14 & 15
Events generate publicity, and then the programme
has to deliver. It was quite clear that a significant
proportion of the Tables contacted put on events (over
and above the Santa run) that tended to fall into one
of two categories:
Big set piece events such as fireworks displays,
festivals and carnivals of various types. One
Table has an arrangement with the local pantomime
to use their dress rehearsal as a community event,
using the income from seats as a key fundraising
initiative with a difference: Associated with fun and
“
It is and should
always be about
festivities, and without a tin in sight, it is an excellent
recruitment event where members of the audience are
given a leaflet about Round Table.
having
Creative, PR-worthy events. Usually these involve
endurance – bike rides, for example. These are not the
usual events one would expect, and fall well outside
the programme. They tend to be larger in scale, draw
on friends and family and have a longer planning
period. Notable examples include a challenge to design
and build the largest bike in the world, a coast-to-coast
”
FUN!
Acknowledgements:
A big thank-you goes to all who contributed,
including:
Shaun Pledger – Great Dunmow & District,
Kevin Rayner – Farnham,
David Liddington – Long Eaton,
Sebastian Barton - Canterbury & District,
Mark Elwood – York Ebor and County,
Jonathan Jackson – Leyland,
bike ride, the Three Peaks Challenge, an annual “fun”
Nigel Mulholland – Solihull,
for set-piece formal events such as Charter Nights. Steve Purcell – Billericay,
rowing regatta and Paris to Sandbach on tandems!
Whilst it is clear that there is no single operating style Peter Henderson – Sandbach.
The Programme. Whereas the larger events
across all these Tables, they reflect the type of Tablers
undoubtedly have the Wow Factor and are excellent
they are trying to attract. Those that became less formal
ways to create visibility and to introduce Round Table
did so as a consequence of their number dropping
May your Tables always remain
to a wider audience, it is the programme that has the
dramatically and out of a wish to become less intimidating
large and ever growing!
greater impact on sustaining membership and
to prospective members. However, it appears that as
persuading prospective members to join. Successful
numbers grow there is likelihood that a more formal
Tables have varied programmes that include
approach is adopted.
adrenaline-filled experience activities juxtaposed
With a couple of exceptions, the 60 per cent attendance
with other less physical events that are more inclusive.
The key discriminating factor is that the programme
rule appears not too rigorously enforced across all of these
is both varied and full. Many of these programme
Tables. Those not enforcing it believe that their programme
events will be similar across many other Tables,
and the enthusiasm generated within the Table will mean
such as maggot racing, 20/20 cricket, boules, poker
that attendance will be over 60 per cent for all members as
evenings, bike rides (bicycles again!) barbeques,
a matter of course (all things being equal).
Websites:
sailing, sewage work visits, Scalextric racing, paint-
All but one of the Tables contacted have a website, and
Sandbach:
balling, drumming, digger driving, tours of local
the sites appear to be kept up-to-date and attractive to
www.sandbachroundtable.co.uk/events.htm
factories and breweries… the list is endless, but
prospective Tablers, and they mirror the type of PR activity
Solihull:
www.solihullroundtable.com/
having a well constructed list appears to be the key.
they are trying to achieve.
York Ebor & District:
In conclusion, many Tables that were not contacted for
www.rt65.com
this article may employ many if not all of the above
Billericay:
How they operate
www.billericayroundtable.co.uk/index.asp
techniques and successes may vary. A comparative study
Leyland:
Do successful Tables operate in a similar way? No,
has not been conducted to suggest or imply that Tables
www.leylandroundtable.co.uk/
according to the Tables contacted. However, they are all
not enjoying the membership success exhibited adopt a Long Eaton:
very well organised and appear to share a will to strike the
different, less effective approach. It is, however, clear that
longeatonroundtable.org.uk
right balance between business and social. There are
both anecdotally and indicatively, those Tables deemed as
Canterbury & District:
canterburyroundtable.org.uk/
various models for the number of business meetings held successful in our terms do in fact share many common
Farnham:
each year, ranging from three plus an AGM to the more features, and that may go some way to explaining why
www.farnhamroundtable.org.uk/
popular six. they are successful. Finally, they share one other trait: they
When asked how traditional they felt they were, are well organised, have a plan and embrace or actively
especially at business meetings, the Tables showed a drive change where required.
broad range of opinions. A third appeared to be quite Round Table is full of exceptionally enthusiastic, friendly
formal requiring suits and ties at Business Meetings, Aims and motivated people. Successful Tables translate that
and Objects recited and jewels worn. Another third had into great PR and membership opportunities and work
relaxed the formality a little with no requirement to wear hard to give their members great value and variety from
ties and where Aims and Objects may or may not be their membership. Most of all, the word that kept being
recited. The final third could be described as informal, used, time after time, is, of course, FUN! It is and should
where the dress code was smart casual or reasonably always be about having FUN, because fun is what Round
open, where Aims and Objects and jewels are reserved Table does exceptionally well. Long live FUN!
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