For full information on Probus and how to form and run
a Probus Club, you can download District 9320's manual.
It is available as a Word document so that you may easily
amend all the necessary documents to reflect your own club's details. If you
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Probus – What is it?
A
Probus Club is a local association of retired or semi-retired professional or
business people - or others who have had a measure of responsibility in any
field of worthy endeavour – who are of good character and are respected in their
communities. They meet regularly for fellowship and an extension of their
interests.
The name is an amalgam of the abbreviation of the words PROfessional and
BUSiness. Probus is also a Latin word meaning honest and virtuous, from which
the English word “probity” is derived.
In South Africa we have Men’s, Ladies and mixed Probus Clubs.
Who needs it?
Research in recent years has discovered abundant evidence of the need for
retired business and professional people to associate with others of similar
vocational / educational backgrounds.
Their social and sporting clubs, their voluntary work, their hobbies do not
always provide this association. Generally, these people miss intellectual
stimulation, in the broader sense, provided by their former business,
professional or executive activities. Within a short time after retirement, the
desire to meet others in similar circumstances manifests itself quite strongly.
The need may be met, for some and in part, by groups organized for former
staff by public companies, or other large organizations, but most of these meet
infrequently and the great majority of retired people do not enjoy these limited
opportunities.
The sense of isolation experienced by many people, who formerly held
positions of responsibility and challenge, often leads to emotional stress that
can result in actual physical illness. One researcher asserts that “one quarter
of all British managers are dead within six months of retirement and the same
trend is occurring elsewhere”, so great is their need for peer-group
companionship and intellectual stimulation.
The need, moreover, is growing with increased longevity and the encouragement
of early retirement.
The rapid growth of the Probus movement in recent years provides further
evidence of the need for this kind of association.
What does it do?
The short answer: it does what it likes, within constitutional limits. Probus
Clubs meet as frequently as desired, (viz. monthly, fortnightly or weekly), for
fellowship, morning tea and/or lunch, a pint and pie, a short business session
and to hear an interesting guest speaker.
But that is only the beginning. Many arrange visits to factories, defence
establishments, industrial complexes, police stations, and plant nurseries – the
places a Rotary Club might be expected to include in its list of vocational
visits. Some enjoy short outings – picnics, visits to gardens and places of
scenic or historical interest, braai's and theatre performances.
In Australia many organize extended tours of anything from one day to a few
weeks - sometimes as a single club, sometimes in association with other Probus
Clubs. These are usually fellowship occasions with spouses and invited friends.
Some Probus Clubs have a number of special interest groups within the club –
such as music, art, history, sport, drama, hiking, cycling, philately,
numismatics, sailing, and many more.
A Probus Club in fact can provide all the enjoyment of a Rotary club without
the obligations of service, the attendance requirements and the classification
system.
The Standard Constitution for Probus Club in Southern Africa provides, by
implication, that it shall be non-political, non-racial and that it shall not be
a fund raising group.
The Probus Club is not a service club because many Probus members give
generously of their time in voluntary work, either individually or in other
service clubs or charitable bodies.
How does it operate?
Its members run a Probus Club. It elects its officers annually.
The club operates within a constitution, most clauses of which are common to
all Probus Clubs.
No club may call itself a Probus Club or use the Probus name or emblem
unless.
 |
It has to be sponsored by a Rotary club, preferably in consultation with
the District Probus Committee. |
|
It adopts a constitution incorporating certain specific clauses
indicated in the standard constitution. |
|
Is accredited (on the application of the sponsoring Rotary club) as a
Probus Club by the Probus Council of South Africa or by delegation, a
Regional Probus Association. |
How much does it cost?
Membership subscriptions in existing clubs, (in 2004), are approximately
R50-00 per annum. This provides for the supplying of gifts (sometimes) for guest
speakers, production of a club newsletter and postage and other administrative
costs. An entrance fee applies of approximately R40-00, (in 2004), to cover the
cost of the lapel badge etc.The only other additional cost to members is the tea and / or lunch charge.
Where does it meet?
The Probus Club members choose the venue for meetings; but the sponsoring
Rotary Club chooses an initial venue for the first few meetings. It is usually
in a licensed club, hotel, restaurant, hall or community centre.
What is its relationship to the Rotary club?
Unlike Rotary’s other sponsored clubs, (Rotaract and Interact) to which the
sponsoring club has a continuing responsibility, the Probus Club requires no
assistance or supervision.The sponsor clubs direct responsibility ends when it invests the foundation
president with his / her collar of office. Having ensured that the foundation
members are properly qualified for membership of a Probus Club, and having
satisfied itself that the first officers and members of the new club are fully
aware of their duties and the Probus concept, the Probus Club is left to “paddle
its own canoe”. Normally an interest continues and visits between clubs are
arranged to foster the Family of Rotary concept. The ideal would be for the
Rotary Club to appoint a person to liaise with the Probus Club.Contrary to what some Rotarians seem to think, Probus Clubs are not clubs for
retired Rotarians. While there are some Rotarians or former Rotarians in most
Probus Clubs, the vast majority have not been Rotarians.
Are spouses involved?
Involvement of spouses or friends varies from club to club, in most clubs,
only members (or visiting Probians) attend the regular meetings, but spouses and
friends are invited to meetings and outings of special interest. All clubs
welcome visiting Probians and guests who are potential members. As previously
mentioned, there are men’s, ladies and mixed Probus Clubs.
Visit www.probus.org/ |
