What is PROBUS

Retirement can come too early for many people who want and are able to remain active. PROBUS clubs are organizations for men and women who have retired and want to maintain a social network with others who have similar interests. Each PROBUS club is sponsored by a Rotary club or another PROBUS Club and meets at least once a month for fellowship and to hear guest speakers. Today, there are over 400,000 members in approximately 4,000 PROBUS clubs worldwide.

Once established, the club becomes an autonomous organization and its members take over leadership. Potential PROBUS members are not required to be past members of Rotary. Fewer than 10% of PROBUS members are former Rotarians.

Since 1985, the Rotary International Board has encouraged Rotary clubs to initiate projects that address the needs of people in retirement. At its March 1994 meeting, the Board reaffirmed its commitment by urging Rotarians to organize and support PROBUS clubs as a commended community service activity.

PROBUS ACTIVITIES

PROBUS Clubs worldwide are not service organizations and are non-sectarian and nonpolitical, although members are largely active volunteers in many community organizations. Clubs are formed to provide social events and schedule speakers to keep members up to date with community issues and happenings. Many members have formed smaller interest groups for hobbies such as sports, entertainment, bridge playing, fishing, travel, computers, etc.

While numerous individual members regularly offer assistance with area community service projects, (if one should check the individual service activities of members in any given club, the average member would probably carry out far more volunteer service than those in most service clubs),... PROBUS Clubs pride themselves on their independence and freedom from the responsibilities of a service club. The structure of the clubs is simple, and members are not required to attend a minimum number of meetings.

PROBUS clubs have no central governing body but PROBUS Centers have been established internationally by country to disseminate information and assist clubs. Offices are staffed largely by volunteers and operating costs are met by member contributions

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