SEM REGION

A PREVIEW OF THE COMING HYM

By NICHOLAS GOMEZ, SEM Chairman 2021-2022

BROTHERS, In approximately three months’ time, Round Table International will be having its first in person Half Yearly Meeting in since Luxembourg in 2020. The March 2022 HYM will be taking place in the beautiful city of Marrakech in Morocco.

For those of you who haven’t already seen what Thami and the guys in Round Table Morocco have lined up for us in March, I urge you to visit the website – www. rtihym2022.com - you will be astounded by what’s on offer!

For those of you that like to see the country before the meeting, there are no less than 4 distinct pre-tours on offer; the North, the South, the East, and the West.

In the North, you will be taken to the beautiful city of Chefchaouen (the city of blue buildings), then make your way up to Tetouan (where you will have a cultural visit of historical sites) and finish in Tangier.

In the South you will be taken to see the largest desert in the world, the Sahara (which actually means “desert”!). You will be taken to the Dades Valley, Merzouga and Ouarzazate (look it up on google – it looks incredible!).

In the East, you will be taken to the Ouzoud Waterfalls in the Atlas mountains (seriously google it..) where you will enjoy water based activities.

In the West you will see the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Here you will be taken to Agadir and Essaouira (known for its beaches and surfing).

Then after a hugely enjoyable pre tour there is the HYM itself. This HYM however is different…it is a 5 dawy HYM. The seasoned travelling Tabler knows what to expect from this.

The first night is a welcome party and Marrakech by night.

The second day is the Councillors Meeting (for delegates) and by night we are all treated to an Arabian night with a dinner show.

The third day is the HYM itself (for delegates) after which there is a pool party in the afternoon and my personal favourite, in the evening there is Nations Night.

For those who haven’t experienced a Nations Night before, it is simply put, a culinary delight! Each of RTI’s 53 nations sets up a food stall and cooks some of their own local delicacies. You spend a night tasting and drinking food from around the world.

The fourth day is the regional meetings and as is the custom only in the SEM region, the SEM regional meeting will be held in a jacuzzi / swimming pool. That evening is the Gala Event, black tie and looking sharp!

Whilst us delegates are in meetings, the others will be able to enjoy from a wide range of activities like, hot air ballooning, wakeboarding, quad driving and sightseeing in Marrakech. There is something for everyone. The hotel itself is the 5 star renowned Kenzi Rose Garden hotel, all inclusive. Thami and the guys have organised, what looks to be, an amazing holiday for us all in Marrakech.

I look forward to seeing old friends for the first time and know that this will be a HYM that none of us will soon forget.

Yours in table

Nicholas Gomez

semchairman@round-table.org