Tag Archives: retired

President’s Message

Are we getting the full benefit of membership?
Probus members in Canada, about 22,000 of them, have an advantage over the members of most service and social clubs. To start with, Probus clubs are not fund-raisers or assigned to supporting the community or medical needs of others, although we may support volunteer activities individually. We are free to enjoy ourselves and meet our own hedonistic pursuits for social and mental stimulation. So far we haven’t taken much advantage of the Probus potential. Many extra activities are possible. Some clubs, especially those with female membership, will have a dozen or more extra activities. For example the new Credit River Club has 14 activity groups. Another combined club has three book clubs, two or more card clubs. a garden club, hiking club and computer club. Others have dining groups and even a scotch tasting group. We only have an active book club and an investment club and have done some golf. Our members should look around and see where we could take more advantage of the possibilities.

Gerry Sutton, our overworked VP and Speakers Chairman will preside at the next meeting, in February, while I return to Mexico to study the effects of the drug and booze trade on Gringos.

– Dave Patterson

President’s Message

Probus is expanding in Canada. There are about 2000 people on waiting lists. A new mixed gender club has just been formed in Port Credit and another women only club has been added in Burlington. Hopefully our club will soon have a website to reach out to those looking for stimulating social interaction with like-minded people.

I have just returned from a trip to Tunisia, the Arabic nation on the Mediterranean Sea between Algeria and Libya, and the first to start the Arab Spring revolutions. They were also the first to succeed based on using cell phones. It started as a local protest initiated by the suicide of a young man in December 2010. It spread by Facebook and Twitter. There was no news of it on the government controlled TV or newspapers. A local rap singer sang about the corruption of the president/dictator and his family on YouTube which was supported by millions clicking on the “like” icon, which tallied their responses.

The people coordinated their surge into the streets in protest using their cell phones. They swarmed the president’s guard and disarmed them. In January the president fled to Saudi Arabia, and has been convicted in absentia of embezzlement.

Elections were held in October. Tunisia has a good chance of success, having a relatively secular and tolerant society and without the tribal divisions bedeviling Libya and other African countries.

See you at the Xmas lunch on December 8th !

– Dave Patterson

Membership Notes

A number of long-standing members resigned during the recent annual dues renewal exercise. Failing health was the number one reason with resignations from six members: Dave Cartwright, Bill Garton, Lorne Marvel, George Usher, Keith Warren and charter member Reg McAllan. (We now only have 2 charter members active.) Our best wishes to these now former members.

Other reasons given were: Raymond Faucher has moved, Bob Kanko has joined North Oakville and Bob Myers and Joe O’Reilly can no longer make meetings. And sadly, over the past year, nine of our members died: Vern Williams, Alan Sutton, Harold Stensson, Vern German, Ed Tombs, Patrick Murphy, Harry Shore, Peter McWilliams and Jack Toten.

President’s Message

Probus members belong to a world class organization. Our club is one of 4000 clubs worldwide with 300,000 members in 15 countries. There are 70 clubs in Canada with 22,000 members. When traveling, you may wish to visit them. For contacts, and services see www.probus.org/canada. Probus also provides a good travelers’ health insurance program, which some of our members recommend: See the web site: www.johnson.ca/probus/en/on. Check out CARP too for those over age 75.

Your Management Committee is working on several future-looking initiatives: We negotiated a more moderate rental rate increase with Maplegrove Church. We are developing a website which will display information about our club, contacts etc. for ourselves but more importantly for prospective members who are looking for information on us but may be drawn to competing websites. We need new members to infuse us with new perspectives and support club services. Some other clubs have waiting lists and are promoting new clubs. Most clubs have a variety of special interest groups — card clubs, hiking, gardening, dining, computer, golfing and even a single malt club. We only have the investment and book clubs. We can do much more but this requires more volunteering. We are fortunate now to have dedicated officers and volunteers. Some of our volunteers travel and vacation extensively but still cover their posts. They all deserve our thanks.

My travels will take me to Tunisia in November where I may see the Arab Spring rituals first hand! Some say Fall is the best season. Enjoy!
– Dave Patterson