Constitution
THE RULES
1. TITLE
The Club shall be known as “Boscombe and Southbourne Probus Club.”
2. OBJECTIVES
To promote good fellowship and friendship amongst retired professional and business men. The Club shall be non-political and non-sectarian. The Club does not exist to raise money for charity, although occasionally it will raise funds and make donations to worthwhile causes.
3. MEMBERSHIP
Open to professional and business men resident in or adjacent to the Borough of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) who have fully or partially retired from their normal business or profession.
Applicants for membership shall be proposed by an existing member and approved by the Committee of the Club. A prospective member shall have attended at least one luncheon as a guest before being invited to join.
The Club shall be limited to sixty-five members.
The Committee may elect any past or present member to become a Life member of the Club in recognition of past services.
The Committee may invite anyone to become an Associate member of the Club, generally widows of deceased members.
Life and Associate members will not count when considering the membership limit.
4. SUBSCRIPTION AND JOINING FEE
The annual subscription shall be determined at each Annual General Meeting (AGM). New members joining the Club will pay the current joining fee which includes the annual subscription until the next AGM. Life members and Associate members are exempt from paying the annual subscription.
5. COMMITTEE
There shall be a President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary, Assistant Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and Assistant Honorary Treasurer all of whom shall be elected at the AGM together with four other members and these shall form the Committee.
This Committee shall be responsible for the management of the affairs of the Club. The President shall automatically retire from office on completion of one year and shall then be invited to continue his membership of the Committee for one further year as the immediate Past President.
The Committee shall be empowered to appoint a replacement for any officer who is unable to continue in office. The Committee appointee shall serve until the next AGM.
6. ACCOUNTS
Income and expenditure accounts for the Club’s financial year end, 31st of March, shall be prepared for approval at the AGM. These accounts will be audited by a Club member appointed at the previous AGM.
During the financial year the Honorary Treasurer is responsible for the accounting function and recording all payments and expenses.
In the event he is unable to do this the Assistant Honorary Treasurer or the Honorary Secretary will assume responsibility for this role.
7. MEETINGS
An AGM shall be held in May each year at such time and place as may be determined by the Committee and at least three weeks’ notice of such meeting shall be given by email to the members. The quorum at an AGM shall be one-third of the total membership.
General Meetings shall be held monthly at such time and place as may be determined by the President. The quorum at a General Meeting shall be one-third of the total membership.
The President shall, as required, call for the Committee to meet not less than four times during the year. The quorum at a Committee Meeting shall be four.
8. VOTING
Voting shall be by show of hands or by ballot if so determined. In the event of an equal division of votes, the President, or in his absence the officer presiding shall have the casting vote.
9. LUNCHEONS AND EVENTS
Members are required to inform of their attendance and lunch selection or absence from a luncheon by the date given in the lunch notification.
Any cancellation of a previously advised attendance after the date given in the lunch notification will mean the member’s lunch has been ordered and no refund to the member will be made.
Similarly, an event will have a booking date and the Club will only accept bookings from members that have paid and booked by this date. Any cancellation of a previously advised attendance after the booking date given in the event notification will mean the member’s booking has been confirmed and no refund to the member will be made.
The only exception to the above is at the discretion of the Club where a late booking can be accepted, or its liability of a cancellation can be avoided.
10. HEALTH & SAFETY
Members are required to have read and understood the Club’s Health and Safety Policy and accept the duty of care this imposes upon them. The policy can be found on the Club’s website under downloads.
Alternatively, the Honorary Treasurer will supply a hard copy upon request.
11. ALTERATIONS
Proposals to change Club rules will normally be considered at an AGM. However, if required the President, with the agreement of the Committee, may request members to consider a change at a General meeting.
Rules ratified on 11th May 2023 AGM by members