The Probus Club is as simple as enjoying activities with new and longtime friends.
The club started as a way for retired and semi-retired business, professional and other people to get together, especially when they have moved somewhere and want to meet new people.
“It’s a great way to meet the new people and get to know the area you have moved to and what’s available there,” said Kim Creed, who joined the club with his wife, Billie, when they moved to Vernon.
“It’s one of the best things we’ve ever done because of the structure of the club. We can go to meetings when we want and it’s fine to go away in the winter. There’s no fundraising or political affiliation, just good friendship. You meet such nice people.”
The Probus Club is a community service of Rotary Clubs around the world but the Probus Clubs are independent. There are monthly meetings with speakers on a variety of topics and smaller groups meet for activities like golf, hiking, bridge, book clubs, dining out, pot lucks and any other interest groups members want to organize.
While members individually are active in other organizations and service clubs in the community, Probus is a purely social club.
Kal and Gay Newell joined the club when they moved to Vernon from Regina.
“It gave us a whole group of new friends and interesting things to do. The members are so interesting and have done so many things. One has worked in Afghanistan and spoke about that experience, and someone else spoke about building a boat and sailing around the world. We also have speakers from local organizations for information ,” said Kal Newell.
Members enjoyed hosting Probus Rendezvous 2013 earlier this year when they invited 150 Probus Club members from Salmon Arm for a day of entertainment.
“We’re all people who like to be busy and involved,” said Jean Wetherill, who has lived in Vernon longer but likes being a club member so she can help welcome newer residents.
The Probus Club meets the second Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon at Knox Presbyterian Church in Vernon. For more information, contact Bruce and Lyn Jackson at 250-260-1068 or bruce1280@hotmail.com.
