Membership & Extension Officer Jim Smith Profile

 “Get off Your Backside” – my motto for the year.

So my first year is over and we are starting afresh on initiatives for 2010-11. Everyone by now knows the result of the membership debate but what was the real result from our resolutions in Scarborough? What clubs voted for was to fully support Round Table because that is the only way we as an organisation can continue to develop and survive. That doesn’t mean just shaking a can with them at Christmas or manning the gates at the Fireworks displays. These are important but far more important is genuine help to assist their growth.

The other important thing we voted for overwhelmingly was the revised Purposes and Objectives. I know they will be on other parts of this site but I make no excuse for mentioning them again because they are so important. We agreed the following Purposes for Clubs in the Association:

(i) To continue to promote opportunities for fellowship amongst former members of Round Table.

(ii) To encourage active involvement in the community

(iii) To use our experience in support of the Round Table Family

(iv) To encourage international relationships

These objects to be promoted through regular meetings and other activities

Whilst it is only a small change in words it emphasizes that being involved in the Community as a 41 Club is no longer a dirty word. It also encourages us to genuinely support the other members of the Round Table Family.

You will hear more during the year on Community activity but I want to concentrate on support for Round Table. There are two current initiatives the “Get One In” initiative and “Phoenix Round Table” project.

“Get One In”

We piloted this in South Wales last autumn under the guise of a sons and daughters project and it was an unmitigated disaster. 35 Clubs were circulated and this should have gone to 600 members yet we did not receive 1 response. That is very poor but being persistent I am now launching it Nationwide under its new guise. The very simple objective is to let us have the names and contact details of people we know who are of Table or Circle age to pass on to Round Table and Circle for them to make contact. They don’t have to be sons, daughters or relatives but that’s a good starting point. Most of us don’t know a great deal about the way Round Table and Circle work now so the best people to talk to potential members are current members. Don’t be put off by stories you might have heard, Table and Circle are still great organizations it’s just that they are different now. They have adapted to changes in social behaviour but what right do we have to say they are wrong. Let the people choose. If it isn’t right for the people we introduce, fair enough but by sitting still and not making an effort we are not doing anyone any favours. If you’ve got a feeder Table and close connection make contact with the local Chairman and introduce them in direct. So you haven’t got a local Round Table or Circle any more? That doesn’t stop you from making the introductions. We all know people from different parts of the country through our networking and connections All the details are in the attachments. Please read them, download the form and invite some people to have a look. When you have done that please let me know who you have introduced and we will track their progress. We are looking at a new pin badge for those who have made successful introductions and I hope to see many people wearing them by our AGM in Ipswich in 2011

Get One In Letter

Get One In data Protection form

Phoenix Round Table project

This is an initiative brought to me by Mansfield 41 Club. Like many others they lost their feeder table but felt that Mansfield really should have a Round Table. We have worked up a project and a process for clubs who feel they have the enthusiasm and numbers to support the re-opening of a Round Table in their Community. Let’s understand that this is going to be hard work, it doesn’t happen without effort and if a club starts it has to be fully committed. I am looking for volunteer clubs who really want to make this work. Due to the nature of it they are likely to be relatively large clubs who have the resources to make it work, they need to have a real enthusiasm for the task ahead, they need to have a good knowledge of the local Community and the people in it and we need them to follow a process. If you believe that your club can build a new Round Table I want to hear from you. Again the details of the project and the guidelines are in the attachments here but please contact me direct on membership@41club.org. or via my phone numbers from my profile page.

Phoenix Round Table Project detail

41 Club Membership – Reach Out

Using President Malcolm’s theme for the year we want clubs to “Reach Out” to those ex-tablers who have either left or never joined 41 Club. We are looking at ways to find those people and help clubs to bring them in. We know there are many thousands out there. But, our clubs have to adapt as well to make themselves attractive. What are you doing to bridge the gap? The National Council will be working on initiatives to help you but I would be interested in any ideas that have been successful in reaching out to those past Tablers, and current ones due to leave. Let me know.

Our future is in your hands. There are some key initiatives that allow every member to be and help us to have a sustainable future. Elsewhere on these pages and in Newsletters and the magazine you will see articles encouraging you to change your club. In addition to helping Round Table we must make ourselves attractive to those who are leaving Table so that they do join us. Give them something positive to join. Please don’t just sit at your meetings and only reminisce about the good times you had in your days in Table. Get off your Backsides do something positive and allow other people to enjoy the friendship and fun you have had. I am asking all Regional Councillors to talk to you about these initiatives when they visit you so have something positive to say. I will update this page later on in the year and want to hear of successes to report through all our mediums of communication.