Page 116 - Friendships Through the Years

(Author’s note – Reference to this Club’s annual financial statements for the years –
1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 indicate that we did not pay our dues referred to above,
although we did pay Probus Association of Victoria and Probus Outer Eastern Region the
necessary fees. In 1997/98 we again paid those two Associations but also $68.20 to
Probus Centre – South Pacific. So, unfortunately, it appears that when a decision was
made to join the Probus Association of Victoria, (the Dromana ‘mob’), a decision must
have been made not to pay any more dues to the P.C.- S.P (the Sydney ‘mob’), though no
record could be found of any such decision, so possibly it could have been an oversight.)
The article continues:

“Many of those who had been content to ‘free -load’ previously, strongly objected
and refused to pay on numerous spurious grounds such as ‘we don’t have to pay
as we are autonomous’ or, would you believe, ‘we prefer to continue with the
donation system’. Why wouldn’t they, as they may never have made a donation
before!”
After acceptance of a model constitution, clubs were accredited by the Probus
Centre and told that, while they abided by the constitution, they were virtually
free to do as they pleased. Thereafter, the Probus Centre bowed out and took no
part in the management of their Club affairs. Using autonomy as a reason for not
contributing to legitimately raised capitation fees is equivalent to saying ‘if we
hire a hall for our meetings and receive an account for payment’ or ‘if we receive
an account for our morning tea’ or ‘Probus Supplies sends us an account for
Probus paraphernalia supplied, we do not have to pay because we are
autonomous.’ How ridiculous.
For those who question the Centre’s authority, R.D.U. Ltd., owner of the name
and logo, handed over complete management control to the Probus Centre to
administer Probus affairs generally, including finances, and appointed a
committee of nine (9) Probians on a triennial basis to run it without interference.”
The clubs are first priority for the Probus Centre. No other body, INCLUDING
ASSOCIATIONS, can be interposed between the Probus Centre and the clubs.
Any information directed to the Centre must generally come from or through a
club. Any information for distribution from the Centre must go to and through the
clubs, although the Centre has now agreed to include the Associations in any such
distribution. No direct official connection exists between the Centre and
Associations, because they have been autonomously formed by the Clubs, which
become their members, and to whom the Associations become answerable,
definitely not vice-versa which is a wrongful assumption some Associations and
clubs have made in the past.
In July 1996, all Associations were invited to Sydney, costs paid, for general
discussion including some of their transgressions. After a deal of discussion, they
agreed - To provide a vehicle for the exchange of ideas and information between
member clubs. To assist, advise and co-ordinate the activities of member clubs.
To protect the integrity of Probus and the unauthorised use of the Probus name
and emblem.