Club Rules
1. Name
- The Club shall be called 'The Probus Club of Heywood'
2. Objective
- The Club aims to provide a regular meeting place for members providing:
- A programme of talks, by invited speakers, on topics of interest for the enlightenment and entertainment of members.
- A series of social events to which wives/partners and friends can be invited to attend.
- An Anniversary Lunch in late May and a Christmas Lunch in early December for members, wives/partners and guests.
- Assistance with community service projects which come within the scope and ability of the Club membership.
3. Membership
- Membership shall be open to Professional and Business people, resident in the vicinity of Heywood, who have fully or partially retired, or are approaching retirement from their normal work.
- Membership of the Club shall be limited to 45, this to be exclusive of Honorary Members.
- Every Member shall be expected to attend as regularly as possible, but there shall not be any fixed attendance rule.
- Members are expected to accept that it is their responsibility to ensure that they are fit to attend Club functions and activities and, where appropriate, they are suitably equipped to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
- Should a member seem unlikely to be able to attend meetings in the foreseeable future, the President and Committee may discuss with such member the possibility of him becoming an Honorary Member. An Honorary Member may return to meetings but will continue to be regarded as an Honorary Member.
- An applicant for membership must be introduced by an existing member. The prospective member shall have attended at least one but not more than two meetings as a guest in any one Club year.
4. Constitution
- The affairs of the Club will be administered by a Committee comprising a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Social Secretary and Treasurer and two others members. All members of the Committee shall automatically retire from office on completion of one year’s service and shall be eligible for re - election at the Annual General Meeting.
- The President of the Club upon his retirement from office shall become an ex-officio member of the Committee for the year following his retirement. The President elect will be installed in office at the Annual General Meeting.
- Three members of the Committee will constitute a Quorum and the Committee shall have the power to co-opt and to appoint one or more sub Committees
- The Committee will meet as and when considered appropriate.
- The Club shall be non-political, non-sectarian and non –racial.
5. Meetings
- The Club shall meet at 10.15am on the first and third Tuesdays of each month and, also, on the fifth Tuesday when one occurs.
- The Secretary shall be given as much notice as possible if a member is unable to attend or intends to bring a guest.
- An Annual General Meeting shall be held on the first Tuesday in December, at a time and place to be determined by the Committee. At least 7 days notice of such a meeting shall be given to all members.
- The Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting on the request of not less than one third of the membership and shall give 7 days notice of such a meeting.
- Voting at all meetings shall be by a show of hands, or by ballot if so determined at the time. The President shall have the casting vote.
6. Subsciptions
- The subsciption shall be determined by the members at the Annual General Meeting and must be paid at the beginning of January each year.
7. Accounts
- A Receipt and Payments Account for the Club Year 1st November to 31st October shall be prepared each year and presented for approval at the Annual General Meeting after audit by a member appointed at an Annual General Meeting.
- Cheques shall be signed by any two of the following officers: Secretary; Treasurer; and one Committee member nominated for the purpose.
8. Contingencies
- Any contingency not covered by these rule shall be considered by the Committee or at a General Meeting.
9. Alterations
- Any alterations to the Rules and Constitution shall be made only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting, prior to which, due notice of the proposals shall be given to members.