Beaver Valley Probus Club

What is PROBUS?

PROBUS is a social club providing fellowship, friendship and fun for people from all walks of life in their semi-retirement or retirement years. It is volunteer-based, low cost, inclusive, non-profit, non-political, non-sectarian fellowship organization with over 4,000 clubs worldwide, some 240 being Canadian clubs with around 34,000 members.

Probus has a vital role to stimulate thought, interest and participation in activities at a time in life when it is easy to become complacent or isolated. Our clubs are all about encouraging healthy minds and bodies and socializing with other retirees in the community.

The emphasis is that the club be simple in structure, be free of the constraints and obligations of service clubs, and involve members at a minimal cost. The club is directed primarily to providing fun, fellowship between members and the opportunity for developing new acquaintances.

Probus clubs are independently operated but coordinated through PROBUS Canada based on a common club constitution. Each club decides how it operates within that framework and what activities and interests it promotes.

Who are the members of Beaver Valley PROBUS Club?

At Beaver Valley PROBUS Club, our members are men and women who are retired or nearly retired from a wide range of occupations.

Can I join as an individual or does my spouse/partner need to join too?

You can join as an individual as our club is open to all people, regardless of marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other ground protected in the Human Rights Act. However, if you have a partner, we encourage them to join if they plan to attend meetings and/or sign up for activities and events with you.

Do I have to live locally?

While our membership base primarily draws from the Town of The Blue Mountains and Meaford, you do not need to live locally.

Is it compulsory to participate in all activities?

Absolutely not, nor is attendance at meetings compulsory. However it is hoped that once you become a member you participate and volunteer in meetings and activities as that’s the best way to meet people and get involved.

How much does it cost to be a member?

The cost is $40 per person each year. There is a one-time initiation fee of $20 to cover the cost of your name badge.

When does Membership renewal take place?

Annual membership renewal takes place between December 1 and January 31. In Mid-January, membership opens up to new members to replace those who haven’t renewed.

How often are meetings and where are they held?

We hold our General Meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month, except in July, August, and December. We meet at the Beaver Valley Community Centre in Thornbury with doors opening and 1 PM and proceedings starting at 1:30 PM.

What happens at the meetings?

The first half of the meeting is used to communicate upcoming club activities and events and to conduct club business. This part of the meeting is followed by a break where there is ample time to refill your coffee mug, catch up with friends, try your luck at 50/50, and mingle with other club members. The second part of the meeting is used to showcase a guest speaker. There is time for a Q&A afterwards and meetings adjourn by about 3:30 PM.

Are Guests allowed at the meetings?

We encourage members to bring guests as it’s a great way for us to showcase our club. Many guests like to get a sense of Club membership and activities before they commit to joining. Guests are requested to sign-in at the Membership table.

Does the Club do fundraising activities?

No. PROBUS clubs do not do any fundraising. This is not the purpose of PROBUS.

Can I pay for an event, join, or renew my membership any other way besides a credit card?

No, the only way to pay is online via a credit card. We accept Visa and Master Card.

If I’ve already paid for an event and something comes up and I can’t go, can I get a refund?

Generally, refunds are not given. The primary reason for this is that event organizers frequently make a non-refundable financial commitment to secure an event and need revenue from ticket sales from members to cover this. If a member has paid for an event and finds they can’t attend, the member is encouraged to privately sell their ticket to another member or to check with the event organizer to see if there is a waiting list. If there is, the member can approach someone on the list and make a private sale.

How many members are in Beaver Valley PROBUS Club?

We have up to 600 members which is our self-imposed cap to ensure there is sufficient space for members to attend the General Meetings, events, and activities of their choice.

Can non-members participate in the club’s activities?

Non-members may attend once all members had an opportunity to sign up and provided that there are available slots. Guest are not invited to participate in more than one activity because our club was formed and is operated for the benefit of its members. It is the members who finance the club's operation and who do the work of running activity groups and events. Their interests are not being served by activities that are limited because of non-members.

How many activities does Beaver Valley PROBUS Club?

There are about 30 different activity groups, many with monthly or weekly outings, in particular during the warm months.

Can groups other than PROBUS promote their events to our membership?

Because of the number of community and commercial organizations asking to market to our membership, announcements at meetings are made only if approved by the Management Committee.

Who is PROBUS Canada?

PROBUS Canada is a non-profit corporation, incorporated under the Canada Corporations Act in 1995. The purpose of PROBUS Canada is to co-ordinate and provide services to PROBUS clubs across Canada. Each PROBUS club operates independently but coordinated through PROBUS Canada, so that the clubs themselves, through regional representatives on a national board, agree to a minimal measure of conformity through a Standard Constitution and suggested Bylaws.

Does PROBUS Canada have a policy on serving alcohol at PROBUS events?

PROBUS Canada takes no stance on serving alcohol. Each club is independent, with the only requirement being that they follow the Standard Constitution for PROBUS Clubs. Clubs are expected to follow provincial/federal laws and regulations in all matters, including serving alcohol.

Can the general public access personal information about members such as name, address, phone number, and email address from the Beaver Valley PROBUS Club website?

No. Personal information about members is accessible only to members. In fact, when new members join our Club, or existing members renew, they are asked to give Beaver Valley PROBUS Club authorization to publish their personal information (name, address, phone number, email) in the Beaver Valley PROBUS Club directory which is visible to members only.

Can the general public see photos of our members enjoying Club events on the Beaver Valley PROBUS Club website?

Yes. Photos of members enjoying Club events may be viewed by the general public. However, photos accessible to the public will not contain any personal information about members (name, address, phone number, email). Only members have access to personal information about other members.

Who is Personify and how do we know our data is kept secure and private?

Personify is the company owning the WildApricot product which we use to manage our club. In excess of 30 PROBUS Clubs in Canada are currently using the same software.

Here is their data security policy: https://www.wildapricot.com/data-protection

Here is their privacy policy: https://www.wildapricot.com/legal-center/privacy-policy

What is Beaver Valley PROBUS Club’s privacy policy?

Our privacy policy can be found on the footer of every page of our web site, together with our Terms of Use.