The Probus social club is fast becoming a popular choice for people looking to make new friends and have fun, and its Whitby branch recently celebrated its first anniversary.
Probus, which is a contraction of ‘Professional Business’, is a gathering of likeminded retired and semi-retired individuals. While it receives sponsorship from the Rotary Club, it is a separate entity. There are 5,000 clubs worldwide, with 225 of them in Canada.
The Whitby branch was started when demand outstripped the number of spaces available in Oshawa. According to the branch president Bob Ashdown, at first, organizers weren’t sure there’d be that much of an interest, but the community response has been enthusiastic. There are currently 266 members, and the list is growing.
The club hosts social events and guest speakers. Members are encouraged to branch off and form smaller sub-groups, based upon their areas of interest. These range from gardening to travel to sports and hiking. So far, there are at least 20 of these, so there is something to appeal to everyone. On top of that, there are also special outings such as evenings at the theatre and dances.
A group like this can be appealing to people who are retired but want to remain active, meet new people, and have fun. Brochure printers can create promotional materials to give to prospective members. These can explain the club and exactly what it does.
