Return to Canada
Revised - April 28, 2000
STANDARD CONSTITUTION FOR LOCAL PROBUS CLUBS (CANADA)
STANDARD CONSTITUTION
THE PROBUS CLUB OF ..................................
PREAMBLE
The Probus name, trademarks, rights, and emblem(s) are registered with
Industry Canada as the property of Probus Centre - Canada, Inc. These shall not be
used for commercial purposes without the written approval of Probus Centre - Canada,
Inc. Accreditation of a Probus Club shall be effective upon acceptance by
Probus Centre - Canada, Inc. of an application with the prescribed fee from a sponsoring
Rotary Club or a recognized Probus Club. Rights to the use of the name and emblems,
except on saleable articles, shall be given automatically to each Probus Club upon its
accreditation.
I. AIMS AND OBJECTS
1. The purpose of the Club shall be
a. to provide regular meetings for retired and semi-retired professional and
business persons, and others with
like backgrounds, who appreciate and value increased opportunities for social contacts,
addresses on and
discussion of topical subjects.
b. to arrange visits by members to places and organizations of interest.
c. to arrange activities of interest to members.
2. Because
many of its members may already be active in service to the community, the activities of
the Club shall be directed
solely towards acquaintance and fellowship.
3. The Club
shall not be competitive with any other organization.
4. The Club
shall be non-political and non-sectarian.
5. The Club
shall not be, nor appear to be a fund raising or service club.
II. MEMBERSHIP
1. The Club shall be for men and women [women, men] with professional
or business backgrounds, and other men and women
[women, men] who have had some measure of responsibility or achievement in any field of
worthy endeavour.
(The Club shall specify in its application for accreditation, and enter into its
Constitution, whether it shall be open to men and
women, restricted to women, or restricted to men.)
2. Application for membership shall be sponsored by at least one member
and approved by the Management Committee.
Founding members do not require sponsorship.
3. Regular attendance is not mandatory.
III. MANAGEMENT
1. The Club shall be managed by a Management Committee comprising a President,
a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, the
immediate Past President, and such other persons as the Club deems
necessary to cover program, social, newsletter, and
other
functions.
2. The Club President shall normally serve for a term of 1 year, but may
not serve for more than 2 years.
3. The Management Committee
shall meet monthly or as the need arises.
4. The quorum
at a Management Committee meeting shall be 50% of the Committee.
5. A motion
that receives an equal number of affirmative and negative votes shall be considered lost.
6. The
Management Committee shall have the authority to fill vacancies that may arise between
elections.
7. The
Management Committee shall have authority to appoint sub-committees.
8. The
Membership Committee shall be responsible for the list of members' names, addresses, phone
numbers, and such other
information required by Club bylaw. This list must not be used for commercial
purposes.
9. The Club
shall co-operate with Rotary and other Probus Clubs in the formation of new Probus Clubs.
IV. GENERAL MEETINGS
1.
General meetings of the Club shall be held monthly or as determined by the Club.
2. The
Annual General Meeting shall be held in accordance with Club bylaws. In advance of
the meeting, members shall be
provided with a financial statement for the preceding twelve months co-incident with the
Annual Meeting.
3. At
each Annual General Meeting the presiding officer shall present nominations from the
Nominating Committee for positions
on the Management Committee. Election may be by show of hands or by ballot, as
determined by the meeting.
4. A
motion that receives an equal number of affirmative and negative votes shall be considered
lost.
V. ANNUAL RETURNS
1. The financial year of the Club shall be established at a date
which will appropriately coincide with the Annual General
Meeting of the Club.
2. The Secretary shall advise Probus Centre - Canada, Inc.
following the Club's accreditation, and by September 30 each year, of
the Club's regular meeting place, day and time, the number of its members as of the
previous July 31, and the names,
addresses and telephone numbers of its President and Secretary.
3. The Treasurer shall remit to Probus Centre - Canada, Inc. the
annual assessment levied by Probus Centre - Canada, Inc.
VI. MEMBERSHIP FEES
1. Each member of the Club shall pay the annual membership fee as
provided in Club bylaws.
VII. NON-PROFITABILITY
1. The income and property of the Club shall be applied solely
towards the objectives of Probus and no portion thereof
transferred directly or indirectly to the members. Nothing herein shall prevent the
payment of approved remuneration for
services actually rendered to the Club.
VIII. WINDING UP
1. In recognition of Rotary clubs' service contribution towards
the expansion of Probus, any funds remaining on winding up of
the Club shall be donated to the Rotary Foundation (Canada) or to another registered
charitable organization.
IX. BYLAWS
1. Club Bylaws and their amendments shall be consistent with the
Constitution.
X. AMENDMENT
1. Except as provided in paragraph 3 of this Article, this
Constitution may be amended only with the approval of the Board of
Directors of Probus Centre - Canada, Inc.
2. Every three years, members of the Board of Probus Centre -
Canada, Inc. shall consult with the Clubs within their regions as
to amendments the Clubs may wish to suggest. Following this consultation, the
Legislative Committee of Probus Centre -
Canada, Inc. shall review the Standard Constitution in the light of these and any of their
own suggestions. Any amendment
made by the Board of Probus Centre - Canada, Inc. upon receipt of the report of its
Legislation Committee shall, upon
communication to the Clubs, become an amendment to each Club's Constitution.
3. The name or gender composition of the Club may be changed at
any General Meeting of the Club, the quorum required by
Club bylaw being present, by a majority of the members present and voting. The
amendment shall be effective when it has
been communicated to Probus Centre - Canada, Inc.