Published Date:
08 March 2007
AN APPEAL has gone out for all members of the Stornoway Round Table, past and present, to attend the organisation's 35th charter on Friday March 16.
And also sought are members of the 41 Club, who will celebrate their 10th birthday the same evening.
The guest speaker for the evening will be popular after-dinner speaker and comedian Andy Cameron, who presided over events at the Round Table's 21'st charter in 1993.
Current Round Table secretary, Willie Macleod, told the 'Gazette': "It's basically a celebration of the Stornoway and District Round Table, and we invite all former tablers as well. We have about 40 people coming from various Round Tables on the mainland as well as four past national presidents, so it promises to be a great night."
In March 1927, a young Rotarian by the name of Louis Marchesi became aware of the lack of opportunities for the young businessman of the day to meet and prepare themselves for their responsibilities as senior businessmen of later years.
Being a member of Norwich Rotary Club he found himself surrounded by older men, so he started a club for young men in the age range of 28 to 40 to give them the right environment to develop their professional and civic skills whilst assisting the local community, the nation and later the world as whole.
Round Table was formed after being inspired by a speech by the then Prince of Wales who said: "The young business and professional men of this country must get together round the table, adopt methods that have proved so sound in the past, adapt them to the changing needs of the times and wherever possible, improve them."
Originally, membership of Round Table was limited to men in the age range of 18 - 40 years, so that following his 40th birthday, a member of Round Table would have to retire. He was then eligible to join The Association of Ex-Tablers' Clubs.
In 1998, Round Table raised the age limit to 45 and so it is now possible for a member of Round Table to also be a member of 41 Club.
Willie Macleod explained that all walks of life are eligible for membership of the Round Table, and politics and religion are banned from conversation!
"The main emphasis is on fun," he said.
"We have a wide and varied syllabus of things to do, and we meet every first and third Thursday of the month. As well as having fun, we organise the local carnival and New Year fireworks display, and we give money to various local good causes."
One real advantage of being in the Round Table, said Willie, is the ability to travel anywhere in the world and be hosted by fellow tablers.
"I was in Rome and met fellow-tablers there and they showed me round and took me for a meal," he said.
"It's like one big family."
For more information on Stornoway Round Table, and the 35th charter, visit www.stornoway
roundtable.com.
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Last Updated:
08 March 2007 11:54 AM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Stornoway