Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
of Probus”, founding member Harold Blanchard writes,<br />
“...one of our more erudite members came up with the idea of<br />
PROBUS, PROfessional and BUSiness, He assured us that Probus was<br />
aLatin word from which “probity” was derived, and the name was<br />
adopted with enthusiasm. Incidentally we found there was avillage<br />
in Cornwall called Probus and also there was aRoman Emperor of<br />
the same name who in his day was famous for his cultivation of the<br />
vine.” (Editor’s note: Marcus Aurelius Probus reigned from 276-<br />
282 B.C. and planted vineyards in Gaul, Spain, and Britain.)<br />
Due to the success of these two clubs, which incidentally never merged,<br />
Probus Clubs were promoted in adjacent towns. There are now<br />
approximately 1,700 clubs in Great Britain.<br />
In 1974, Probus expanded into New Zealand and by 1976 the idea had<br />
spread to Australia. Although Probus membership has its greatest<br />
concentrations in Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand, clubs today<br />
exist in all parts of the world, including the U.S., Belgium, India, Cyprus,<br />
Japan, and several countries in Africa and Asia.<br />
The first Probus Club for seniors in North America was sponsored by the<br />
Rotary Club of Galt in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada in 1987. Growth in<br />
Canada (since 1987) has resulted in the successful development of over<br />
148 clubs across Canada with over 18,000 members with an average club<br />
membership of over 100.<br />
Probus Clubs are in essence autonomous and as such have no central<br />
governing body,but Probus Centers have been established internationally<br />
by country to disseminate information and assist clubs. Probus Canada,<br />
for example, provides anational insurance liability plan to cover<br />
individual club meetings and activities. Offices are staffed largely by<br />
volunteers, and operating costs are met by member contributions. The<br />
Probus worldwide web page ( www.probus.org), contains information on<br />
Probus, and includes contacts for many international Probus Clubs, the<br />
Informal Probus Network of chat groups, and several segments dealing<br />
with information about forming aProbus Club, Probus services, etc.<br />
~ The information in this section is based on material found on the Probus<br />
Canada website.<br />
page 8