Just as in your local club, there are dos and don’ts that you need to know (or you will find out the hard way eventually) and there’s even clubs within the club. As a new aspiring international tabler, it can be a challenge to understand them all. Read below and get familiar with all of them.
If you need an understanding of abbreviations, it can be found in the Wordbook.
Remember, no matter what you do, always drink with your left hand and…
Have a coin on you – at all times! (aka The Coin Game)
No matter where you go, leaving from home until you’re back home again, then always carry two coins at all times! Even when you’re naked.
There’re different tales of where the coin game first began, but two stories prevail:
- Started in South Africa at an RT Southern Africa AGM (ARTSA) as a way to pay for drinks in the bar. These coins are smaller than the current standard coins.
- Started in Denmark when a tabler who also happened to be in the military wanted to create a military “challenge” coin from his branch of the Royal Danish Military, with the Danish RT rondel on one of the sides. This was adopted in Denmark by a tabler, adapted with only RT insignia and improved into what we now know as the RT Coin Game.
The rules of the game are important to understand…
Putting down the coin
The coin can be put down, or dropped, anytime and anywhere. Whether it’s by intend or by mistake doesn’t matter. Once the coin is dropped, it’s dropped – usually by putting it down in a bar on a hard surface (floor or table, etc) and the game begins.
It goes without saying that only a true RT coin can be dropped to start the game.
Producing the coin
When the coin is dropped, everybody present that have heard or seen the coin drop, must produce / put down a coin.
Failing to produce a coin
Each tabler that cannot put down a coin when challenged buys a round to the other tablers present.
If everybody can produce a coin
Then the one who put down / dropped the coin first buys a round to the other tablers present.
Two tablers sitting alone in a bar
If you sit two tablers in a bar and you know each of you have a coin, then a coin flip can be done. In this way, usually when the coin has a “You” and “Me” on each side, then you can establish who pays the round.
Where can it be put down?
The coin can be dropped everywhere. Whether it’s in a bar, Finnish sauna or in a pool. It doesn’t even have to be at an official tabler event or meeting.
In the meeting
Sergeant-at-arms
Be aware – be very aware. The Sergeant is appointed by the people conducting a meeting, to keep order during the meetings and issue fines, both a drink and an actual fine (usually for charity), to those who presume not to behave properly.
Having a Sergeant-at-arms is as old as our club itself and originates from the very first clubs in the UK. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serjeant-at-arms
Dress code
This of course depends on the actual meeting, but help can usually be found on the event convenor’s website and for official RTI meeting delegates, it’s defined in the Meeting Pack.
But always wear a pin and a coin!
Banner Exchange
Held after the meeting / AGM is the banner exchange. This is a special tradition where the guests exchange banners and gifts with the hosts and for RTI meetings, also the RTI board. This is a way to say thanks to the hosts for their hospitality.
Exchanging stuff
We exchange a lot of different things with each other, most known items are of course pins and coins, but also shirts, flags, banners, etc. It adds a physical dimension to the memories of a trip and shows our love for each other as brothers. So at least always bring extra pins, coins and shirts in case someone wants to exchange with you. You can end up building quite a collection – of memories.
Borrowing is caring
We care for each other in Round Table, incl. each other’s possessions, so from time to time, you can come across things that is not taken care of.
Because we help and care for each other’s things, we borrow them for safe keeping until it can be collected again. But we only borrow things with a rondel on and we will tell the owning table or tabler within 24 hours that we have taken things for safe keeping and there they can collect it again.
… and we do this of course to give an even better incentive to visit each other around the world.
Before raiding an item ask you self if that items is still needed and if it makes sense. For example don’t take the indications signs at an event on the first day, even if it has a rondel on it, and people will get lost. Or don’t raid personal items like cloths, if they are on a sun lounger next to a pool.
So… take care of your belongings or they might end up somewhere around the world – for safe keeping until you collect it.
Clubs in the club
When travelling the world with Round Table, you will come across various “clubs within the club”. These can be very important to know – both for honors and your health.
Buffalo
The mighty South African buffalo!
As they can be fierce creatures, you must always drink with your left hand – otherwise, you would not be able to draw your weapon with your right hand and shoot an attacking buffalo.
Maybe the most iconic of all the clubs-in-the-club. You have to travel internationally and prove yourself worthy of wearing such a magnificant beast.
Buffalo members are known to be as fierce as the buffalo and might even conceale their pin.
Polar Bears
Given after the ultimate endurance challenge – bathing north of the arctic circle.
Shultz!
Old German children’s game. If you burb in public, then people will shout “Shultz!” and put a the hand on their forehead as seen on the picture. The last one to do so gets smacked in the forehead instead.
Unicorns
Unicorn Club is for supporters of an alcohol-free lifestyle and those who occasionally enjoy a night without alcoholic drinks – without needing to explain it. The unicorn also spreads awareness that excessive use of alcohol is not ok.
Yes Men!
Started by a group of Danish tablers at an international chartering. A tabler can only earn the right to wear one if he says “Yes!” for 24 hours.
Pool Lizards
Started in 2010 in a pool in Dubai and proclaimed the first unofficial association under Round Table.
To become a member of the Pool Lizards, you must be a Round Table member, a RTI Board member must be present in the pool / water to induct you, the induction must be at an official Round Table function/meeting and a beer must be given to all Pool Lizards present.
Last Man Standing
Talk about endurance race, you’re only inducted into this special club-in-the-club by simply being the Last Man Standing.