As we move into the second half of 2026, we are looking forward to a couple of key changes. The first of these is the Management Committee’s proposal for a change to our Bylaws. There is a “Notice of Motion” in this Newsletter that explains the proposed changes.
The second change is that our current practice of “rotating chairs” for our General Meetings and our Management Committee Meetings is coming to a close, as of our July meetings. We have no meetings in August – just our Summer Picnic and Golf Tournament celebrations on August 5th. Then in September, Dawn Sadler’s role will shift from that of Vice-President to President. I will formally become Past President and the role of Interim President will disappear. But … this then leaves us with a vacancy for the role of Vice-President.
If the proposed bylaw changes are approved at our September meeting, that means that the time commitments for the roles of President, Vice-President and Past president will be significantly reduced. Hopefully, this will make it possible for some members to consider serving on the Management Committee’s leadership team.
Strong, focused leadership is critical for the successful operation of any organization. That includes our Probus Club. The leadership continuum from Vice-President to President to Past President can provide fresh, new ideas while also respecting the history of our club. That’s the balance we are trying to secure – from year-to-year.
Membership in an organization usually has two key elements. As a member, you are entitled to receive the benefits provided by the organization. And … as a member, you are expected to contribute to the success of the organization by participating in the activities and sharing some of the work required to operate the organization. This is known as the Give-Get Relationship.
If you expect to get something from the organization, is it not reasonable to expect you to give something in return? Yes, attending meetings and activities and paying membership and attendance fees is important. But the sharing of your skills, abilities and talents are also important contributions.
In most relationships, a 50-50 split between giving and getting usually generates good harmony. At times, each of us needs to re-evaluate our own personal give-get equation, to ensure that we don’t end up in a “get surplus” or a “give deficit”. Looking for ways to contribute to the success of our club is the foundation of responsible membership.
As I looked for a good closing quote, I had two options – so I ended up choosing both!!
“Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” (Vince Lombardi)
“Life is something like this trumpet. If you don’t put anything in it, you don’t get anything out.”
(W.C. Handy)
Jim McKinlay