Wiki Tag: custom

Borrowing and Raiding

Customs and Traditions

In Round Table culture, raiding is a friendly and long-standing tradition where one Table or Tabler temporarily takes a piece of regalia from another table as part of fellowship and inter-table interaction. It is intended to be playful rather than confrontational. The purpose is to strengthen relationships, encourage visits, and build camaraderie across an association or internationally.

In practice, raiding usually happens when a table visits another. The visiting table may take a single movable item of regalia, provided it is not restricted by agreed rules. Items such as a President’s or Chairman’s jewel, a gavel, the club charter, personal or sensitive objects, or anything of excessive value are never considered acceptable to raid. Once an item has been taken, it becomes the responsibility of the raiding table, which is expected to safeguard it and, where required, insure it until it is reclaimed.

The only recognised way for a table to recover its raided regalia is to raid the table that took it. This reciprocal action is a core part of the tradition and ensures ongoing interaction between tables. Clear procedures are normally in place so that association officers are informed, records are kept, and items are returned within a reasonable timeframe, often linked to the association’s AGM if a reclaim has not yet occurred.

Raiding exists to promote fellowship, brotherhood, and active engagement between tables. It is not theft, vandalism, or punishment, nor is it meant to cause embarrassment or financial loss. When carried out in the right spirit and within agreed guidelines, raiding remains a light-hearted tradition that reinforces the social fabric and shared culture of Round Table.

The guidelines below are suggested only and should be tailored by each association BEFORE being
adopted.

Recommended Guidelines

Raiding items between tables encourages fellowship and the growth of relationships between them, and it must always occur in the spirit of brotherhood.

    1. The raiding Table can only raid one piece of regalia. The following items are un-raidable
        • The President’s / Chairman’s Jewel,
        • Gavel,
        • Club Charter,
        • Items of excessive value
        • Items locked or stored in personal bags, suitcases or something similar; or
        • Items of a sensitive nature
        • Any item that is personal nature such as a medal pinned in a jacket or an honour medal
    2. Only movable items are raidable, and should any items be screwed down, mounted or bolted in position, they will be deemed immovable and, therefore, unreadable.
    3. Any raiding item becomes the raiding Table’s responsibility and must be covered by the raiding Table’s insurance. Should the raided item be damaged, lost, or stolen while in the Table’s possession, the regalia must be repaired, replaced, or paid for by the raiding Table. If an item value is not established, the Association’s President will have sole discretion regarding the value to be paid for the ’replacement’ of the regalia.
    4. Should an item be raided, the raiding table needs to notify the raided Table members immediately for “release”. Should the raided Table not “release” the item, the Association Secretary must be informed as to what has been raided by no later than 3 (three) days after the raid. The Association Secretary will keep a register of all items raided. Once the raided item is collected, the Table collecting its raided item must notify the Association Secretary that the item has been collected.
    5. It is the responsibility of the raided Table to raid the raiding Table to reclaim their regalia. Any suitably authorised members in a quorum of the Table can reclaim this. Any other Table cannot raid raided items from within the membership of Round Table.
    6. Any raided items raided more than three months prior and not reclaimed before the Association AGM shall be handed over to the raided table at the Association AGM. If the Table does not return raided items, as set out above, or does not make sufficient effort to reclaim its regalia, it will be considered in contravention of the spirit of raiding.
    7. A suitable fine or forfeit. will be administered to the offending table at the sole discretion of the Association President. This punishment should be light-hearted in nature and should be given at the Association AGM.