Uppingham Probus Club Constitution Revised February 2026

 

1.0TitleThe Club shall be known as the UPPINGHAM PROBUS CLUB

 

2.0 Aim To promote friendship and fellowship amongst members and activities for their mutual interest and benefit.3.0 Membership

 

3.1 Shall be open to gentlemen who have retired or are about to retire from PROfessional or BUSiness occupations, and any gentlemen who have had a measure of responsibility in any field of endeavour.

 

3.2 Applicants shall have attended a luncheon meeting as a guest at the expense of the Club, before being considered for membership.

 

3.3 Comments are invited from members before the Committee decides whether the applicant can be accepted.

 

3.4 A newly elected member will be welcomed by the President and will introduce himself to the members at his first meeting

 

3.5 The Secretary shall be informed at least four days before luncheon meetings of a member’s intention to attend. If the member then misses the luncheon, any expenses incurred by the Club will be paid by the member.

 

3.6 Members shall permit the Club and members of the Club to hold such details of their addresses, e-mail addresses, phone numbers and other data as the Club shall regard as necessary for the proper management of the Club in whatsoever form as proves efficient.

 

4.0 The Committee

 

4.1 The officers of the Club shall be: the President; Vice Presidents; Immediate Past President; President Elect; Hon Secretary; Hon Treasurer and the Speaker Organiser.

 

4.2 All officers shall stand for election each year at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

 

4.3 The President Elect shall be elected by the Club at the AGM and shall become President after the next AGM.

 

4.4 The Committee shall consist of these officers and any other members elected by the membership.

 

4.5 Nominations for officers and committee membership, properly proposed and seconded by members, shall reach the Honorary Secretary at least two days before an AGM.

 

4.6 The Committee will meet as often as required but at least once before the AGM. One half of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. Committee business may be conducted online.

 

4.7 The Committee may co-opt further members as deemed necessary. Co-opted members shall stand down at the next AGM.5.0 Finance

 

5.1 The annual subscription shall be determined at the AGM. It will be due immediately and should be paid within eight weeks of that meeting.

 

5.2 Disbursements to charities, agreed at the AGM, shall be limited to the proceeds of a collection or raffle at a ladies’ lunch or other social event.

 

5.3 The Club shall open a bank account in its name. The signature of two officers shall be required for both withdrawals and payments from that account. The names of at least three of the officers will be registered with the bank as signatories. The Club may also operate such an account online.

 

5.4 The financial year shall run from 1st March to 28th/29th February

 

5.5 Annual accounts shall be prepared by the Honorary Treasurer and scrutinised and approved by a nominated member prior to the AGM. The annual accounts shall then be presented to the AGM for approval by the members.

 

6.0 Meetings

 

6.1 The AGM shall be held in March each year.

 

6.2 The quorum necessary at an AGM or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) shall be one third of the members entitled to attend and vote thereat.

 

6.3 The Club will meet for lunch and usually a talk once each calendar month, normally on the second Thursday. Other activities may include visits, a ladies’ lunch and such other activities as promote social interaction between members and guests.

 

6.4 EGMs may be called by the Committee or at the request of at least twenty percent of the membership. The Honorary Secretary must give written notice to the membership at least a week before the EGM, along with details of any business to be discussed.

 

6.5 Members shall notify the Honorary Secretary at least a week in advance of any business items they wish to have discussed at a meeting.

 

6.6 Voting shall be decided by a simple majority with a show of hands, or other such means as the chairman of the meeting shall decide. The chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote in case of equality. Voting shall be restricted to members present in person (except as detailed in clause 8.0 below).

 

7.0 Dissolution

 

7.1 Dissolution of the Club may only occur following a resolution passed at an AGM or EGM.

 

7.2 Any surplus funds shall be paid to such charity as that meeting so decides.

 

8.0 Alterations to the Constitution

 

Any proposal to amend or add to the provisions of the constitution of the Club may be made either at the AGM of the Club or at an EGM for which two weeks notice shall be given to the membership accompanied by written notice of the proposed amendment(s) or addition(s). A two-thirds majority of the full membership is required for a change to be made. Members unable to attend the meeting will be allowed to vote by post or electronic means (email, SMS etc)