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Probus Perth ConstitutionMost constitutions are excruciatingly boring and ours is no exception. Nevertheless, it is a very useful document, if you would like to understand the goals of the club and how it operates. So in a sense, it is a little like Buckley's cough syrup ~ not too tasty, but good for you. The Club's bylaws are posted below. Given this preamble, we are sure you will be very anxious to read them!
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(Added for web version Click bylaw to view) Bylaw No. 1 - Territory Bylaw No. 2 - Membership Bylaw No. 3 - Management Bylaw No. 4 - Election of Officers Bylaw No. 5 - General Meetings Bylaw No. 6 - Financial Bylaw No. 7 - Non-profitability Bylaw No. 8 - Amendment  Printable PDF Version Printable RTF Version |
1. Membership in the Club shall primarily, but not necessarily, be from the area of Lanark and Leeds Counties and the Town of Smiths Falls.
1. Membership is open to men and women and is restricted to 150 members at any given time.
2. When an individual joins the Club, they shall pay an initiation fee of $10.00 and an annual membership fee. Depending on when a member joins, the membership fee shall be prorated as follows:Upon acceptance to the Club, a new member shall be given a copy of the Club's Constitution and Bylaws, and presented with a Probus lapel pin by the President.
3. The annual membership fee will be set by the Management Committee at the beginning of each fiscal year, with any changes to the fee being voted on by the membership at the Annual General Meeting.
4. The Management Committee shall terminate the membership of any member who fails to pay the annual membership fee by the November meeting.
5. The Management Committee shall maintain a list of prospective members and shall invite new members in accordance with dates of application.
6. Honourary membership may be conferred on a person by a majority of members voting at a General meeting. An Honourary member shall not be required to pay the annual membership fee, and shall enjoy all privileges of membership except voting and election to office. No more than 2% of the membership shall be Honourary members at any given time.
7. Life membership may be conferred, by a majority of members at a General meeting, upon a member who has rendered outstanding service to the Club. A Life member shall not be required to pay the annual membership fee, and shall enjoy all privileges of membership. No more than 2% of the membership shall be Life members at any given time.
8. Conduct of members - If, in the opinion of, and after due consideration by the Club's Management Committee, a member conducts himself / herself in such a manner as to bring discredit on the organization, or they cause discord within the membership, they may be asked to resign. The resignation request shall be made if, after discussion between the member and the Management Committee, the conflict is not resolved. In the event that the member does not resign, then the Management Committee shall inform the member in writing that their membership has been revoked.
1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Management Committee and the Club. In the President's absence, the Vice President shall normally preside.
2. The Secretary shall be responsible for all minutes of the Club and the Club's archival material.
3. The Membership Director shall be responsible for the membership roll, which shall include members' names, addresses and telephone numbers as the Club may determine. The membership roll shall be distributed to the members at least annually, and shall include a statement that it is not to be used for commercial purposes.
4. The President shall review the Standard Constitution for Clubs and the Club's Bylaws with the Management Committee, prior to or at, the first Management Committee meeting following the establishment of a new Committee.
Bylaw No. 4 - Election of Officers
1. A Nominating Committee consisting of the President and two Past Presidents (if available, otherwise two Club members in good standing) shall present to the Annual General Meeting a slate of candidates for election to the Management Committee. Members from the previous year may be re-elected with the rules set by Article 3 of the Constitution.
Bylaw No. 5 - General Meetings
1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held on the regular meeting day in September. At this meeting an audited annual financial statement to July 31 shall be presented, members of the Management Committee shall be elected, and an auditor shall be appointed.
2. General meetings of the Club shall normally be held on the first Wednesday of each month.
3. The quorum at all General meetings shall be 25% of the membership.
4. Any notice of motion shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary and read to the General meeting one month prior to the meeting at which it is to be considered.
1. The Financial Year shall be August 1 to July 31.
2. The Teasurer shall deposit all funds of the Club in a financial institution approved by the Management Committee. The signing officers shall be any two of the Treasurer, President, Vice President and Secretary.
3. The Treasurer shall present a written monthly financial statement to the Management Committee, and a semi-annual financial report to the February General meeting.
4. Any discretionary expenditure in excess of $500 shall be approved at a General meeting.
5. The annual financial review may be conducted by a qualified member of the Club who is not a member of the Management Committee.
Bylaw No. 7 - Non-profitability
1. Club activities are to be budgetted to break even.
2. An individual member of the Club must not gain from a discount, commission, gratuity or other benefit arising from a Club activity.
1. Any bylaw may be amended by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting at a General meeting, provided that notice of motion has been given as required by Bylaw No. 5, paragraph 4.
2. Any such amendments shall be consistent with the Standard Constitution for Local Probus Clubs (Canada).
3. The Club's Bylaws shall be reviewed for possible amendments every three years, or as deemed necessary.
Original Bylaws approved December 6, 2000, amended February 6, 2002, April, 2007 and September 2, 2009.
The following motion was approved with respect to fees at the September 2, 2009 AGM: Motion 2. The purpose of this motion is to restore the annual membership fee of Probus Club of Perth to the original level of $20.00 per person, after two years of fees at $15.00, which were temporarily lowered to draw down a large surplus in our financial assets. "Moved that the annual per person membership fee for Probus Club of Perth be raised from $15.00 to $20.00, effective September 1, 2009."
