Banner exchanges in Round Table are a long-standing tradition where members swap club banners as a symbol of friendship, goodwill, and international fellowship. These banners (sometimes called pennants, pendents or flags), featuring the Round Table logo, club name, and country colors, are exchanged during club visits, AGMs, and special events. The practice strengthens global connections, commemorates visits, and showcases club identity. Many tablers and clubs proudly display their collected banners at home or in meeting rooms, reflecting their history of engagement and international networking within the Round Table community.
Formal Banner Exchanges
At AGMs, the banner exchange is held either at the end of the meeting, during a dedicated “banner lunch”, or during a gala in the evening. Each of these options has its logistical pros and cons when it comes to timings and flow of people.
A dedicated “banner lunch” will ensure a bigger audience than at the end of the meeting, but could be delayed if the meeting takes too long. Holding the banner exchange during the gala makes it more formal setting, but could be unweildly with many attendees.
Typical Recipients
During formal meetings such as AGMs, the host might be expecting between 3 and 5 banners to be exchanged, with the most common recepients being:
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- The Chair of the meeting
- The Convener of the event
- The National or Club IRO
- The National President or Club Chairman, if he is not the Chair of the meeting
Good Practice
When designing a banner, it is a good idea to leave the back blank and as clear as possible, so that you can add a short message to your recepient, and include the date and location of the event, prior to signing it.
It is becoming good practice to inform incoming attendees in advance about the recipients to avoid confusion regarding the number of banners needed and the exact spelling of names.