Introduction.  Click to go to 'Membership Page'

On 17th October 2003 all 41 Clubs were sent a letter on Open Membership. The Clubs were asked to debate the issues involved and respond to the 7 questions asked at the end of the letter.

Q1. Can my club continue without any new members from Round Table.

Q2. Can my club do anything to improve membership numbers.

Q3. Should my club accept Honorary Members as the way ahead regardless of how many.

Q4. Should my club continue as it is, either working with our friends in Round Table or just ignore the membership issues.

Q5. Is Open Membership the answer. If we cannot recruit from Round Table for whatever reason, should we invite the people who we think would make great 41 Club members into our association. These people perhaps have never been given the opportunity for whatever reason to join Round Table.

Q6. Should the 41 Clubs with membership problems just close or merge with the nearest club.

Q7. Each club should be given the choice at club level to either accept Open Membership or carry on as a club for Ex-Tablers only.

I am pleased to report that 402 Clubs have responded to the letter, either by e-mail, letter or phone call.

The response has been overwhelming and delayed this report. But without doubt we can from the response gauge the mood of the clubs.

Each club has been sent a reply thanking them for responding to our letter.

The smaller clubs giving the biggest response, and the larger clubs the lowest response with reluctance to change anything, but very willing to allow other clubs freedom of choice.

The response in terms of regions geographically is split even, with both north and south responding.

A good mix of Counties, no north south divide.

Also 3 individual 41 Club members letters were received, but have not been included in this report, as we were seeking clubs views. I wish to make it known that we do appreciate the individual club members letters, and the points raised have been taken into consideration during the compiling of this report.

Only 1 letter received expressed very strong views, which advised us that if 41 Club were to open up the membership then they would “tear up the membership card� and leave the association.

A large amount of the clubs concentrated on the one issue of Open Membership.

16 clubs reported that they already operate a form of Open Membership policy in order to survive.

Of the 23 clubs that I visited between October 17 th 2003 and January 23 rd 2004 they all had differing opinions, and with some clubs it was interesting to see the tempo change as the evenings discussions took place. But all clubs accepted that the problems need to be addressed.

Not one club thought they had the right to interfere with another clubs opinions and actions.

What has become very clear to me on my visits was that we must have closer communication with Round Table, Table must take a deep look at how Table meetings and some events are run (called many times the booze culture), Time is running out for Table, and we seem to be picking up the pieces.

Critical this may be, but I can only report back what has been said.

The biggest surprise is the acceptance for the need to change where necessary, and the largest clubs which have no real problem accepting that other clubs have a right to change.

It would appear that our biggest challenge will be to try and change as little as possible without rocking the boat, but changing what we can to help as many as we can. Is it Possible?.

The Facts.

Correspondence received from the following regions:

Region 1 - 16.

Region 2 - 9.

Region 3 - 21.

Region 4 - 16.

Region 5 - 24.

Region 6 - 27.

Region 7 - 27.

Region 8 - 28.

Region 9 - 27.

Region 10 - 26.

Region 11 - 20.

Region 12 - 12.

Region 13 - 7.

Region 14 - 28.

Region 15 - 27.

Region 16 - 19.

Region 17 - 27.

Region 18 - 21.

Region 19 - 15.

Region 20 - 5.

Total 402 Clubs.

42 % of all clubs responded.

Total clubs in all regions as to returns 2003/2004 - 904.

The clubs who responded have the following paid up members.

1-10 members - 124 clubs.

11-20 members - 192 clubs.

21-30 members - 48 clubs.

31-40 members - 21 clubs.

41 and above members - 17 clubs.

Clubs with no feeder Table who sent correspondence - 141.

Results as to questions asked.

In reading this section, please take into consideration that not all clubs answered all questions, but all answered question 7.

Question 1. Can my club continue without any new members from Round Table.

No - 89%

Yes 11% but short term only.

^ Back to TOP ^

Question 2. Can my club do anything to improve membership numbers.

Yes 27%.

No 36% as they have no feeder Table.

33% have had no new members from Table in last 6 years.

4% operate open membership already.

^ Back to TOP ^

Question 3. Should my club accept Honorary Members as the way ahead regardless of how many.

Yes 28% .

No 52%.

20% have a no Honorary Members policy.

Additional response - 41% would accept Honorary members with a restriction on numbers and tighter National Rules of acceptance.

^ Back to TOP ^

Question 4. Should my club continue as it is, either working with our friends in Round Table or just ignore the membership issues.

36% have no feeder Table.

27% already working with Round Table.

33% would like more help from National.

4% carry on regardless, we are happy as we are.

^ Back to TOP ^

Question 5.Is Open Membership the answer. If we cannot recruit from Round Table for whatever reason, should we invite people who we think would make great 41 Club Members into our association. These people perhaps have never been given the opportunity for whatever reason.

Yes 36%.

No 48%.

12% would think very hard about this issue when the problem occurs.

4% would disaffiliate from National.

^ Back to TOP ^

Question 6. Should the 41 Clubs with membership problems just close or merge with the nearest club.

86% merge.

10% some clubs have no club close by and have no choice.

4% carry on regardless until the end.

^ Back to TOP ^

Question 7. Each club should be given the choice at club level to either accept Open Membership or carry on as a club for Ex-Tablers only.

Yes 47%.

No 49%.

4% carry on regardless, we are happy as we are.

A large amount of clubs included additional statements on this matter, with suggestions and recommendations on the way to move forward on this matter. (See item 12 below).

^ Back to TOP ^

Suggestions & Recommendations.

Suggestions.

1. Advertising campaign directed from National targeting clubs with no Feeder Table and clubs with low membership numbers.

2. Larger profile of 41 Club at Round Table level.

3. Improvement of Round Table meetings to stop the decline in Table.

4. More communication at Regional level to help clubs plan meetings. Sharing of ideas.

5. Round Table must consult with 41 Club prior to any further plans to change National Rules that will have an effect on 41 Club.

6. National to promote the starting of new clubs where age may be a problem with some clubs.

7. Round Table/41 Club event - Sport/Quiz/Debate/Area Meeting/Dinner/ At local and regional level.

8. Clubs that have disaffiliated from National to be contacted again with the emphasis on coming back into the fold.

9. 41 club should promote its benefits of belonging to the association.

10. Membership awards. Local/region level.

11. A long hard look at our membership rules and how they can be updated to meet the demands of today.

12. This suggestion was repeated by many clubs as the possible way ahead.

Each club should be given the choice at club level to either accept Open Membership or carry on as Ex-Tablers club only. A maximum of 25% of the clubs total membership allowed to be Open Members, but accepted into the club under rules similar to Round Table that were used extensively a number of years ago.

The emphasis on 25 % only. This will keep the club with a majority of Ex-Tablers.

Question 7 shows the results of clubs opinions. Even some of the large clubs have said that they understand the problem, and they would not step in the way of other clubs membership problems.

Recommendations.

1. At this stage I believe that we should NOT place any proposals at the Edinburgh A.G.M.. We have to think this whole matter through very carefully. Our recommendations should then be put forward to all clubs with the clubs then telling us what they would prefer. If it takes us another year to "get this right" then so be it.

Finally...

A positive note that has been repeated on a number of occasions. If membership was opened, even only partially, it is possible that this new breed of members would have relatives, friends etc who would be eligible for Table.

R.T.B.I. National President has already stated that if we do some changes to membership it can be of benefit to Round Table.

We have been told by 41% of all the clubs what they are thinking, and now we must put our heads together and work out what is best for the future of our association.

The results in this report have given us the clearest indication of club opinion

The debate was started by clubs with no feeder Tables, and now we move on to what is likely to be the hardest part, Solutions that are acceptable to the membership.

The results on some of the key questions may not make pleasant reading to some, but using Tables own words we should "Adopt, Adapt, Improve". A very heavy responsibility on us all.

Ian Mackenzie. memberhip@41club.org

^ Back to TOP ^