The Probus Club of Kincumber Inc 

Established  1984

Post Office Box  6109 Kincumber  2251

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Arguments FOR and AGAINST this Motion were published in the October 2008 News Sheet and are repeated here:

Arguments FOR the Club becoming Combined

The number of members in our Club will increase. If this does not happen the Club may cease to exist in a few years. The increased membership will improve the Club’s finances.

New members will bring in new ideas, both socially and managerially.

We will be able to accept couples who wish to join our Club, instead of having to refer them to other clubs as has occurred in the past.

More people will be available for positions in the Management Committee, and to take on other jobs.

At present our Ladies’ meetings are better attended and more vibrant.

Our Club could merge with another Combined Club, should we wish to do this in the future.

Since our Club was formed over 25 years ago, societal norms have changed and all-male social organisations are now relatively rare. 

Arguments AGAINST the Club becoming Combined

The proposed change breaks a long tradition that has been successful until recently.

Some members oppose the change. The issue may therefore be potentially divisive.

The all-male environment is preferred by some members of our Club. 

If this motion is accepted, several matters will need to be considered by the Club. The Committee has identified and discussed some of these and will make the following recommendations to Members: 

Fees should remain unchanged at this time (to be discussed and voted upon at the March AGM).

Per-person fees for couples should be the same as for individual members (also to be discussed and voted upon at the March AGM).

The Club should not specify quotas for male/female balance.

There should not be a requirement that the sex of the President should alternate each year.

Ladies will continue to be welcome to attend all of our meetings, whether or not they are Members.

The practice of having ladies supply morning tea at four meetings each year should cease.
 

Proposal to amend our Constitution

The 3-year Constitutional Review completed by Probus South Pacific in 2008 resulted in a decision to make some amendments in the Standard Probus Constitution. Probus South Pacific requires that all Clubs formally adopt these amendments. 

Clause 16 (a) of our current Constitution states: “The clauses of this constitution may be amended at a general meeting of the Club, a quorum being present, by the affirmative vote of not less than three quarters of the members present and voting, notice of such proposed amendment(s) having been published to all members at least twenty one days before such meeting.” 

At the General Meeting on 25 November 2008, Secretary Richard Collins gave notice of the following two proposed amendments to our constitution, to be voted upon at today’s meeting. 

Clause 3 – MEMBERSHIP (b)

This clause currently reads: “Membership of this club shall be open to retired and semi-retired professional and business people and others who have held positions of responsibility in any worthy vocation and who appreciate the value and opportunities for social contact with others in similar circumstances.” 

Proposed amendment: Replace the words “who have held positions of responsibility in” with the word “from” 

Clause 4 – MANAGEMENT (b)

This clause currently reads: “Officers and committee members shall be elected annually in accordance with the by-laws. The term of office of the president shall be one year, which may be extended to not more that two years if required due to special circumstances. The foundation president may serve two successive terms if the club has been formed less than nine months before the first Annual General Meeting.”

Proposed amendment: Insert the word “consecutive” between the words “two years”