January 1, 2026

Christmas and New Year’s Eve are now behind us, as we turned the page on 2025, relegating the year to the history books. I trust that you had a safe and successful Holiday Season, celebrating with family and friends, creating treasured lasting memories. 

For some of you, 2025 may have been a year of loss of loved ones, of health, or a multitude of other, significant changes. To those, we offer our sincere best wishes, while offering assurance that your Probus family is there, walking with you every step of your journey.   

As the calendar changes, our hope is that 2026 brings a new chapter in your life, offering exciting adventures, health, travel, and being surrounded by the love and care of family and friends.

As part of your year end tradition, you may have once again made your annual intended resolutions, envisioning all the changes planned for your life for 2026. Every ‘success’ to you in realizing some of those lofty goals. Maybe one of your ambitions has been to contribute to making the world a better place in 2026! If that is the case, we just might be able to offer an opportunity.  That time of the year when we look forward to introducing a new Executive Team for 2026.

First, the great news. With sincere gratitude and appreciation, we thank each current Executive Team Committee Chair for their enthusiastic commitment to serve once again, for the new term.  Final nominations for Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer will be presented to the membership at the February general meeting (a month prior to the March AGM). To date, we have one nomination for Secretary, and one nomination for Treasurer, as fortunately both returning candidates are allowing their names to stand. 

The timing of your desire to contribute could well coincide with our search for a member to volunteer, or to be nominated, for the position of Vice President. 

Now, before you totally dismiss the thought, or you stop reading this message, I ask that you evaluate your ability to participate and contribute to your management team. I assure you that the role of Vice President is definitely not an arduous task, nor heavy slogging. In fact, quite the contrary, as the role has evolved into a fun position in which you would primarily serve as an overseer of all ‘happenings’ within the Club, without having to do the actual work.  How good is that?

With a thriving Club of nearly 200 members, we know that there is one member waiting to step up to share your talents, interests and skill-set, and to make a significant difference in the growth and further development of your Club.

You may feel that you are too new to the Club to contribute, especially newer members, but be assured that we have all been there. Almost half of your current Executive Team are relatively new members to both the Club, and to the management team.  So, you too can do it!  I trust that a chord has been struck and that you will now rally to the call.  I encourage a conversation with myself, or Vice President, Pat Hill, for further insight. 

Thanks for realizing and pushing your potential. Thanks also, from the perspective of the membership, for accepting responsibility for the Club’s future! 

Happy New Year to all!