Well …. Here we are in the month of May already. Time seems to fly by so quickly – especially if we aren’t watching the clock!

The Management Committee team has been very busy over the past month on several key initiatives:

• Membership renewal follow-up calls have been completed and our latest tally shows that we have 111 active members for 2024. Our 2024 budget anticipated a membership roster of 120 – so, we need to continue looking for recruitment opportunities.
• A new membership brochure has been developed and printed. This is a very valuable recruitment tool, so pick up a few copies at the next meeting and share them with any friends or neighbours who might be interested in giving PROBUS a try.
• A small team is currently reviewing our Club’s Constitution, By-Laws and Management Committee Position Descriptions. It’s been many years since these were last updated. PROBUS Canada is currently updating their Standard Constitution for all Clubs and their By-Laws at their April 26^th Our Constitution is based on their standard one, so the timing for our review is perfect.
• Another small working group is developing a Member Survey that we plan to conduct in the fall, to seek member input on what you would like your club to be doing. Stay tuned.

While reflecting on this past month’s activities, I was struck by the thought of “What MAY we be doing”. A quick Google search of the word “may” provided two specific definitions:

• Expressing possibility – “That may be true.”
• Expressing permission – “May I ask a few questions?”

There were also a few variations on this word, such as “maybe” and “mayhem” If we think about the relationship of these words, this sequential continuum pops up:

Maybe    –    May     –    Mayhem

We start with what’s possible, move to giving ourselves permission to act, thus avoiding confusion and disappointment.

This sequence of action provides a solid foundation for creating a strong, vibrant Club. And we each have a part to play in making this happen – so get involved and pitch in where you can. With an optimistic attitude, great things can happen!

“The optimist is the kind of person who believes a housefly is looking for a way out.”

George Jean Nathan

Jim McKinlay,
President