Mart and Myself played until the early morning hours, this is where some deep conversations were held and where I realized that no matter where you are from we go through the same kind of phases in life. Round table is truly a platform where all sorts of people from different walks of life can share their challenges, inspire each other and lift each other up to a higher level of excellence.
We had a Tour of another castle in Haapsalu and then went back to Tallin as the next day the Half year world meeting began. The sight-seeing on the Pre-tour was out of this world and Estonia is a beautiful country with beautiful people. A destination I will encourage anyone to go and visit.
When we arrived there were already many tablers who have arrived for the conference and the snow had almost completely melted away. We found the other South African Tablers, Gerhard “Ginger Ninja” and his wife Sulette, Paul Hoeksema, Skaap and Graham and then we brought the table gees as South African Tablers do.
The day activities included a tour of the old Town, Ice water swimming where my testicals went missing, Craft beer tasting, a lot of pin swopping and coin dropping with plenty of fellowship and camaraderie with a whole lot of new Friends.
The gathering of people from all different countries and walks of life is a spectacular event with so many different views and ideas shared it is one of the best learning platforms where we can broaden our perspectives and grow immensely.
On the Thursday day I went with Mart to his local Jiu Jitsu club to train a bit and he took us on some sight-seeing through town.
Equipped with our South African gear at the nations evening on the Friday night we did a proper South African braai in the snow and our table proved to be a hit. Braaivleis, Amarula, “melk tertjies”, Zoerdoef and the one and only Snuff machine the South African table was a stop nobody wanted to miss.
Throughout this entire journey made sure to leave the Round table Boksburg 17 mark and had placed stickers all across the country, especially in old town Tallin nearly every gutter and light post received a sticker.
On the last night we went to prooto Venue for the final Gathering where all the acknowledgement and thanks were given and well received, Last goodbyes were said which were not goodbyes but see you soon’s as the next morning we had an early flight to catch.
Our last stop was an 11 hour layover in Zurich Switzerland, where the tablers from Winterthur Kai and Simon who I had arranged with prior to our trip to show us around and have some tabling. Yet another perfect example of borderless Friendship and meeting lifelong friend for the first time, this was also their first time hosting and showing internationals around. We went to a local restaurant for some traditional food, went to a church with the most beautiful stained glass windows and took the train to the highest point in Zurich in the Beginning of the Swiss Alps. This was an awesome sight although we couldn’t see the snowing peaks of the Swiss Alps due to mist.
Our 12 hour flight back to South Africa was at 10:40 during which the reality started kicking back in that this awesome time has come to past.
I now have a deeper understanding of international tabling and building friendship and I am excited for what’s in store for the coming World meeting in Cape Town where we will get to see some of our new friends again.
The organizers of the Half year world meeting did one hell of a job and I would like to say thank you to Tonis and his team for making it exceptional for everybody with attention to the fine detail and to make every tabler feel welcome.
Thank you to Jayant and his team on the international board and to Marc Germishauzen for his incoming year as well as a Special good luck to Julle Gosschalk for his Vice chairman campaign for Round table international.
Our project was planned and we hit the road early in the AM’s on Saturday morning the 5th of November. We were ready to take on the Potch kuier fest and sell pulled lamb buns. We had two lambs to spit… MacGyver style!!
We pitched up our area Branding and Gazebo on our allocated spot just after 7am and we lit the fire.
We initially tried one strategy by suspending the lamb over two braai’s graciously loaned to us by Round Table potch 47. This technique proved unsuccessful as we had difficulty turning the Lamb which cost us quite some time. We then took our 4 scaffolding frames and created a box frame on which we could rest the lamb and make the fire below it.
Taking our latest Guest Kevin Nhlapo on a journey to STNOF’s along with Franco Putter from Round table Edenvale 63 and Wez De kock from Jukskei 217. Each bringing their impactful input to the Project. Wez de Kock who is a qualified chef brought the infamous Jukskei 217 basting sauce to baste the lamb with, this was the secret ingredient and you can ask anyone who was there how delicious this was. We sold over 40 Kilograms of lamb that day, mostly “Pulled” onto buns but the ribs were the craze of the day.
The main event of the day was the rugby, obviously, as the Boks were playing against Ireland. The Band Saarkie provided us with some awesome live entertainment and music along with Freckled Elvis and a few local Potch bands.
But the highlight for us was the Round table gees with the STNOF’S gents, even though the work was hard it was worth it. Especially for the younger tablers and Pipeliner that came with and experienced some out of area Tabling.
The Potch 47 Gents were very supportive throughout the day and we would like to thank them for the Braais and also the Gees. Jacques “Silver Fox” Legend Tabler supplied us with the best fire word we can ask for. Thank you Jacques!!
Our sales Table was set-up right Next to Cartonville 50 “Cartoonville” as they drew all the attention with their “Get your Preggo’s” chant which helped us get business as well. As expected Jason “The donkey” Scott was the loudest person there.
After a successful day of hard work and fellowship at Kuierfest, we eventually packed up at 12am and we were back off to Gauteng. All in all we definitely learnt a lot, Kuiered a lot, and just had a blast.
Thank you Potch 47 for organizing this awesome event and for having us! Untill the next one. Cheers!!
On Saturday the 29TH of October we had a R1 project to support the brave foundation. The Brave foundation have 15 Families they support in and surrounding our area and they reached out to Round Table Boksburg 17 for assistance. We decided that we will do a drive to collect non-perishable food items.
Round Table Edenvale 63 lend us their helping hands on the day to hand out flyers to the public with the cause printed on them as well as a R1 attached to go toward a purchase of the items listed.
We chose Karaglen Spar in Edenvale for this project and we set up our branding. Round Table Boksburg17, Round table Edenvale63 and the ladies from the Brave foundation working together on the day managed to collect items to the value of R10210.13, Four Trolleys Full!!
The Spar was more than willing to let us scan all the items to tally up the total as the project in turn generated more sales for them. This Project also creates a platform which allows the general public to give towards a charitable cause and this makes them feel a part of something bigger. A lot of times the general public do not know how to get involved or how to give back or how to pay it forward and this kind of project allows them to do exactly that.
Awareness was created within our community with the Rondel flying high.
We ended the project by enjoying a couple of cold ones together.
Thank you to all who participated and to those who donated.
Spur recently celebrated their 55th Birthday, and how they celebrate their birthday every year is by inviting 20-30 kids from a charity or orphanage home to have a free meal and a drink at one of their restaurants. Golden Spear Spur Cresta then made contact with Round Table Sandown 150 in order to host a charity and celebrate the day with the community.
The Charity that was selected was One Small Act of Kindness (OSAOK). After our discussion with Spur, we immediately made contact with Kelly from OSAOK to find out if they would be interested and if it was something they would be able to do, being a busy organisation.
After discussions with Golden Spear Spur Cresta, we were not only able to help with 30 meals, but at the end of a 3 day event, we were able to do over 85 meals to the value of R24 000,00. Nicholas from spur has been an absolute legend in arranging and running this, giving back to the community is a big part of his drive and we all would like to thank Nicholas Michaelides and Golden Spear Spur Cresta for their willingness and efforts.
Seeing all those little kids being able to choose their own meals and Milkshakes, getting their faces painted, playing in the playing area, running around with their Spur masks on and just seeing how excited and happy they were made us all feel so happy and warm inside.
OSAOK has so many hero’s working there that dedicate their time, efforts and soul to what they do. The list of things that OSAOK do is so long and detailed, that we can write a whole article just on that. On that note, we also decided that they would get free meals for the time they have put in not only to make this event possible, but driving in a convoy of 5 or more cars every day to get the kids to the spur, managing the 20-30 kids every day at the spur for 3 days, and still being able to all off this with the biggest smiles on their faces and all the love in the world!
OSAOK has a charity school where they develop young minds from all ages. They have a foster care home with babies, older kids, and even teenagers. They have daily feeding schemes that happen every day at 9AM and 4PM where they have the regulars and the new coming and grabbing a free meal from all over.
On top of all the work they do, they still manage to help smaller charities with whatever they can, from lending a helping hand, to helping with a meal where they can. They also have this great initiative where they don’t give away donations that have been made to them, but they rather give bags of hope to the unemployed on the street. These bags will have clothes in them, and the people will go out and sell them to make money in order to buy food and cover their daily needs. This creates an environment where people learn to trade and earn money for themselves in order to look after their families.
OSAOK also helps members in the community that are struggling with drug addiction. They take them in, get them cleaned up and sober, and help them to either go to a rehab to get rid of the addiction, or just by providing that little bit of support to start fresh on a different path.
The team working at OSAOK are a small family of hero’s that do so much for the community out there! Big thanks to OSAOK and Golden Spear Spur Cresta!
BMG 2022 took place at an amazing Holiday resort in Nylstroom by the name of “Weesgerus”, what an amazing venue and time this turned out to be…
Northridge 117 including myself the new Pipeliner at NRT 117 attended this amazing event. People came from all over, some if not most did not really know each other at all at first but what was very clear is that everyone was immediately friends here. It was the strangest thing, people who never even met were immediately as close as brothers and would help each other with probably anything by looks of things.
The feeling in the air was like something we never feel anymore, the feeling of calm and bliss, the feeling and sense of “belong”. It was mostly strangers all over the place for me still being a Pipeliner but yet I felt like I’ve known most of these folks for years and like I could work and get along with any single one of them at any point.
I got to know and became friends with more folks from Round Table than I can count at BMG which led me to grave for even more… I couldn’t help but find myself wondering “If BMG is this great, what must ARTSA be like?”. I for one will never miss a BMG event with my fellow brothers going forward and I’ll be sure to attend ARTSA if BMG was this amazing.
From start till the end it was all good and fun. I decided go camping at Weesgerus instead of booking a chalet and very quickly realized that I didn’t even have to lock anything, I could just leave my stuff wide open which was a very weird and new experience. The food was absolutely divine, the stuff I can only imagine kings would normally be eating. I also didn’t even have to worry about my wife or my kids, there was something to do for everyone.
The venue has so much to offer, me and my loved ones always had something to do. During social gatherings at night is when things especially got fun, there was no need for me to even to watch my kids. The whole environment and place were completely safe with fellow tablers all over the place keeping an eye on the kids. They could all play and enjoy themselves safely and all the adults could relax and socialize without having to worry about a thing…. Sounds like the stuff we can only imagine and yet it was all real.
Joining Table and Joining the Wolfpack at Northridge 177 was probably one of the best things I did which I can only wish I did sooner in life…
To work at Cannonball Run for a first project, I don’t know what I was supposed to expect, but it was none of it, all of it and more.
You could be forgiven for thinking a project going for 19 events over 20 years would be a well oiled money raising machine! Well at least half of that is true. Coordinating 16 activities and 24 events over 3 days with 32 staff is no joke. The problems you have to deal with on the day,
during an event where participants paid good money and are fuelled with red mist (turning off all the traction controls) while charged with adrenaline is not for the easily rattled. You are forced to take lead, you are forced to think quickly, you are forced to make a plan RIGHT NOW, and you BETTER NOT CALL ROSS or risk the fury of a thousand suns.
That said, Ross Chriton is the “idea guy”, and he has a magic ability for making things happen, coordinating that many events and all the staff is impossible, well not without pressure levels equalling the centre of a sun (hence the nickname Raging Ross).
So he intentionally decided that he won’t do that this year, which in itself is actually a great leadership philosophy (delegate authority not responsibility) and gives the staff ample opportunities to develop their own leadership skills, albeit daunting.
I’m not going to lie I was a tiny bit disappointed I didn’t get to see that (the exploding Ross), so obviously the delegation strategy worked.
Could things have been better planned? Sure, and they will be next year as we are now forced to adopt, adapt and improve. But can you really argue with raising R453,966.73?
To attempt to summarise the feelings throughout the event, think: adrenaline, sleep deprivation, intense teamwork, ad-hoc replanning, a kak ton of driving, sun tan (burn) and of course supercars.
By the end of it all the crew couldn’t wait to unleash a massive jol, blowing out until 4am the next morning like mad scientists released from prison.
For a first project this ignited a table fire in me that I didn’t know I had, and next year will be even bigger.
Thank you to Jaco Fourie for being the gateway to Polokwane, last minute support from Pretoria 137 and Bosveld area chair Antonie Smit, the 32 staff, all the contestants and of course Ross Chriton who could make an event like this possible.
P.s. Bosveld, no take backs, we will gladly have your support next year!
On the Sunday, 3rd July, Northridge 117 hosted a successful fund raising event. The event itself was a three course “Christmas” lunch with live entertainment.
The Venue for the Afternoon was Off the Grid, with Wayne Dillon providing the entertainment. The venue, food and entertainment were amazing. Like many table functions, the vibe was also amazing. It is incredible what can be achieved when you have a team like Northridge supporting you.
The point of this article is not about the actual event, or the funds raised, but more about being challenge and pushed. Stepping out of ones’ comfort zone and making it through the other side a better person.
This story started back in March at our bosberaad. During the meeting, our chairman, Chris asked everyone why they table. There are many different reasons why people choose to join round table, but for me, it was about personal growth. I am an introvert, and when I first joined table, I battled to speak in front of people, even my own table.
I was called out and a challenge was set, that before the end of this year, I would be talking in front on a crowd of more than 50 people. Challenge accepted.
Every aspect of the event pushed me out of my comfort zone. I had never even attempted to organise an event like this, never mind pull it off. There were moments of stress. Fear that the whole event would fail…. I was even at one point considering canceling the whole event, but, the power of Table Kicked in. Chris and the rest of Northridge had my back. With less than a month to go, working together, we pulled it off. Christmas in July was a success.
And what of the challenge you wonder? Well, I ended up doing table grace, with a microphone, in front of over 70 guests for the day. Challenge completed.
One thing that I realised during the event is that on your own you can only make a small difference, however, by being a member of an orgaisation like Round Table a person can really make impactful change, not only in one’s community, but also on a personal level.
Four years ago, a young lady, Patricia Chione dreamt of one day becoming a nurse in her home country Malawi. That dream of hers has just become a reality thanks to the GDP Cancer Foundation and Round Table Sandton 121. The GDP Cancer Foundation covered all Patricia’s board, lodging, tuition and examination fees for 4 years. She didn’t have to pay a cent.
The GDP Cancer Foundation was started by one of our own, a tabler, Fausto Di Palma, from Sandton after the death of Fausto’s father due to brain cancer, the GDP Cancer Foundation was born to focus on those in need for the treatment of cancer and the care for the terminally ill.
The purpose of the GDP Cancer Foundation was to help people in financial difficulties who were struggling with cancer, but this was shifted in the past four years to advance the training and education of those who wish to care for the terminally ill, like Patricia.
We are pleased to announce that Patricia is now a fully qualified nurse and finished her nursing qualification, and has graduated. From all of us at Sandton 121 and the GDP Cancer Foundation we extend Patricia a huge congratulations and we wish her well in the future.
What a year, what a project, and what an Impact that has been made in our community.
Winter uniform project started in 2020, when one of the mothers sent a message on the class chat group asking if any of the other children were wearing uniform on “civvies” day, as they did not have the funds to buy a tinned food item to donate. That got the thinking started, how do they then buy uniforms to attend school in winter. And so started Winter Uniform Project. The initial need was found to be specific schools in our local community, and thereafter, a further need was found for non school specific tracksuits.
The key to this project is continuity. Each school that was approached, gave the undertaking that uniforms donated would be tracked, and would need to be returned into the schooling system, to be re-donated, on an annual basis, unless the child has siblings to pass it down to. The schools’ representatives agreed, and so the fun began: In 2020, 54 sets were donated (thanks to the help of corporate sponsors and Round Table of Durban 2) In 2021, 218 sets were donated In 2022, we have already done 323 sets, with another 24 sets waiting on stock for specific schools, and another 300 sets of tracksuits by none other than Round Table of Durban 2.
That is 647 sets for this year!
2022 also lead to a major corporate sponsor joining us, not only for this year, but moving forward as well. Manitou South Africa has joined up with Northridge 117 to be the main sponsor for this year, and hopefully a bigger sponsor for next year, which will see us gain access to their charitable spend in not on Gauteng, but also Western Cape and KZN. Should any of the tables in these areas want to be a part of Winter Uniform Project 2023, please do get in touch.
The team at Northridge have come together and proven what a Wolfpack can pull off! And what a team they are!
I was fortunate enough to be awarded tabler of the year for Gauteng area, and with that got to take the prize of a trip to attend the Seychelles AGM in June 2022. Well, what a learning curve it was, and I am certain it has already improved the way I table.
SO what can 7 tablers, one club and one association achieve? Well, a hell of a lot! When it comes to a reputation whereby the rondel may be proud, these guys take that to a new level. A legacy has been created whereby anywhere you go in the country, if you are wearing a rondel, the entire country knows who you are and what you about. Talk about Impactful change.
They welcomed me into their AGM weekend with open arms, and it was great getting to build relationships (albeit in very casual attire), and build friendships that will last a lifetime. To see how these guys table, the distance they drive to attend meetings, and the impact they have on their communities, all while having fun and making a difference. It is probably the only association I have heard of where the president (of the country) wants to know the president of the association. That is when you know you have made a difference.
Although they are not the same size they used to be, it was amazing to see what goes into their projects through the year, and then finally, their Regatta. When there is talk of over 100 000 raffle tickets sold, and an attendance on a weekend of over 50 000 people, on a group of islands with just over 94 000 people, it makes for great memories, and a lot of newly found excitement to join them for Regatta 2023 – this will be the first one held since lockdown.
So just remember, it is not always about having a lot of members, it is about coming together as a team and making an impact that an entire country can look up to.
Hope to see you at Regatta 2023
Yit
Chris Oldacre Northridge 117 Chairman Seychelles Regatta International Pre-tour Co-convener 2023
On Sunday, 3rd July, Northridge 117 hosted a successful fund raising event. The event itself was a three course “Christmas” lunch with live entertainment.
The Venue for the Afternoon was Off the Grid, with Wayne Dillon providing the entertainment. The venue, food and entertainment were amazing. Like many table functions, the vibe was also amazing. It is incredible what can be achieved when you have a team like Northridge supporting you.
The point of this article is not about the actual event, or the funds raised, but more about being challenge and pushed. Stepping out of ones’ comfort zone and making it through the other side a better person.
This story started back in March at our bosberaad. During the meeting, our chairman, Chris asked everyone why they table. There are many different reasons why people choose to join round table, but for me, it was about personal growth. I am an introvert, and when I first joined table, I battled to speak in front of people, even my own table.
I was called out and a challenge was set, that before the end of this year, I would be talking in front on a crowd of more than 50 people. Challenge accepted.
Every aspect of the event pushed me out of my comfort zone. I had never even attempted to organise an event like this, never mind pull it off. There were moments of stress. Fear that the whole event would fail…. I was even at one point considering canceling the whole event, but, the power of Table Kicked in. Chris and the rest of Northridge had my back. With less than a month to go, working together, we pulled it off. Christmas in July was a success.
And what of the challenge you wonder? Well, I ended up doing table grace, with a microphone, in front of over 70 guests for the day. Challenge completed.
One thing that I realized during the event is that on your own you can only make a small difference, however, by being a member of an organisation like Round Table a person can really make impactful change, not only in one’s community, but also on a personal level.
Jukskei 217 did a joint Winter knights project with Curro Schools Midrand whereby Curro donated over R6000 worth of Tinned products for the less fortunate, and we put in the elbow grease. 💪🏽
We received the donation from Curro on Saturday, it took a bakkie to collect it.
Yesterday morning Jukskei 217 ran a project at Winmore Spar in Pretoria East to bolster our efforts and help feed the children from Vukuzenzela based in Kya Sands.
With some R1 coins glued to some pamphlets we were off on a mission – Feed the kids.
We decided to run a healthy competition and split into two teams to cover all the entrances and ensure maximum exposure, the team with the most in their trolley wins.
We tactically ambushed each passer by from young children all the way up to the elderly who all showed tremendous affection towards the children in need. Our trolleys were filling up quickly.
We also made some donations of our own the homeless in need, in the area that saw us running the project and took the time to enquire.
After 3 hours of raising some donations from the community, We had raised an additional R3500 worth of food items. Eventually we headed off to Kya Sands where we met with Vukuzenzela and handed over 3 cars full of food. (We kept the cars).
We want to thank Curro Schools Midrand for their assistance on this project, their continued support of Round Table Jukskei 217 helps drive impactful change in these communities.
It’s not about the food or the time, it’s about the kids seeing the acts of kindness and love, then them in-turn being inspired by our actions to strive for greatness within their own lives, and through these small continuous actions, we drive a very impactful change that shapes the future of our nation from the ground up.
If you would like to come to a Meeting at Jukskei 217 and experience Round Table, please send us a direct message and we will contact you. ❤️
It was a warm and sunny Friday morning when we decided to head off to the KZN Tri-Area Conference hosted by Ncandu86 in the bustling town of Newcastle KZN.
The Conference was held at Majuba lodge in Newcastle, the venue was very well dressed with fire drums every few meters to keep the cold at bay, to top it off, DJ splashy had a great setup going with all his fancy disco lights.
Wes and his wife headed off first thing in the morning while Gerhard, Sulette, AJ, Kieran, Johnathan, Hanno and Almero followed later that evening, great thing we travelled separately because they ended up at a different location out of town with a very similar name. (AMAJUBA not MAJUBA)
By 9:30pm all the Gauteng troops had gathered at the bar, all except our fearless leader – he would join us the next morning.
I was standing at the bar ordering a cold beverage when in the corner of my eye I thought I saw the Tiger King, it was our RTSA President Mr. Werner Swanepoel – donning a mullet with a cap! #priceless
The opening night (Friday) we had a delicious chicken curry, followed by Jagermeister and whatever else 2 clicks could get you. Our RTSA branding manager Mr Cameron Day was the master of ceremonies as he welcomed all in attendance, this was followed by our RTSA President Mr Werner Swanepoel who officially opened the conference.
We all got down and shook some booty, next thing we knew, the birds were chirping and it had been an entire evening of meeting new people, sharing stories, sharing traditions and having fellowship to the next level. It was bedtime.
Alarms rang and it was time to freshen up, we put on our game faces and got dressed to attend the conference. Off to the party we went. It was breakfast time, We had 2 brekkie buns with scrambled eggs, bacon and cheese and A LOT of coffee. Hanno had the right idea, crème soda and vodka for breakfast.
In the nick of time Gauteng Area Chairman Mr. JC Duarte rocked up, Gauteng officially made Quorum for the conference, now it became a Raid.
Everyone gathered for Aims and Objectives followed by an earth-shattering speech by our RTSA VP Mr Louis Radley about previous Tri Areas. We greeted the ladies (See separate KZN Tri Area Ladies tour Article) and then it was conference time, everyone headed off to their respective conference rooms.
Round Table Gauteng came with 1 directive, we wanted to claim the Dragon Shield from Drak Area and the Surf’s up cup from KZN South Coast. Lead by our Fearless leader we started in Drak Area. Tradition is that if it’s your first Tri Area you need to take a fine from the Sergeant, this rule applies to all 3 conference rooms…. So Drak area had wasabi on weet bix and a chaser of Maas with vinegar, chilli and goodness knows that else…
I had the biscuit and I almost died, it was the most brutal fine I have ever experienced, “that was most reasonable, thank you”. Our Chairman almost lost his life, that is how serious it was, but never-the-less we had beverages and that kept us perky.
Our Chairman proceeded to claim the Dragonshield and it was time to stash it. We stashed the shield and Drak Area banner that we raided, it was time to head to South Coast.
We spent about 2 hours outside South Coast’s conference room pondering when we were going to make our entrance as the fine was a hefty one. A salty crack with a sliver of a raw chicken heart, masala powder and topped off with some toothpaste to ensure your breath is good thereafter. After spending all that time deliberating, we decided to enter the room, the sergeant did not even give us a fine! Whoa! Then the next minute my phone rings… $$#@$#$!!!
I told myself 3 chews max then swallow, I nailed it.
Unfortunately, the South Coast did not have the Surf’s up Cup there but they have promised to bring it to BMG. That is the tradition, every year Gauteng goes to KZN Tri-Area to raid these trophy’s then KZN comes to BMG to get them back. This nurtures fellowship between the regions and helps grow the spirit of Table.
We took their IOU and decided to head off when the sergeant was distracted. We ran straight for the beverage station.
It was lunch time, we had the most scrumptious burgers, exactly what we needed at that time. At this point Gauteng decided we were traumatised enough and it was time to get into our comfy clothes, it was beverage time.
We spent the afternoon sharing stories and making new friends, Gauteng was having fellowship with Bushveld while the rest were meeting.
The ladies returned from their exquisite afternoon of learning how to make Cocktails, it was time for them to show us what they learned. Everyone got done with their meetings and it was nap time, We hit a short recharge nap and then got back to it, it was theme party time. The Theme was Loadshedding V3.0, people were dressed in glow sticks, fairy lights, head lamps, boards, it was an absolute thrill.
We danced the night away with our new friends and made many new memories which will last a lifetime.
In Attendance for the KZN Tri-Area was:
J.C Duarte – Gauteng Area Chairman
Gerhard Van Der Berg – Gauteng Area Constitutional Advisor
Johnathan Brest – Gauteng Area Treasurer
Wes de Kock – Gauteng Area IRO/PRO
There was so much more that happened over those amazing 52 hours we spent in Newcastle with the KZN Round Tablers that I cannot mention here, Thank you to KZN Drak Area, KZN NNCA and KZN NSCA for your amazing hospitality. We had the best experience; you are great hosts.
Salute to Gauteng Area Chairman JC Duarte for keeping traditions alive, this is a pinnacle part of Tabling and every area should keep the traditions alive. We will see you at BMG.
And we were off, at long last, to the first physical ARTSA in 3 years, with great anticipation, excitement and… a mandate…
“Jeffrey’s bay here we come!” We could not wait to get there! My dogs; Jaco and Rudolf, my girlfriend (Benita) and I, as well as two of the Jukskei boys – Wez De Kock and his wife Vee, and – Claud Cornelissen filled the Venue. The Hyundai Venue! We marked our wheels in chalk with our initials and at each stop those whose initials were at the bottom had to take a shot.
With Wez at the wheel and Claud as the trusty navigator, DJ and bar tender, our first overnight destination was Bloemfontein. We reached our Airbnb called Bedrock and obviously we braai’d! What would a road trip be without a braai?
The alarm bell sounded, Ice cold morning air greeted us early on Wednesday morning and by 4am we were back on the road. Stopping at a few places including Gariep dam for a tequila sunrise, Colesburg for breakfast where we purchased some Northern Cape skaap choppies and skilpadjies for our braai to be that evening, after suffering a barrage of suicidal locusts we made our last stop before hitting Jeffrey’s – Middleton, a quaint little railway town to stretch our legs and wet our throats.
After a quick stop and walking the dogs we were on our way to Jeffrey’s Bay, with Jaco keeping an eye on the two front men we set off to our destination ARTSA. When we arrived in Jeffrey’s we made our stop at the first drinking hole. I noticed the Matlosana 219 Lads vehicle still dusty from their unofficial “hard way down”, I gave Hoppies a call, they were at the Dolphins pub and we waved at each other in excitement from a distance. It had started, the excitement, the fellowship, the buffalo greetings, pins and coins, seeing fellow tablers for the first time in years and catching up. It was bound to be a great conference!
Seafood at the sea was a must before going to our beach house. We unpacked, started the fire and relaxed… and what a braai we had that evening, Braai broodjies, Salad, Northern Cape Lamb chops and to top it off the best Skilpadjies I have ever tasted! Wez was shook at that moment for some reason, and after a long 2 days of traveling we rested.
Thursday, the first day and start of ARTSA, we had to take advantage of the sunrise over the beach. Dave and Dove were the first to greet us in the morning whilst Benita had some work to do and I had admin to do writing out raffle tickets for my hair shave project as the rest of the household started waking up.
And so it began ARTSA 2022. We set off to the hardcore hut to get our registrations done and get our regalia of which I took 1 of everything. The place was busy with familiar faces and very easy to get stuck there for a while just by greeting everyone. however we kept it swift and were in and out before we got caught up in that. Taking the afternoon easy and having some Mexican cuisine for lunch before headed off to the hippie beach party and the official opening of ARTSA.
From here on out it is difficult to describe in words, and also because of blurry memory, my experience, therefore I will mostly let the photos do the talking.
Friday morning we woke up later than usual, with our first hangover of the weekend and we unfortunately missed the forums. Cilliers pulled out some pipeliner skills and made us all an exquisite breakfast to start the day off with. Wez and I set off to fetch our esteemed area Chairman, Mr JC Duarte from the airport. The man in charge of our area food table, the man with the plan. Out of uncontrollable excitement for the day I hardly greeted JC when we picked him up and started enquiring about the plan for the food tables. Cool calm and collected he assured me everything is under control. It was so windy that some of the porta potties blew over with Wez commenting that he can hear someone screaming for help stuck in the fallen porta potty.
It was a great day for fellowship which became a late night as well, filled with cartwheel competitions, tattoos and a lot of alcohol as well as trying to sell raffle tickets in between which proved more difficult than I initially anticipated.
One of my favourite memories is meeting Sander van Eck, international guest and National treasurer for the Netherlands, who when we met in the loud crowd of the hard-core hut and I could not make out what his name was, he generously introduced himself as the AC/DC song “Na na na na nana na nana Sander!”
The day had arrived for our National Annual General Meeting – ARTSA, and D-day for my hair shave raffle. We put on our suits and we were ready for our meeting! There was a late motion which came from Pretoria 136 to increase the per kilometer traveling fee to R4.50 which passed along with the budget and cap fee increase. My only mandate was to vote in favor of the budget and cap fee increase.
Whilst the vote for the new national IRO was being tallied between Gerhard “Ginger Ninja” VD Berg and Louis Du Toit, I noticed that the draw for my raffle was not included under general and I approached the board. Our president Stefan Grobler had the honour of doing the draw. The winning ticket was the one and only Walter V Rooyen from Boksburg 17 who was not there and therefore forfeited to shave my hair, Second place was Hanno Redman from Sandown 150 who in turn took the right to shave my hair, and third place was Brad JvR from Sandton 121, each winning a bottle of Jameson whiskey
Right after our AGM, thirst got the best of me, maybe too many tequilas? All in our stride.
We went home played some table tennis, and fell asleep. Benita the wonderful partner that she is, struggled to, but just-just managed to pull me together, get me up, ready and presentable for the gala dinner.
Needless to say, I did not make dessert or witness the speeches. I was finished, K.O’d, Klaar.
And so came the end of our Jeffrey’s Bay ARTSA, and what a blast it was seeing everyone I have missed over the years as well as meeting new lifelong friends for the first time! We made our last trip to the beach on Sunday morning (PHOTOS 85 – 86), we had breakfast and said our goodbyes to all the Round table brothers making their way with heavy heads and hangovers before making our way back home to Pretoria.
Thank you Round Table Southern Africa for once again an Epic ARTSA, definitely one for the books!
On Saturday 28 May we met at Karaglen Superspar in Edenvale with Boksburg 17 for our Winter Knights drive with the main intention to collect food for the less fortunate this winter.
We donned our Rondels, set up all our branding and put on our game faces. At 10am we were ready to go and started welcoming the public to the centre with smiles and a message of hope for our community.
With our R1 initiative people were very receptive to what we were doing and with all our branding they were eager to hear what we were all about.
We also went up to Westpack and acquired some blankets. The idea was to “sell them” at cost price as a donation and use the cash raised to settle the initial purchase and hopefully pay for extra blankets at the end of the day.
So armed with our R1 coins, flyers and blankets the 4 Tablers began explaining what Winter Knights is to every passer-by and asking them for non-perishable food items and to buy blankets.
In a mere 4 hours the community of Edenvale had open their hearts and purses and donated 3 full trolley’s worth of food and donated an incredible R1600 towards blankets, which enabled us to buy a total of 60 blankets from Westpack.
We are finalising our plans to go out into the cold to distribute the food and blankets to those who need it the most.
Edenvale 63 want to thank Karaglen Superspar for allowing us to use their shopping centre for this incredible initiative. This is a relationship we plan on growing in the future.
Also, thank you to Round Table Boksburg 17 for their assistance in making this such a success.
And then lastly, and most importantly, a massive thank you to the community of Edenvale for showing up and going all out to support our own community. Without you we would not be able to achieve any of this.
Follow our facebook page to see your love in action as we give these gifts to those who need it most.
During the start of 2022, we discussed our detailed strategy for the year. As part of our ongoing search for sustainable projects, we discussed the possibility to help with the breeding program of some of Africa’s most majestic big cats.
We were motivated by the RTI 5 pillars, one of them being convervation. This is summarised as follows “To ensure future generations can share in our natural resources and heritage by taking action today in our communities to protect our environment. We Conserve now, to protect the Future.”
Too many endangered species are being lost annually and something must be done. While it is easy to focus on human related projects, a balance between conserving what we have must be achieve. A large part of our humanity is related to what we leave behind and we cannot imagine a world without the majestic cheetah around.
Not long after, a year long relationship was formed between ourselves and the Fiesty female cheetah, Kiara. With our first tie up done with The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre, we are looking forward to many more to come.
We look forward to spending some time with Kiara at an upcoming social event with our families. Here we hope to share the good work we do, whilst having a great time with our members.
Part of being a member of the best organization in the world, is being able to make an immediate impact on a charity in need.
In the beginning of May, we paid a visit to Just-In-Time Baby Sanctuary to see what basic renovations needed to be made:
Walls needed painting
Veggie patch needed to be constructed
Concrete slab to be laid down as a walkway
Fertilised the grass
Build a kiddies sandpit
The wolf pack never shies away from some hard graft and we underestimated this “little project” What should have taken a day, has ended up taking a little more than we anticipated.
That being said, we managed to check off our list for the day and had an absolute blast while doing it. We managed to repaint the whole backyard which gives the element of being bigger than it actually is. Georgina loves it! We may even have a movie night under the stars.
Organizations like Just-In-Time, need the gents from Round Table to help with general maintenance and fixing the odds and ends around the house. In raising funds and actually doing the work, it provides the time and peace of mind, for Georgina to focus her attention on running her organization and providing the children with the love and attention they need.
Lastly, we would not have been able to pull off this so successfully without the gents at Northriding Build-It.
We would like to extend the biggest thanks to the Uys family for their huge contribution towards this very worthy cause. We hope our workmanship justifies your donation.
We will continue to make an impact and drive change. We are loud. You can hear the howling, but our actions will make the loudest noise.
Gauteng, Sandown150 Like all things in life, travel is something that all should experience, At least this is what I’ve been told growing up.Being part of this Organisation only makes those chances that much more closer and realistic. I was the lucky awardee of the RTSA travel bingo draw held back in 2022 at BMG
Hark, fellow knights of the Round Table! Let me regale you with the tale of our recent adventure at Weesgerus in Modimolle for the annual ARTSA conference. From April 27 to April 30, 2023, Round Table Southern Africa assembled for this grand event, and the weather was on our side the entire weekend! Upon arriving
On a warm Saturday morning in Boksburg North, Centenery Hall Eeufees Saal was abuzz with activity as tablers from Boksburg 17, Edenvale 63, Golden East 181, and Jukskei 217 gathered to bring joy to 200+ children. Our mission was clear: to fill their little hearts with happiness. As is customary, we started off with a
Hi. My name is Richardt Rautenbach, Round table Boksburg 17 guest. On Thursday the 24th of November I was given the opportunity to join in on Round Table Middelburg’s Business Meeting. Cuan Maizey, Wez De Kock and I took on the rather grueling 140km trip together. I am happy to say that this was my
Round Table Sandown 150 Spur recently celebrated their 55th Birthday, and how they celebrate their birthday every year is by inviting 20-30 kids from a charity or orphanage home to have a free meal and a drink at one of their restaurants. Golden Spear Spur Cresta then made contact with Round Table Sandown 150 in
Gauteng, Sandown150 Like all things in life, travel is something that all should experience, At least this is what I’ve been told growing up.Being part of this Organisation only makes those chances that much more closer and realistic. I was the lucky awardee of the RTSA travel bingo draw held back in 2022 at BMG
Hark, fellow knights of the Round Table! Let me regale you with the tale of our recent adventure at Weesgerus in Modimolle for the annual ARTSA conference. From April 27 to April 30, 2023, Round Table Southern Africa assembled for this grand event, and the weather was on our side the entire weekend! Upon arriving
On a warm Saturday morning in Boksburg North, Centenery Hall Eeufees Saal was abuzz with activity as tablers from Boksburg 17, Edenvale 63, Golden East 181, and Jukskei 217 gathered to bring joy to 200+ children. Our mission was clear: to fill their little hearts with happiness. As is customary, we started off with a
As my table career gets to the end, it was the last project, I had to end my career. With a few already done, what an honor it has been. #proudtobeatabler “Kids to the Sea” is a project that came about from the unfortunate reality that most of the things that our children take for
Once upon a time, there was a small town that was struggling to raise funds for a local charity. The town had tried everything from bake sales to car washes, but nothing seemed to work. That is until a group of young and adventurous locals came up with an idea – an epic round table
Kitted with the Round table Gauteng area branding, Round table Edenvale 63 in collaboration with Round table Boksburg 17 gathered together at Karaglen Spar in Edenvale on the 1st of April for a drive to collect Easter eggs. These Easter eggs were to be distributed to under privileged kids with the purpose of making Easter
On a warm Saturday morning in Boksburg North, Centenery Hall Eeufees Saal was abuzz with activity as tablers from Boksburg 17, Edenvale 63, Golden East 181, and Jukskei 217 gathered to bring joy to 200+ children. Our mission was clear: to fill their little hearts with happiness. As is customary, we started off with a
As my table career gets to the end, it was the last project, I had to end my career. With a few already done, what an honor it has been. #proudtobeatabler “Kids to the Sea” is a project that came about from the unfortunate reality that most of the things that our children take for
Round Table Boksburg 17, Edenvale 63 & Jukskei 217 Our project was planned and we hit the road early in the AM’s on Saturday morning the 5th of November. We were ready to take on the Potch kuier fest and sell pulled lamb buns. We had two lambs to spit… MacGyver style!! We pitched up
Round Table Boksburg 17 & Edenvale 63 On Saturday the 29TH of October we had a R1 project to support the brave foundation. The Brave foundation have 15 Families they support in and surrounding our area and they reached out to Round Table Boksburg 17 for assistance. We decided that we will do a drive
Gauteng, Sandown150 Like all things in life, travel is something that all should experience, At least this is what I’ve been told growing up.Being part of this Organisation only makes those chances that much more closer and realistic. I was the lucky awardee of the RTSA travel bingo draw held back in 2022 at BMG
Hark, fellow knights of the Round Table! Let me regale you with the tale of our recent adventure at Weesgerus in Modimolle for the annual ARTSA conference. From April 27 to April 30, 2023, Round Table Southern Africa assembled for this grand event, and the weather was on our side the entire weekend! Upon arriving
Hi. My name is Richardt Rautenbach, Round table Boksburg 17 guest. On Thursday the 24th of November I was given the opportunity to join in on Round Table Middelburg’s Business Meeting. Cuan Maizey, Wez De Kock and I took on the rather grueling 140km trip together. I am happy to say that this was my
As my table career gets to the end, it was the last project, I had to end my career. With a few already done, what an honor it has been. #proudtobeatabler “Kids to the Sea” is a project that came about from the unfortunate reality that most of the things that our children take for
Once upon a time, there was a small town that was struggling to raise funds for a local charity. The town had tried everything from bake sales to car washes, but nothing seemed to work. That is until a group of young and adventurous locals came up with an idea – an epic round table
Golden East 181 held there annual Easter Egg drive in at their local Pick n Pay Oakfield’s. An early start with a lekker Wimpy toastie, the day was underway.
Our drive consists of a pamphlet detailing our mission with a R1 coin taped to it, enticing the recipient to use the R1 towards their purchase of donated eggs, turned in to a great success with over R10000 worth of Easter Egg donations received for the day.
With the help from our own little ones, these donations were distributed over Easter weekend at various Benoni based children’s homes namely:
Greater Benoni Child Welfare- Colin House
Tsidi House
Kids Haven
Sonop Karavan Park
Rynfield Primary School
Huis Charis
It is always a pleasure running this project and we look forward to next years.
In May 2022 I was privileged enough to be able to go to Mauritius for 2 weeks with my loving partner and most of my fellow tablers, and that’s about where the formalities stopped until AMI.
Juan Botha spared no effort in organising a series of adventures that the ladies spent their morning hangover hours curating into an Instagram feed that made pretty much everyone we know jealous. A few highlights include; sightseeing in the south of Mauritius, day trips to private islands eating lobsters, snorkelling, and catamaran trips with the Mauritian & Reunion Island tablers (which my wife-to-be loudly and repeatedly explained as “a day on the boat with a bunch of hot french guys”, thanks bae). The local food is delicious, on-time is usually at least an hour late, the local rum is more dangerous than Thabang Maahlo on the prowl, and against a backdrop of a violet, lilac, tangerine and teel sunset, the beer with friends wash away the sweat from the busy days.
A word of warning, after many repetitions of Juan Botha saying “what time is it?” and my fiancée responding with arms in the air and howl of “TEQUILA TIME!!!” we learned to look at the prices before ordering 40 shots of Jagermeister, 16 shots of Tequila, 15 beers, and an assortment of cocktails at a beach bar. That hurt more than the cumulative hangover of the corpses strewn over the apartment the next day.
On numerous days we had multiple drunkards acting as each other’s stabilisers in order to walk without bailing, to elaborate I had to dog-walk my fiancée by her jersey, I also made the unfortunate mistake of 2 accidental coin drops and then accidentally passing out on the way to retrieve my vape, which netted a strange vienna + tomato sauce Simba video of which I was the victim. Despite legally smuggling in more than 30litres of booze, we still had to buy more, thankfully we discovered Xquisto, a dodgy-looking blanco tequila that tastes like banana but goes down like water.
During the AMI AGM I had the privilege of meeting many influential tablers and getting an opportunity to hear their stories and challenges, which gave me an invaluable insight into the different value systems of the member nations.
Despite the sheer bragging rights of the activities, they paled compared to the open hearts the Mauritian tablers had in welcoming us into their circles, homes and lives—the depth of the conversations that I was able to have left me seriously heartsore on the plane back.
To end, we had such a good time surrounded by so much love and adventure that my fiancee and I nearly got married, and my only regret is not doing so while being surrounded by soo many people that have forever made an impact on our lives.
Below are my observations during my stay in Mauritius in May 2022 during a 2 week holiday while attending the Mauritian AGM and the AMI AGM, many of which are in contrast to what I have seen thus far in my limited experience in South Africa.
The Mauritian table culture places extra effort on including their ladies’ circle, they even attended their AGM. They celebrate their ladies’ involvement in a way that shows the respect they have for their women and that demonstrates the kind of example they want to set for others in their community.
Social meetings constitute 3-course meals, discussions, arguments and singing and are probably even more effective at driving results than their Business meetings.
AMI is a dumpster fire. The sergeant was useless, the AMI chair wore his gong on the inside of his jacket the entire meeting, numerous attendees spoke as they pleased without proper protocol with impunity, the RTI representative was answering all the questions because the AMI Chair looked like a deer in headlights the entire meeting, Madagascar arrived without even knowing they had to present a report, and the delegates had mixed beliefs about whether they should have voting mandates (Zambia) or being delegated to make the decision on the day (Mauritius), I do wish I could have interrogated this further to see what the other member nations beliefs were in this matter.
Despite the AMI AGM being less well run than Transnet, it is clearly not for any lack of good intentions, discussions with both the outgoing and incoming AMI chairs really gave me an idea of where their hearts are, and they do mean to do good. Ultimately, however, without the correct direction and the structural issues (such as no Vice-Chairman portfolio), all the good intentions will struggle to make AMI drive any real impact in Africa.
Although AMI is clearly without strategy & structure, which ARTSA knows all too well, ARTSA appears to be more of an occupation force in presentation rather than a brother in arms. The Lastminute.com (a new phrase I have learned in round table) is the reason why Louis Du Toit could not win at AMI even with the masterful presentation by President Werner Swanepoel to align the values of the member nations before voting.
ARTSA clearly has the right plans, but ARTSA clearly also does not understand the values of the different member nations well enough to make decisions on their behalf. Relationships are important in Africa, and there is no exception here, in order for an ARTSA member to win the AMI Chairman portfolio they will need to travel in order to learn the values, concerns and principles of the other nations and for them to understand our hearts and intentions, so that they may buy into the good reforms that we wish to bring to AMI to make it an institution we are proud to be a member of. (Hint Mauritius looks for commitment, which is beyond arriving only at AMI).
To end on a good note, President Werner Swanepoel’s presentation has already won the attention of many nations, some of which expressed such clearly and freely.
Hopefully, my words offer insight, and allow us to drive #impactfulchange in an area greater than our own.
Round Table Golden East 181 (Greatest Club in The World) joined forces with Urban Ruins Projects NPO, Team Hope SA to assist RySky with an outreach on the cold 16 June day of 2022 celebrating Youth Day at Blue Sky Informal Settlement.
Residence of Blue Sky and families residing in an abandoned railways development, joined us in Boksburg and were gifted with the Following:
220 hotdogs for the kiddies.
Around 300kg of hearty vegetables and chicken stew/soup, 200kgs of pap with 20 loaves of bread for +-400 adults.
120 or so buddy bottle cold-drinks.
Around 50 kiddies pre -loved clothed with 3-4 sets of clothes and shoes aging from baby to 10 years old. Individually sorted and
packaged. Alongside 50 new children beanies and tracksuits.
60 new blankets were handed out to the kids and elderly. And 15 pre- loved comforters.
50 pre -packed food parcels and 50 meal packs were handed out, along with 250kgs of pasta.
Oranges were enjoyed by the children; they were also given 50 packets of crisps.
300 Kellogg’s snack packs were handed out to the beneficiaries.
We ended the outreach off with handing out 15 children’s immune boosters and 50 packets of nappies.
Never forgetting the fur babies in the community (cats and dogs), 75kg of dry pellets were distributed.
The elderly and physically challenged where assisted to take their meals, blankets and food parcels to their dwellings.
Never forgetting to mention the transport and other odds and ends that made this day so amazing and possible…
Golden East 181 handing out much needed supplies to their community.
A big thank you to Ilona, Bongani and Tumi. From the community for working side by side with us…without them the above would not be possible.
“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” – William Arthur Ward
Do you want to come to a meeting at Golden East 181?
The date was set and venue confirmed!! With my shave project was now in full swing after having visited a few areas and clubs promoting my project, naming STNOFS area AGM, Roodepoort 162i AGM, Pretoria 136 and 87 business meetings, as well as our own Gauteng area AGM, getting commitments for entries to my raffle.
At a cost of R50 per entry to the draw the terms and conditions consisted of a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, first place would get to shave my hair and beard as well as receive a bottle of Jameson Select, second place would receive a bottle of Jameson stout caskmates and third place would receive a normal bottle of Jameson. Should the winner not be present the shave would be forfeited to second and thereafter 3rd place. The money raised would go to our cancer fund to be, and my hair grown for the last 3 years would be used to make a wig.
The only thing left to do, and the hardest part, was to follow up and get the commitments at ARTSA in Jeffrey’s bay… It proved to be more difficult than I had initially anticipated as each ticket would have to be written out… with some people buying up to 17 tickets it was difficult to keep the balance between selling and writing out tickets as well as being social and keeping a good conversation.
After all, and whilst having fun with fellow table brothers, I manged to sell 160 tickets which totalled to R8000.00 and the time had come to do the draw. We were in the RTSA AGM and whilst tallying the votes for the new RTSA IRO our then President Stefan Grobler did the draw.
Walter Van Rooyen from Boksburg 17 won the draw but was unfortunately not present and the right to shave my hair went to Hanno Redman from Sandown 150. Third place went to Brad JV Rensburg from Sandton 121. Well done to the winners and thank you to each and every person who supports the cause and bought a ticket.
Hanno made it through to our Business meeting and joint project meeting with Edenvale 63 to shave my head and the cycle was completed!! The last time my head was shaved was at Vereeniging 20 in June 2016 by no other than Adrian Ihlenfeldt. I had forgotten how cold it is. My neck, my ears, my chin and my head all freezing but it was totally worth it!
