History of the Round Table
Round Table began with a young Rotarian, Louis Marchesi from Norwich in central England. 1926 and 1927 were bad times for everyone. The global recession, months of general strikes, crime and violence everywhere you looked, burgeoning fascism and nationalism. As always in such times, young people in particular suffered from this situation. Unemployment destroyed all hope of improvement. Disorientation in both the personal and social spheres became widespread.
This Louis Marchesi wanted to draw attention to these major problems facing young people during his presentation to his Rotarian friends:
There are things we must do,
there are things we can do
and there are things we should do
However, he felt that his Rotarian friends did not understand him enough or take him seriously enough. What happens to young people all the time?
But he was also so strong-willed that his refusal to help did not prevent him from first forming a group of other confectioners and then members from all social classes and other professions into a group. This “group” was not content to point out problems and support solutions or even just discuss them. They were prepared to act unconventionally and with conviction.
The aim was to show young men between the ages of 18 and 40 prospects and give them hope. This led to the founding of the first Round Table in 1927. Round Table is derived from the 13th century story of King Arthur and his Round Table. The symbol of Round Table corresponds to that of Winchester Castle (King Arthur’s Round Table).
The founding ceremony of the first Round Table took place on the very day that the then Prince of Wales coined the serious words at the opening of a business exhibition:
ADOPT ADAPT IMPROVE
….. In other words, ADOPT ADAPT IMPROVE ….. integrates values and basic social principles that were recognized into its own thinking, adapts these ideas to the requirements of the time and, whenever possible, implements and improves them in its private and professional life.
These important words were not only taken up by the “Tablers of the first hour” as a motto, but also paved the way for Round Table. The first implementation of ADOPT-ADAPT-IMPROVE?
The development
The club was subsequently very active in its social projects and educational work, so that the idea spread very quickly.
By 1935 there were already 100 clubs, and in 1936 the first club on the European mainland was established in Denmark. During the Second World War, however, the founding of clubs stagnated, just as this unpleasant time also claimed many victims among Tablers. Immediately after the end of the war, however, further development took place under the most difficult conditions.
Round Table arrived in South Africa in 1948, the first table was founded in Germany in 1952 and when Round Table was founded in Austria in 1956, our country was coping with a huge influx of refugees from Hungary. The first Austrian Tablers around Viktor Straberger provided great help at this time, also with the active cooperation of many foreign Tablers.
In 1959, Round Table already existed in 21 countries. 26,000 members were organized in 1,000 clubs.
As of 2017, the association has 35,000 members in 60 countries worldwide.
Growth without end?
Although there were repeated efforts to found Round Tables even in exotic places, such as in Brazil through Germany or in Vietnam and Kampuchea through India and Hong Kong, the opening up of the East in the late 1980s was the really big challenge in establishing the ideas and ideals of Round Table there.
Everyone who has worked in this direction knows how difficult it is. Perhaps we should not flirt too much with exporting Round Table to these countries, as we are accustomed to doing and as we are used to doing. Perhaps the history of these countries demands an independent approach to founding and consolidating Round Table.
The principles and objectives of Round Table certainly do not need to be changed; these values have proven themselves and can therefore be carried forward with a clear conscience. But the methods and pace of new start-ups must comply with the principles of ADOPT-ADAPT-IMPROVE. Have we always kept this in mind? The pride of the rapid foundation often gives way to the realization of the lack of understanding on the ground or the completely different conditions compared to Western Europe. This bridge between willingness and ability is also one of RT’s challenges.
And we in Austria…
Round Table Austria is a member of both organizations. Round Table International (as the umbrella organization) has also been a member of WOCO since WOCO 1993 Cancun. Some European countries have therefore left WOCO, but have become WOCO members again through RTI. This discussion about the usefulness of membership in both umbrella organizations does not seem to have come to an end since 1990.
Austria openly and emphatically represents the opinion that WOCO must continue to exist as a global organization and that it best meets one of Round Table’s main objectives, namely internationality. WOCO is a global organization, Round Table International naturally only represents those regions in which Round Table Clubs are established.
Membership in both organizations is also important to us, since “dual membership” does not cost any additional contributions. At many WOCO conferences in Cancun in 1993, the “WOCO spirit” was invoked from all sides, which means nothing other than that the idea and ideals of WOCO will be strengthened and not abandoned – not even in favor of Round Table International.