CONSTITUTION

OF

TEIGNMOUTH PROBUS CLUB

[As at 2025-01-15]

1. TITLE  The Club shall be called the TEIGNMOUTH PROBUS CLUB and shall be non-political and non-sectarian.                  
2. OBJECTIVES A not-for-profit club of simple structure, to be free of the constraints and obligations of service clubs (such as promoting a businesses or fundraising for charitable causes) and involves members in minimal cost. The primary objective is to provide fellowship between members who are compatible with each other, and the opportunity for the development of acquaintances through meetings, lectures, outings and similar activities.                                                                                                                         
3. MEMBERSHIP  Membership shall be open to all professional and businessmen who have retired from their normal business or profession and are now resident within the Teignmouth area, or as laid down by the Committee.                           
4. LIFE and HONORARY MEMBERSHIP  Life Membership shall be conferred upon any member attaining his 90th Birthday, otherwise Honorary Membership may be granted at the discretion of the Committee.                                                 
5. SUBSCRIPTIONS The annual subscription and meeting attendance fee shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting. Members joining in July to September shall pay half the subscription, and those joining after September shall pay nothing until the following year.                                                                                                                                              The subscriptions are to cover Hire of Hall, Coffee, Speakers expenses and other incidental expenses in operating the Club shall be determined at the AGM.                                                                                                                                                   
6. CONSTITUTION   There shall be a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and a Speaker Finder. The affairs of the Club shall be managed by a Committee consisting of these officers and two other members all of whom, except the Chairman, will be elected at the Annual General Meeting.  In addition to the Committee, a Press Officer, Registrar and Accounts Examiner shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting. The Vice-Chairman will automatically assume the position of Chairman for the ensuing year. The Chairman of the Club will automatically retire from office on completion of ONE YEAR in the chair and will become an ex-officio committee member for the year following his retirement.  The nominations for officers and committee shall be promulgated at the meeting prior to the Annual General Meeting and all retiring officers and members shall be eligible for re-election.                                                                            Five members of the Committee shall constitute a Quorum and the committee shall have power to appoint one or more sub-committees and co-opt members to any committee.                                                                                                      Members holding posts as deputy to officers shall be ex-officio members of the Committee.                                                     
7. MEETINGS  The Club shall meet every First and Third Wednesday at 10.30 a.m. at the Richard Newton Hall, Higher Buckeridge Road, Teignmouth, or as otherwise decided, for coffee, biscuits and to conduct the business of the Club.         An Annual General Meeting shall be held on the Third Wednesday in January of each year at such a time and place as may be determined by the Committee. At least THREE weeks notice of such meeting shall be given orally to members. Voting at all meetings shall be by a show of hands or by a Ballot if so determined. In the event of an equal division of Votes the Chairman of the Meeting shall have a second or casting vote. The Hon Secretary shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting at the request of the Chairman or of fifteen members and shall give members at least three weeks notice of such a meeting.                                                                                                                                                                                        
8. ACCOUNTS  An Income and Expenditure Account for the period to the end of DECEMBER each year shall be prepared and, after examination by a member appointed at a previous Annual General Meeting, be presented for approval at the Annual General Meeting.                                                                                                                                                              
9. GUESTS  A Member may introduce ONE guest to any meeting provided that the same guest shall not be brought to a meeting more than THREE times in any one year.                                                                                                            Rotary Club members will be welcome to attend as Guests occasionally.

Amendments 2023           

Add Clause 2 Objectives and renumber                     Amend Clause 5 Subscriptions add meeting attendance fee

Amend Clause 7 Constitution to include the appointments of Press Officer, Registrar(s) and Accounts Examiner

Amend Clause 7 Meetings to move ‘or as otherwise decided’ to after the venue address

Amendment 2025 Add to clause 2 Objectives '(such as promoting businesses or........

Teignmouth Probus Club approved at the 2025 Annual General Meeting.

                                                                                         

                        John Polley                                                                                    

Signed………………………………………..                       Date: 15th January 2025

Secretary