Organiser: Round Table Malta
Event Dates: 3–4 November 1988
The IRO’s meeting for 1988 was held in Malta, on 3–4 November 1988. The following information was extracting from the RT Digital Archiving Initiative.
Agenda for the business meeting
Scan of the actual minutes from the archive can be found here.
Thursday 3.11.1988
9.00; 1) Welcome and call to order.
2) Aims and objects of RoundTable.
3) Circulation of attendance list.
4) Appointment of secretary.
5) Introduction of delegates.
6) Matters arising-proceedings for the day.
09.30-11.00 Workshop: Improvement of workshops and panel discussions.
Chairman: Wolfgang Grock, IRO RT Germany.
11.15-12.45 Panel discussion: What does the region expect from its
representatives?
Chairman: Claudio Matasci, IRO RT Switzerland.
13.00-14.00 Lunch.
14.15-15.45 Workshop: Ladies into WOCO.
Chairman: DavidLister, IRO RT Sweden.
Friday 4.11.1988
09.00-17.00 Coffeebreaks; approx.11.00 and 15.30.
12.30-13.45 Lunch
1) Welcome and call to order.
2) Aims and objects of RoundTable.
3) Circulation of attendance list.
4) Appointment of secretary.
5) Announcements if any.
6) Matters arising.
7) Comments on and approval of minutes of pre and post WOCO conference meeting in Hobart.
8) Report of regional chairman.
9) Report of regional secretary.
10) National reports.
11) Address by WOCO president, Alain Huchon.
12) WOCO matters
13) Community service -Club to club projects
-IWF
14) International travel fund/Conference travel fund.
15) Standing decisions.
16) Pen-friendship-children exchange.
17) Newsletter - E&M
- WOCO.
18) Directories.
19) E&M Masstour.
20) European travel fund (ETF).
21) Presentations for IROs meeting 1990.
22) Vote on IROs meeting 1990.
23) Announcements if any.
24) Report on EMTM Luxembourg.
25) Report on IRO meeting Malta.
26) EMTM Iceland 1989.
27) EMTM Cyprus 1990.
28) EMTM Belgium 1991.
29) IROs meeting Denmark 1989.
30) Ski-meetings: 1989 Alpe d'Huez
1990 Kleinwalsertal
1991 Italy.
31) Other regional meetings & AGM’s & dates.
32) Candidates for European Secretary.
33) Sales: Banners, badges, symbols.
34) Any other business.
National Reports
Round Table Austria
Round Table Austria had an active year, chartering two new tables with strong international engagement from the start. The Austrian Mass Tour in September 1988 hosted 27 participants from nine countries, who were impressed by Austria’s landscapes and hospitality. Plans are underway for another successful European Mass Tour in June 1989. To encourage Austrian Tablers to travel, a travel fund has been established to support active members attending official meetings. During the AGM in June 1988 in Salzburg, discussions focused on the WOCO decision to raise the membership age limit to 45. RTA agreed to support this limit for other WOCO members but will maintain its own limit at 40 for now. The election of the national IRO was moved to the half-year AGM to allow for better training and continuity. Lady Circle Austria currently consists of two clubs (Vienna and Innsbruck), with about 50% of members being wives of Round Tablers.
Round Table Denmark
Round Table Denmark currently has about 2,300 members and expects to grow to 2,350 in the next table year. There are 128 clubs, with 2-3 new tables expected to be chartered soon. Plans are underway for the Viking Mass Tour 1989, in collaboration with Round Table Norway, covering Norway, Jutland, Fuen, and concluding in Copenhagen. The tour has garnered significant interest from WOCO members worldwide. A two-day meeting for club chairmen with the national board was successfully held in Aarhus in August 1988. Round Table Denmark maintains strong ties with Ladies Circle, which now has 95 clubs. Their AGMs were held together this year, as is customary every second year. The next AGM will be held in Middelfart from April 21-23, 1989, without Ladies Circle but with ladies invited. Middelfart is centrally located in Denmark, easily accessible by airports and motorways, and is expected to attract many participants.
Round Table Finland
The 41st activity period of RTSF began with the third General Club Chairman Meeting and a National Board meeting in Vaaksy (August 26–28, 1988), addressing domestic and international issues. Discussions on the Age Rule showed unanimous opposition, while efforts to establish new clubs in underrepresented areas were positively received, with Area Chairmen tasked to investigate and report back. Ten Finnish participants attended the World Council Meeting, but the event was considered disappointing due to its poor content and organization. RTSF emphasized the importance of officers serving members effectively. Autumn 1988 focused on Area Meetings across Finland, which also included collaboration with Ladies Circle. New Area Chairmen and Vice Chairmen for 1989/90 were elected. RT 118 Pudasjärvi, in Area VIII, will be chartered on December 3, 1988, while two clubs (RT 2 Turku and RT 3 Tampere) will celebrate their 40th anniversaries. RTSF is growing, with membership expected to exceed 2,200 by spring 1989. The Nordic Board Meeting in Tampere (November 18–20, 1988) is a key focus, and the organization has successfully moved past challenges of generational change, as noted by President Timo Sasi.
Round Table Sweden
Round Table Sweden's membership in 1988-89 began with 2,100 members, growing to 2,400 before declining as members aged out. Current membership is 2,140 as of November 1, 1988. Plans are underway to charter three new clubs, but inactive clubs may lead to reusing old club numbers instead of adding new ones. A key focus is increasing club membership, especially for smaller clubs with fewer than 15 members, which struggle to attract diverse professions, speakers, and engaging activities. The National Board aims to organize a meeting for all Club Chairmen in Sweden by August/September 1989, similar to successful events in Denmark, Finland, and Norway. This initiative seeks to empower new Chairmen through advice, support, and broader perspectives. Round Table Sweden maintains strong relations with Ladies Circle Sweden, which successfully hosted the I.C.I. Conference in Karlskrona. However, RT Sweden does not support integrating women into Round Table. Upcoming events include the Nordic Board Meeting in Tampere, Finland, to address declining participation in Mass Tours, and the RT Sweden AGM in Jönköping in May 1989, with hopes of welcoming international guests.
Round Table Netherlands
Round Table Belgium
Round Table France — Child Exchange
Round Table Norway
Round Table Sweden
Round Table Israel
Round Table Luxembourg
Round Table Great Britain and Ireland
Round Table Germany
Round Table Italy
Round Table E&M
Round Table Malta
Round Table Greece