THE TIES THAT BIND

LEADING STRONGER TOGETHER

By OLIVER and PILLE PETS, Presidents of Round Table and Ladies Circle Estonia

It all started in 2013 when Oliver joined Round Table Estonia (RT11 Haapsalu). As is the case typically, he invited several friends to join him throughout the years. Sometime later, and through a mutual acquaintance, Pille was inducted into the youngest club of LC Estonia (LC11 Tallinn) in 2018. And so, brother and sister's journey started, both at their number 11 clubs.

HAVING SPENT SOME YEARs in Round Table and Ladies Circle and having received so much, we both felt it was time to give back. We had lunch with our extended family at a restaurant on Valentine's Day last year. We discussed that several Tablers and Circlers had approached both of us with the suggestion that we could run for

Vice-President of Estonia. We joked about it with each other and thought it was too time-consuming, too much responsibility and many other things we could think of. Until one moment, we looked at each other and said as together; I will run when you will. We are family, and we both have strong clubs that have brought us here, which is very supportive. We want to give our organizations everything we have learned along the way and take them forward stronger. We are supporting each other and moving forward Side by

Side without losing the face of either organization. We feel we can do more as brother and sister and that we embody the spirit of #StrongerTogether.

OUR CHILDHOOD passed with an age difference of almost four years, but we shared a room for a long time. Typical of siblings, we fought, teased each other and built a bond that would last a lifetime. After our father's death, when one was 13 and the other 9, our lives seemed to take completely different directions. Oliver felt that the whole world was to blame and that the only way to deal with it was to try and experience everything life had to offer before turning 18. On the other hand, being somewhat younger, Pille approached life with an extreme sense of duty and caution.

WE HAVE GROWN TOGETHER, seen a lot of good and sometimes worse, and faced challenges that, even in terms of experience, I would not wish on anyone. There have certainly been periods in our lives when we have been somewhat distant. Still, at the end of the day, we are always sister and brother, ready to go through fi re and water for each other.

It's hard to predict how the Presidential year is going to be. We should catch up after a year, but we know that it will be pretty challenging.

Pille will give birth to her 3rd son just at the beginning of the season. We have several big events to host, like the Ladies Circle Nordic Region Mid Term Meeting in January and Round Table International Half Year Meeting in March.

A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE for Round Table Estonia is to bond new members to the organization and give them the whole Round Table experience in their fi rst club season at all levels (local, national and international). To provide them with a supercharged start for enjoying this club experience. But also work on ways to recruit new members. Ensure the organization's continuity and sustainability and improve communication between clubs and the national board. And it goes without saying that as a host for the RTIHYM this season, we put a great effort into our international relations.

FOR LADIES CIRCLE ESTONIA, the goals are quite similar. In addition to attracting and bonding new members, to increase the unity of the 10 existing clubs and make little Estonia an outstanding member of LCI.

Whilst we know that it will be a tough year, we know that working together as a family will get us through it all. Like it always has. We indeed are #StrongerTogether

PS: Pille is going to give birth to her 3rd son just at the beginning of the season (fun fact - Oliver has 3 daughters)

TRAVEL & EXPLORE

74 WE ARE GROWING

By Mr MADS THORSDAL

80 A VIRGIN'S GUIDE

By ROUND TABLE INTERNATIONAL

94 MORE THAN THE BUFFALO

By Mr WERNER SWANEPOEL

96 SIX NATIONS IN ONE HOUSE

By Mr DANIEL LARSSON

98 GET YOUR DUTCH ON

By Mr LUCAS BORSBOOM

102 BE THE MOST HOST

By Mr PAUL HOEKSEMA

104 TASTE THE WORLD

By LADIES' CIRCLE INTERNATIONAL

106 DID YOU KNOW?

By ROUND TABLE INTERNATIONAL