AMI REGION

ON I REG NEA

ASSOCIATIONS rt Canada rtdenmark rtestonia rticeland rtlatvia rtlithuania rtnorway rtrussia rtsuomi finland rtsuriname rtsweden rttrinidad & tobago rtUsa NORTHERN EUROPE & AMERICAS REGION

THE BRILLIANT BALTICS

By ALEKSANDER OTTOKAR, NEA Chairman 2021-2022

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN DAY when the people living in the Baltic states could finally breathe. On the 6th of September 1991, the Soviet Government finally recognized the independence of all three Baltic states. The iron curtain had been lifted, and freedom was again in the hearts of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian people. Today, all the countries mentioned are ambiguous and forward-thinking nations where great innovation comes from. Today, all the above are unique Associations in how the Tablers are and how their traditions are being carried. A lot of good work is done in the Baltic States through Round Table today.

Round Table Estonia today is in a great place regarding the organization. I would know, as the former past president and a proud member of Round Table Estonia. Today, we have 15 clubs in numbers, and 13 of them are active. There have been many big events in the past that Estonians have hosted - the World Meeting in 2017, the NEA Region meeting in 2019, and of course, last but not least, Round Table Estonia will host you all next spring with the Half-Year meeting. But these things can only come when the Association's core is strong, when you have people that do not just want to take part but want to take over. Round Table Estonia has many great events that make the fellowship we love to come to life. There is always something different to explore every season to help people in need or just grow the members.

The next Baltic state is Latvia, a great neighbour of Estonia. Round Table Latvia has had its ups and downs throughout the years. Currently, we have one club in Riga, Latvia's capital. Our Latvian friends are still one Table but actively use peer-topeer approaches to ensure a yearly growth in members. Though the pandemic has been hard on them, they have been striving to strengthen their joint activities. It is said that strength comes from numbers, and the Round Table Family as a whole is stronger when we work together. Social projects are also supported by the Latvian brothers. They are working on a fundraising project to provide an annual scholarship to a young scientist.

Lithuania is pushing forward with two clubs in the great south of the Baltic States. One in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital and the other in beautiful Kaunas. In 2018, Round Table Lithuania had the pleasure of hosting our regional meeting. Today they are very community oriented. Unique to the youngsters of their country as they took the lead in organizing a football event with "Hope for Football", where young kids from daycares and care homes could participate. So even though the situation with the pandemic has not done the Association any favours, they are still alive and stronger than ever.

In conclusion, there is a particular type of love among the Tablers living in the Baltic states. All countries have a strong resemblance in hospitality and fellowship to one another. As the numbers of members are small in all the Baltic States, please reach out to me or any of the Associations boards if you have a prospect in the Baltics that could be a great member one day.

Yours in table

Aleksander Ottokar

neachairman@round-table.org