October has been a busy month for Area 43 and I want to be sure that everyone knows what is happening. For this reason, I am releasing this supplement in addition to the usual quarterly DAFT Magazine. I would like to remind Tablers that the next scheduled publication will be Late January 2009 and all articles or Table Related adverts are already being accepted.

This is only a summary of the larger events that will be taking place in Area 43. For a detailed listing Click Here. If your event listing is missing or inaccurate, please send the details to

Date	Event
Sat 01/11/08	Llanelli RT Handover To beheld at the Machynys Golf Club in Llanelli.
Sat 01/11/08	Fishguard RT Cawl Competition Various venues around Fishguard are competing to produce the best Cawl in the district. This event is unusual because you are invited to walk round various pubs and vote on the best Cawl. (Possibly having the odd pint of beer on route?)
Wed 05/11/08	Carmarthen Fireworks The Carmarthen Fireworks Spectacular is being held on the sports field above Tesco's. In addition to the 2 massive fireworks displays, there are various stalls and children's activities including an Ice Rink.
Wed 05/11/08	Maesteg Fireworks This fireworks spectacular will take place at the 7777.
Sat 15/11/08 Sun 16/11/08	Joint Area 43/46 Rally The Area Rally topic for this year is Holiday Destinations and I have brought back traditional favourites including the ditty and cocktails. There are full details, including the fancy dress themes, booking forms and hotel details on the website. We have booked the luxury Village Hotel in Swansea for the main function. Every Table/Circle was allocated a holiday destination by raffle and you are invited to come up with a fancy dress theme relating to this location. There will be prizes for the best/funniest costumes. Being a joint event, partners/guests are welcome, together with past Tablers and prospective members. The Saturday evening meal, fancy-dress and entertainment package costs £29.95. Accommodation prices at the Village Hotel vary according to demand (currently from £65 twin room or from £75 twin room with breakfast.) We have organised a late breakfast (11:00-11:30) on Sunday morning, available to any Ralliers who stay overnight at the normal B&B rates. Please confirm how many people are attending from your Table as soon as possible because we urgently need to confirm the numbers with the hotel.
Fri 21/11/08	Llanelli Winter Carnival Llanelli Round Table has lost several members due to the age rule and has asked for our help to marshal their main annual event, Llanelli Winter Carnival. They are hoping for sufficient Tablers to attend to allow the event to take place and if possible, a few people to hand-out Round Table recruitment leaflets during the procession. Llanelli Round Table needs our help in order to survive but I am sure that you will not let them down. Pease note the new date of 21/11/08.
Sat 22/11/08	Aberaeron Round Table 35th Charter
Mon 01/12/08	Maesteg Christmas Parade
Mon 01/12/08	Milford Christmas Dinner This will be held at the Masonic Hall, HAMILTON Terrace Milford Haven and is suitable for partners. In an unusual deal, the £40 formal meal includes most drinks (not wine or certain expensive branded products,) similar to staying at an All-Inclusive hotel. If you arrive early, you can join Milford RT at the town's Christmas Lights celebrations.
Fri 26/12/08	Fishguard RT Duck Race This traditional Boxing Day duck race is held at the bridge in Lower Town Fishguard. It is an ideal opportunity to unwind after those Christmas Day excesses.
Sat 24/01/09	Area 43/46 Ball The Area Ball is a joint event with our Ladies Circle, hence partners and guests are welcome. It is a black-tie dinner and the ladies like to dress in their finest. This year's event will take place at the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli and we will publish the full details after the Area Rally.
Fri 27/02/09	Area Council Meeting This will be the last scheduled Area 43 meeting before the AGM/Handover. It will be a very important meeting because major reforms to the structure of Area 43 have been suggested. Once we approach the AGM, it will be too late to put any constitutional changes on the agenda, hence, possible reforms need to be discussed at this meeting. This could be a heated meeting and it may result in a request for National to change the borders of Area 43! I have not set the venue for the final Area Council Meeting because I would like to offer your Table the chance to host it.
Sat 28/03/09	Maesteg Round Table Charter
Sat 18/04/09	Area 43 AGM and Handover Traditionally, this event is hosted by the incoming Chairman's Table. At the moment, Area 43 does not have a Vice-Chairman. Under the Age Rule, I cannot officially continue to be Chairman after the National Conference. If anyone is interested in the post, please contact me for an honest and off-the-record chat. You do not have to be an existing Exec Member and we are ready to develop a support package to ensure that you have an affordable and successful year. If no-one comes forward, I will soon be asking Tablers for advice regarding the future of Area and whether to replace the Handover with an Area 43 Charter Dinner. Remember, in the absence of anyone else, you are guaranteed to be the best person for the job.
Fri 08/05/09 Sat 09/05/09 Sun 10/05/09	National Conference The 2009 National Conference will be held in Eastbourne.
Fri 04/09/09 Sat 05/09/09 Sun 06/09/09	National Sporting Weekend The 2009 National Sporting Weekend will be held in the historic Roman city of Colchester. As in previous years the cost will be kept to a minimum by using University Campus accommodation and facilities. The venue will be University of Essex-Colchester Campus and the weekend is already being referred to as the Gladiator Games. See www.NSW2009.co.uk for further details.

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Area 43 has noticed that the expectations of our Tablers are changing. A classic example of this is demonstrated by attendance at the Area Council Meetings. Traditionally, we could expect 80% of Tables to come to three business meetings per year, where we could get together and plan future events and activities. The main entertainment was fun comments and banter between the Tablers and the Exec as the reports were presented.
 
Over the past few years, the number of Tablers attending business style Area meetings has declined and short of an extremely sensitive resolution, it is unlikely that quorum would be achieved.
 
In response to the changing times, Area 43 is replacing business meetings with social gatherings. We identify an event that we believe our fellow Tablers would enjoy and substitute this function for the traditional gathering. Whilst Exec are clearly identifiable and available to handle any business affecting your Table, this communication does not interrupt the social purpose of the gathering. During the recent Area 43 Casino Night, all the Tablers had good fun but several members were able to talk directly to their Exec and some excellent proposals were put forward. These suggestions were then incorporated into the announcement given at the end of the meeting. Unless you tell me otherwise, I will assume that this is the way forward and organise another fun activity to replace the February Area Council Meeting.
 
There is a problem with this new approach, it has the potential to restrict the ability of Tables to tell Area what services they expect. I am trying to combat this by maintaining the website www.DigitalDan.co.uk, visiting you whenever possible and sending out regular newsletters but Area needs your help. Please tell us about your events, news and meetings. We want to know what you expect from us and how we can support your Tables. The Area Exec are ordinary Tablers, just like yourself. We sometimes have good ideas and are very willing to help but you are the people who know what is needed. We want to serve, but we can only do this if you tell us what is happening. Pease get in touch whenever we can help.
 
The difficulties we are addressing are not unique to Area 43, indeed, National are expecting to call a special RTBI Meeting in January to review the National and Area Roles. Area 43 does have some big advantages, we have the best Tables in RTBI, we have already started to build a new future and your Exec are all dedicated to serving every Table in our Area. It may take time for us to identify the services you require but we are prepared to make changes and there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel. Unlike most appeals, I am not looking for donations, this one is different. As I mentioned in my ramblings, we are trying to adapt the services provided by Area in order to better serve the changing needs of our Tables. During my visits to your events and meetings, I have heard many requests for a central information pool. Typical requests would indicate that a Table is organising a new event and would like to contact any Table with relevant exprience.
 
The Area 43 Appeal is a request for information, I want to know what is happening in your Table in order to make this information available to all the other Tables in Area 43. Please browse through the questions below and email with the answers to any questions relevant to your Table.

• Which Table do you belong to?
• Please list the main public events in your Table year and explain briefly what happens at these events.
• Does your Table undertake any unusual Tabler events, e.g. mountain climbing, foreign links, marshalling for non-Table events, unarmed combat or jail breaks. If you do, please outline the details.
• Please let me know the dates and details of any forthcoming events you would like me, your Exec or other Tablers to attend.
• Would your Table be prepared to lend, hire or swap any event/Table equipment with another Area 43 Table? If yes, please give details. (e.g. Area 43 have a tug-of-war rope suitable for large teams of pullers. This is available to any Table that invites us to their events.)
• Would your Table consider hosting a future Area Social event or adapting one of your existing events to allow all Tablers to be invited.

1. Llanelli Round Table need our help. They are holding the town's Winter Carnival on Friday 21st November and need more marshals. Llanelli RT have always supported other Tables in the past but have been through a very difficult period. They are now recovering and will be inducting 3 new Tablers at their Handover on 1st November but they still need our assistance. If anyone can help them on the 21st this could save the towns Carnival. It would be a real bonus if either Llanelli or myself know in advance that you are coming because the marshalling situation is critical. Please join me in Llanelli for a couple of hours and wear a yellow jacket as we watch a fantastic show.
2. I enjoy visiting my Tables so please let me know about any forthcoming meetings or events.
3. Are you interested in Area 43? We currently have vacancies for enthusiastic Tablers. These range from minor posts through to Vice-Chairman. No experience is necessary and it is possible to attend meetings without committing yourself.
4. The Area Rally is on 15th November and we are under pressure from the hotel to confirm the numbers attending. Please contact me or John and confirm attendance from your Table. We need to know how many people are coming as we have to submit estimates a week before the event.