Ladies' Circle is an international organisation for young women. It is an affiliated independent organisation of Round Table. Round Table (RT) is in other words an international service organisation of young men, which arise from England in 1927. At the beginning, the wives of RT men were helping with men’s activities, but already in 1930 they decided to found their own organisation, which they called Ladies’ Circle. In Finland RT was found in 1948 and LC in 1959. At the moment the international controlling body is called Ladies’ Circle International (LCI), which consist of 33 countries, altogether about 15 000 members and it is still constantly growing. In Finland there are over 1500 members and 103 active clubs.

The motto of Ladies’ Circle Suomi – Finland (LCSF) is “Friendship, tolerance and service”. The aim of the activity is to assist the mental growth, to develop the independent thinking and performing abilities and also communal sense of responsibility and to promote the international understanding and friendship of its members. The organisation is not religiously or politically bind.

The motto of LCI is “Friendship and Service” and internationally LCI is notable charity organisation. In some countries LC is drilling a great amount of charity. LCSF is participating in the relief action of LCI, but principally clubs are independently deciding whether to drill the charity or not.

LC-clubs and their activities

The core of the activity of LC is clubs and their action. Clubs assemble regularly, at least once a month, for their meetings. All the members of the club participate in club meetings as far as possible. In turns, every member of the club gives a lecture or outlines a conversation. Also third-party lecturers can be used or club can do company visits. In addition to the common meetings, trips and parties can be organised and co-operation with local RT –club practised. Clubs are divided into circles and circles with their clubs are forming the national LC or LCSF (Ladies’ Circle Suomi – Finland). This brings also official common matters into meetings. Clubs are officially registered and every club has a board, whose posts are chosen, in yearly periods, in turns, by every member. In the fall at the circle level, a common circle meetings are organised and in the fall and autumn at the national level an annual general meetings are organised. Every member has an opportunity to take part in yearly organised international annual general meeting.

LC members

As a club member of LC, under 45 – years old spouses or cohabitants of RT members, as well as other women, can be called. New members should represent such an area or activity, which is not before represented at the club. When the age of 45 is achieved the club member is “kicked off”, but LC –activity can continue in Tangent or Agora club. Men’s corresponding club is called Old Table (OT).

The symbol of the organisation

In different countries official symbols vary, but commonly a distaff is appearing. The official symbol of Finnish organisation is the distaff, which the organisation received in 1961. The distaff symbolises Finnish sister as a women, house wife, employee; her toughness, diligence and firmness. As a sign of membership every Finnish sister has the distaff, which is personal and can be never hold by another person. It combines sisters into the national circle giving speed and movement to its activities.