41'ers Association of Southern Africa

Dear Fellow 41’ers and Friends,

Today I write to you under truly strange circumstances, a letter I never thought in my wildest imagination I would have to write. We never anticipated a Virus so terrible and destructive could exist, but clearly we have also not listened to the Scientists and individuals that have spoken out about the possible existence of something so terrifying over the Years. Covid-19 has not only made us sit back and take stock of what is important to us as human beings but has also shown us how insignificant and defenceless we really are.

Nature has given us a shot across the bow to say, back up and shut up, we are not as great and all powerful as we think we are. Many of us are facing hardship in our businesses and have suffered great financial loss due to the Lockdown of the economy since March of this year. We don’t know where this is going to end, we don’t know how this will end, but we need to stay strong and take care of ourselves and our families to make sure we all get through this is best we can.

Dear Fellow 41’ers, Tablers and Friends,                      

The New Year has been in full swing now for almost two months and the Council has also been busy and getting stuck in.

The Executive Council of the 41’er Association spend the weekend of the 7^th- 9^th of February in Kenton-on-Sea, Eastern Cape for our 2^nd Exec meeting. The weekend was filled by a short workshop on the Friday afternoon while we were waiting for everyone to arrive, basically discussing issues that have come up over the last few months since we were inducted.

The Friday evening was in the form of a social at the Kenton Round Table Clubhouse, where we joined the current and incoming Round Table Southern Africa Executive Council, along with their partners and some of the members of RT Kenton 210. Lovely fellowship was enjoyed along with an excellently braai-ed Steak by the locals.

Saturday it was obviously down to business and we attended the 4^th Executive meeting of the RTSA Council. The main discussion point relating to us has always obviously been our involvement of the Association with Round Table in general, where we fit in and trying to define our purpose. The relaunch of Middleburg 126 Round Table was brought up and what an intricate part the Coalfields 41’ers played in getting the Table back on its feet, assisting with the run of their first project and just getting the general support they needed to get the Club re-established in the community. This is exactly what we talk about when we say the Association holds its members responsible and accountable for the wellbeing and the continuance of Round Table.

Half Yearly Meeting 2019 – Malta

The 41 International & Tangent Club International HYM was held in Malta this year from 31^st of October to the 3^rd of November 2019. 

We were welcomed by Alex Abela and John Messina and their team at the conference hotel, db San Antonio Hotel & Spa in Saint Paul’s Bay. The Thursday night’s Welcome Party was at Café’ Del Mar, Qawra overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. With good food and great music and an awesome view, everybody partied late into the night. Various tours around the island was arranged for guests and delegates the Friday morning; including a visit to Valetta and Medina.The 41 Club Delegates Forum started in the afternoon and topics of discussion included France, the 41 Education program, 41’ers App and growing Round Table under our President Luc’s motto; “Let’s make Tabler’s & Circler’s”. The evening was spent at the Chateau Buskett, Siggiewi with a traditional Maltese Dinner and folk dancing.

The Saturday morning the Half Yearly Meeting was held at the Conference Hotel with 26 countries being represented. A new voting app was implemented for future voting. As the Rugby World Club was on at the same time, myself and our Vice President, Nico McNamara, asked to excuse ourselves for the second half. What a privilege to walk back into to the meeting as World Champions.With the bragging rights on our side we enjoyed rubbing it in with the British contingent.

Dear Fellow 41’ers and Friends,

The Year is drawing to a close and while some of us are still stuck at work, trying to make sure that the Tourists in our area have something to eat, most of you will be looking forward to some well-deserved rest and time with your friends and family.

The last three months, since we took office, has been busy. We have been trying to finalize and correlate all the member information through the forms that was send out by Vice-President, Nico McNamara, whilst Past President Andre de Villiers together with our Treasurer, Raymond Kruger, have been sorting out the last of the outstanding fees making sure everyone has been billed correctly and that the books are up to date. I look forward to sending out the 1^st Quarter report early in the New Year with updated information on membership and the exact numbers. Those that attended the AGM might recall I stated in my opening address the importance of making sure the detail is correct, if we can measure it, we can’t manage it.

We are very proud of the work that DC Herman ‘Doi’ Geldenhuys and the Coalfields 41’ers have been doing assisting the resurrection of Round Table Middelburg 126. This again culminates the ideals of Club 41, our sole purpose for existing, to make sure that we support Round Table in all her shapes and forms. We have seen some photo’s on Social media of the boys getting stuck in with Fundraising and creating some awareness for Round Table in the area, which is great to see.