Returning from an overseas trip in 1958, Port Elizabeth Tabler Owen Frye expressed his dismay at the misconceptions many people had about South Africa. As a solution, he suggested that overseas WOCO members be encouraged to visit the country to experience first-hand its diverse landscape and hospitable people.

A year later, the Owen Frye International Fellowship Fund was launched and in 1963 the first group of WOCO members visited South Africa, thus pioneering the concept of Mass Tours to this country. The accent was on fun and fellowship, and the tours presented an ideal opportunity to explore and experience the mysteries of Africa in the company of friendly locals.

Hosted and transported throughout the trip by ARTSA Tablers, a number of routes each covering a different section of the country and offering the tourists a different perspective of the South African way of life, were introduced. The concept was a winner and by 1966 Mass Tours had become a regular feature on the ARTSA calendar.

Over the years the concept has been further adapted and today the Owen Frye Mass Tour has one tour per year. While home hosting by local tablers has remained an essential part of the experience, limited hotel and lodge accommodation has also been introduced. Transport is by luxury coach.

Many lasting friendships have been formed as a result of the various Mass Tours - friendships that continue despite the passing of the years and "axing" of the members from their respective organisations. In terms of the ARTSA's Aims & Objects, the Owen Frye Mass Tour is probably the Association's most important national project and, thanks to the vision of their founder, have proved enormously successful in promoting contact, understanding and fellowship across the continents.

"As I see it, fellowship leads to friendship. Friendship is a shared experience of life - anywhere in the world. What I did back in 1958 was to start something that would enable ARTSA Round Tablers and their wives to share something of themselves - in their own homes - on a universal basis, and in so doing to spread a little friendship - a much needed commodity in this troubled but beautiful world of ours. Either as a host or a visitor... you can be part of it!" - Owen Frye