NEWS | Wednesday, 12 December 2007

Uptown Boys

What’s the Round Table structure like in Malta and how does Round Table 2 differ from Round Table Malta?
Adrian: In Malta, there are three tables and an association. The chairman of the association is a Round Table II member, Kevin Attard Compagno. Raphael here is the secretary. For Round Table to have an association there must be a minimum of three tables. In Malta we have enough members for this prerequisite, otherwise we would have to be associated with some other country’s council, making it more difficult for us to operate.

Damian: Each table does not normally exceed thirty members. If it does, it would be advisable to form a new table.

Jason: Actually, twenty is the best number on a table for one to work properly. Decision making relies on a strict quorum being present, so too much absenteeism would spoil our decision making process. At the moment, there are about twenty on our table, who all happen to be very dedicated and committed.

How do tables differ from one another?
Raphael: This organisation is very concept driven. The basic principles of Round Table are of fellowship, fun, and service. The character of a table is generated by the relative mix of these factors, and of course by the individual personalities of its members.

Jason: It’s difficult to compare because we don’t know what the internal dynamics of other tables are like. What is sure is that at Round Table 2, we tend to be very balanced on fellowship, fun, and service.

Damian: Yep, we work hard and play hard.

Have there been any significant changes since the foundation of Round Table Malta in the 70s?
Adrian : This type of structure does not allow much change in policy. Over the years we have worked in different areas of course. But since the Round Table motto is “Adopt, Adapt, Improve”, we keep abreast of times – respecting tradition, whilst embracing progress.

Raphael: The concept of Round Table is very simple. Tablers make sure they pass over the basic rules to their successors. As long as you adhere to your guidelines, your remit becomes flexible enough to develop on your operation without having to reinvent the wheel.

Damian: The method with which we recruit members does not allow much pace for change. For one to become a member, there has to be an internal nomination, with the new member being allowed enough time to get accustomed to traditional Round Table rules - passed on to him by his predecessors. This system also allows us to be part of a like-minded team – our hobbies and passions are very similar in fact.

How does one become a member? What are the exclusion criteria?
Adrian: Becoming a member of Round Table is nothing like subscribing to a gym or a health spa. With Round Table, you are first chosen and then you are invited to four meetings as a prospective member. This gives Round Table the chance to observe the member and decide on whether he would fit in

Damian: …and of course it gives a chance to the prospective member to see whether Round Table is suited to him…

Adrian: After this four week period, members take a vote, whose results determine whether the prospective member should join or otherwise.

Jason: In this four week period, members of the table will also be scrutinising the prospective member mainly to identify what the person can contribute to the table and whether this contribution is needed by the table.

Raphael: People younger than eighteen and older than forty are not considered and the organisation is open to men only.

Why is the age limit 40 in Malta and 45 everywhere else?
Adrian: In fact, it is only a few countries who have adopted 45 as the upper age limit. Over the years, on an international level Round Table was facing a problem with recruiting enough members to keep the tables running. For this reason, some countries had increased the age limit to 45. We never really had a problem with recruiting enough members in Malta so we kept the age limit as it originally was. If we had to increase our age limit we would be facing problems of over saturation. It would be likely, with a 45 age limit, for Round Table 2 to exceed 30 members, which would make it difficult to manage.

Raphael: This year, four members left after turning forty one. There is no dwindling however, since we enjoy a balanced level of turnover.

Jason: We’re happy as we stand. The current number of members enables us to keep what we call “table spirit”.

Is there a women’s section?
Adrian: Yes. I’m sure you’ve heard of the Ladies’ Circle. This organisation is also very active with its sterling work in the community.

Raphael: There are countries in which legislation restricts the exclusion of women from clubs. In the United States for example, Round Table is open to both men and women.

Damian: Club members here tend to have similar tastes in women. As a result, the synergy between our spouses and partners at the Circle is very similar to ours.

Don’t you stand to get criticised for adopting chauvinistic policies?
Raphael: It is perfectly understandable for boys to congregate alone at times, be it by meeting up to watch a football match at a sports bar or by enrolling in a men’s club.

Adrian: Generally speaking, wives and partners tend to support the cause.

Damian: Girls have girls’ nights and boys have boys’ nights. Every month, Round Table holds two different meetings for its members – namely a business meeting and a fellowship meeting. In simpler terms, we organise two boys’ nights a month with the result of increased networking, contribution to the society and of course, the prestige of being part of an elite organisation like ours. Probably all these reasons lead to the level of support we enjoy from our spouses and partners. My fiancée for example, is actively helping out in promoting the New Year’s Eve Gala we’re currently busy with organising.

Adrian: Every year in February, we also organise a Ladies’ Night. This is considered to be an opportunity for us to spoil our partners by holding an evening in their honour and thank them for all the support they give us throughout the year.

In your website you claim that it is not expensive to join, how “not expensive” is it?

Adrian: Perhaps it is not expensive to join, but it is not “not expensive” to be part of it either.

Damian: Before I joined I was told that Round Table was “expensive boozy fun”. Of course, later on I discovered that there was more to it.

Adrian: There is a one time fee of Lm20 when you subscribe. Then there is a Lm25 annual fee when you become a member. Nothing prohibitive. Our monthly business meeting is followed by dinner that would normally cost Lm6-Lm7. Our monthly fellowship meetings are normally within the Lm10 price range. We have a member who is specifically assigned the task of organising social events. Part of his job is to make sure that prices are capped. Really and truly, apart from membership, the cost of keeping up with the club is dictated by the entertainment industry, not by Round Table.

In specific terms, how have charities gained from your community projects?
Damian: Our major beneficiary in the past years was Dar Mer_ba Bik. We have also helped id-Dar tal-Providenza recently, by paying for a Training the Trainers programme for their facilitators. We got a specialist from abroad specifically for this project. We would much rather work on inclusive forms of charity rather than pass on cheques and stopping there.

Adrian: We have also helped the Community Chest Fund, Angela House, The Refugee Commission, Dar Sagra Familja, The Hospice Movement and Dar Suret il-Bniedem among others. Internationally, we have also collaborated with Tables 1 and 3 to assist helping the Tsunami victims and in the building of a school in Costa Rica.

Damian: At Dar Merhba Bik, last year, we refurbished one of their rooms into an I.T. suite and in a separate project, we provided them with washing machines. This year, we’re raising funds in order to build a garden with facilities there.

Jason: We do try to carry out a lot of work ourselves. Consider that a number of our members are family men and have busy careers sometimes not allowing them too much free time. I can proudly say that our members invest a good amount of time in community projects, which is very positive.

Adrian: We recently took all the young residents of Angela House to the cinema and all of us were there. Every member was assigned a specific task. We don’t evaluate our projects in monetary terms. What I can say is that certain moments are simply priceless, not only for the charities we are involved in but also for the satisfaction we stand to gain out of this work.

Before founding Round Table, your International Founder Louis Marchesi was a Rotarian. Is it customary to move on to Rotary once a Tabler turns 41?
Adrian: Not at all. It is true that some people perceive a link between the two organisations, but in reality there is none whatsoever.

Damian: When a Tabler turns 41, it is very likely for one to join the Round Table section for people who have exceeded the organisation’s age limit, aptly called Club 41. We have a section for older members and I might add we have a saying that is “Once a tabler always a tabler”.

Raphael: Some individuals may be members of both Rotary and Round Table – there is no restriction on that, but the organisations are independent from one another.

As a club, you seem to be very active in promoting the international dimension. How is this done in practice?
Adrian: Round table is an international organisation and we make sure to keep a healthy activity of projects involving Tablers from around the world. This is very important for us. Round Table Malta prints the International Round Table Directory for instance. This year, we will be hosting Euro 2, the Annual General Meeting for all Round Table 2 in Europe. Round Table Malta will also be hosting Eurosail 2008, an annual yachting activity bringing together members from different countries.

Jason: This event will be attracting over 200 European Tablers, so even from a quality point of view – this shall be a high profile international gathering.

Damian: Malta is held in high regard internationally, and I know for a fact that a good number of participants of Euro 2 in Malta are looking more forward than usual to the AGM. Malta is already rightly perceived as a party place. Moreover the Maltese are seen as hard partiers, and when it comes to organising such events everyone knows that we can deliver successfully. We have also had a series of Maltese Tablers occupying high official positions internationally and to name a few we had: Ian Decesare who, was Secretary for Round Table International and Simon Cusens its President.

Raphael: Most tables around the world also make sure to keep the international dimension as alive as possible. There are Round Table traditions that have developed through this. At international meetings for example, it is customary to pinch the chairman’s or the deputy chairman’s jewels, take them to your country and once arrived, send a note to the rightful owner inviting him to come and get them. It’s a playful way of inviting foreign Tablers to your country.

Damian: It cost me a trip to Germany to get my deputy chairman’s jewels back but it was all worth the while, I assure you.