Becoming a Member
The Aims of Membership
Probus derives its name from the Pro in 'Professional' and the Bus in 'Business', because Probus clubs were primarily intended for retirees (or semi-retirees) from professional or business backgrounds. Probus is also the Latin for 'good' and the root of the word 'probity' meaning integrity, decency.
The first club was founded by the Rotary club of Caterham in England in 1966. Since then it has spread around the world. The first club in Australia was started in Hunters Hill in 1976. The Wahroonga East Probus Club was formed in February 1992, under the auspices of the Rotary Club of Wahroonga. Probus clubs are not service clubs. They are non-political, non-sectarian and non-fund-raising. They exist simply to provide opportunities for retirees (and semi-retirees) to enjoy social outings, sporting and other activities together.
The focus of our monthly meetings is to provide and finalise details of activities that the various convenors are arranging and to also widen the interests and knowledge of the group through a program of guest speakers, who are invited to address our meetings for about one hour, on the topic of their specific knowledge and interest.
Joining our Club
If you are interested in becoming a member, send an email to enquiries@probusclubwahroongaeast.org.au and we'll arrange for you to come along to one of our meetings as a guest so you can meet some of our members and get a feel for how our club operates.
Once you feel comfortable about wanting to join our club you can download a copy of the membership application form here.
Membership is by invitation and all prospective applications have to be proposed and seconded by an existing member. The Committee has prepared the following guidelines for nominating Candidates for membership and asks that members carefully consider each point before proceeding with an application. It is emphasised that we only seek a small injection of around 10 active members each year and accordingly seek candidates who would be helpful in carrying our Club forward over the ensuing 10 years.
1. To maintain a heterogeneous balance of members, we aim to avoid enlisting a preponderance of members from any single group, such as any particular bowling or golf club or church; and if necessary, we will stagger such applications to alternate with applicants with other affiliations.
2. Proposers and Seconders have a responsibility to ensure that the candidates possess the qualities expected of a member of our Probus Club.
3. The Proposer and Seconder should know the candidate well and the Proposer is requested to contact the Vice President to discuss the merits of a prospective applicant before an application is signed by an applicant. The Vice President will in turn share this information with members of the Management and Membership Committees, prior to advising his decision to the member. This process is intended to avoid potential embarrassment that could result from a declined application.
4. Candidates should be active and preferably in the early years of their retirement.
5. Compatibility is an important quality that must be preserved if our Club is to carry current enthusiasm into the long-term future and such qualities are expected of candidates.
6. The candidate is to be made aware of the aims of the Club, its membership requirements and be given a detailed briefing of Club activities in which members participate. The candidate should indicate on the second page of the nomination form those activities in which he is interested and in which he will participate.
7. The candidate should be aware that at some stage he may be asked to play a role as an activity convenor or committee member within the Club and that within reasonable circumstances at the time, he would be prepared to accept such a role.
8. The Proposer and Seconder should be confident that the candidate possesses a strong interest in the type of activities undertaken by our Club and that there is past evidence that he will be an active member.
9. Once the candidate becomes a member, the Proposer in particular and the Seconder, each has a responsibility to actively assist and encourage the member and their wife/partner to participate in those Club activities that formed part of the application and indicated interest.