Good morning

We are now just a week away from our Club development seminar which will be held on 23rd March at The Bridge House Hotel at Longham.  The event will start at 10.00 am when coffee and biscuits will be available and is expected to conclude by 12.30 pm.  There is a large car park behind the hotel.  They have recently installed a drop down barrier, so just drive in and collect a slip with the exit code from reception when you are ready to leave.

The purpose of the event is to draw together a mix of newer and more established Club members to work together with a positive intent to determine how we can best build FPC for the future.

To help preparation, attached for information is an agenda for the day, a background page on PROBUS Global and the growth of Ferndown PROBUS Club, plus a summary of the comments members have already made to help inform the Seminar process.

If you have any questions please let me know, otherwise thank you for being willing to get involved and I look forward to joining you for what I am sure will be an important milestone towards establishing the future direction of our Club.

Kind regards Alan

Alan Stevens
43 Hazel Drive, Ferndown
Dorset, BH22 9SP
Ph: 01202 876826
Mob: 07785 732336
E: alan_stevens@talk21.com

Ferndown PROBUS Club development seminar to be held at

The Bridge House Hotel, 2 Ringwood Rd, Longham, BH22 9AN  Ph: 01202 578828

 On Wednesday 23^rd March from 10.00 – 12.30pm.

Registered attendees as at 14^th March:

Roger Armstrong, Alan Bardsley, Derek Brown, Kevin Cartwright, Sid Davis, Keith Gray, Geoffrey Holland (tbc), Gerry Hughes, Chris Loring, John Luxford, Roger Newman, Gordon Pond, Brian Quist, Alan Redknap, Charles Rees, Ian Reeves, Alan Stevens,

Seminar purpose:  Identify priorities, focus on what is practical, promote more support for both member and club activities.

Remember, today there’s no such thing as a bad idea.

Background:

• FPC is primarily a monthly lunch with speaker club, plus a coffee morning, occasional ladies lunch, brunch and other outside events
• A brief history of both PROBUS Global and Ferndown PROBUS Club has been circulated to delegates for information prior to the event.

 

AGENDA

Introduction and purpose of the seminar:

• Draw together a mix of newer and more established Club members to work together with a positive intent to determine how we can best build FPC for the future. 

The overall Club experience:

• What are the current strengths and weaknesses of FPC?

New member integration and support:

• How would our newer members describe their club experience?
• What do they feel we are we good at and what could we do better?
• How can we most effectively build future membership?
• Any outstanding thoughts or ideas to improve members club experience?

Lunches and Coffee mornings:

• How could our monthly lunches and coffee mornings be made more enjoyable? 

Events:

• What Club events would you like to see in the future? 

Speakers:

• What speaker topics would you like to see introduced for the future? 

Club support from members:

• A personal benefit of doing something for the club is getting to know people.
• There has been a strong willingness from newer members to get involved in support of our ‘Buddy’ system. So how can we build on that?
• Could we develop the Buddy concept to become befrienders or hosts?
• Would you help to organise one-off events adds significant value to the club?
• How about a Members rota to support sign in at lunches and coffee events?
• Other ideas?

MEMBERS THOUGHTS AND IDEAS FOR CONSIDERATION.

What follows is a combination of member inputs on this subject and additional thoughts for your consideration in preparation for our seminar on 23^rd March.

The overall Club experience:

• What are the current strengths and weaknesses of FPC?

• How could we improve the members experience at FPC?

New member support/integration:

• On my first day at the delayed summer lunch, my wife and I were given VIP treatment but having joined the Club I must say it has been a struggle ever since. I have introduced myself and decided to dump myself on various tables each meeting.  Members that I have already spoken to give me a nod at the next meeting but then I’m looking for a spare seat at a table that hasn’t already been bagged. This does not make it easy to integrate. At the last meeting I found myself with no one to speak to but luckily, I managed to find a spare seat next to a new member.

• The committee are just strange faces and I have hardly spoken to any during the monthly meetings since I joined. I introduced myself to a committee member on my first day, but he has not spoken to me since! What’s the problem?

• Could we not open the bar circa 11am with sit down promptly at 12.30 pm. This gives ample time for members to check in and socialise in the bar before going to lunch. This could prove to be very successful in enabling people to make introductions in addition to groups of friends who may stick together. The committee and buddies are all available and all committee members are identifiable by their badges. Members do not then enter the dining area before 12.30.

• The Buddy system has worked well and ensured new members get a warm welcome on their first visit. On their second visit however, new members are likely to be left to find their own way.  Could we extend the Buddy concept to add members in the role of Befrienders or Hosts?  Their task would be to spot new guys coming to their second or third meetings, introduce themselves and accompany them for lunch?

• What else could we do to more effectively attract positive new members to the club?

• What should we be doing differently to ensure we retain new members for the longer term?

Lunches:

• I think the Dudsbury lunches have run their course. I would like to have something smaller, better quality and quicker.

• Takes too long to get to speaker and then we all get bored with the wait. Needs to be a bit more snappy.

• Might it be possible to have lunch meetings at differing venues. Must we be tied to Dusdsbury?

• I have found that Dudsbury do not always have the bar up and running at midday which in itself would be a tight schedule for even getting a drink let alone mingling and making acquaintances before sitting down. Most members seem to grab a drink and immediately go and reserve seats at a table thereby not mixing freely.

• Regarding layout, round tables appear to be the norm. Could we not revert to a long Chairmans table with seats on one side and spur tables running from it with seats either side. This gave more flexibility for members to chat with more people (and hear each other!).

• It is interesting that you hold a committee meeting on the same day as the lunch. Could meetings not be held on other days when things are not so rushed leaving the committee free at lunches to mingle?

• To create more effective mixing, could we not develop a random system whereby members draw a number on arrival and take a seat at their predetermined seat marked by numbers on the table? This has been tried before but has been scuppered by clique members who only want to sit with their friends.  Is it worth another try?

Events:

• Keep the brunches going – I think they are quite popular.

• Resume the idea of cultural coach outings – in the past those to Bletchley Park and Bristol were well received, but don’t be too ambitious!

• What additional activities could we practically add to our events programme in order to add value and how could the event organisation be resourced?

Speakers:

• Let us hear more from the members themselves, many of whom have tales to tell.

Club support from members:

• I do agree with what you state regarding getting more members involved in running the Club. You don’t need to be on Committee to take charge of something like an event.

• Recent health questions have arisen to affect current committee members. To stop us going the same way as so many clubs of our type, for our longer-term survival we need to work out how we can attract members to take a turn in helping to run our club.  For example, this could take the form of organising one-off activities, or shadowing current committee members and then stepping in to provide short term cover at times of illness or holidays etc.?

• What could members do to better support the club and help release the workload on a small number of committee members?

• As it would save both the charges for the card reader and treasurer work time, how can we encourage members to pay by BACS ahead of lunches?

• The buddy system has given members a commitment free way to support the club. Could this expand to organising one off events, such as a brunch or visit to a place of interest?  How about a rota for lunches and coffee mornings whereby members support the Treasurer at sign-in?  How about taking on a short-term role of event host at lunches, brunches and coffee mornings with the responsibility to ensure members are comfortable and have all they need during an event?

A Short History of PROBUS and Ferndown Probus Club

 The Probus Global Organisation

The word Probus is an abbreviation of the words PRO-fessional and BUS-iness.

Probus clubs provide an opportunity for retired professionals to attend regular social meetings with like-minded people who appreciate similar interests. Probus also provides a support network for professionals when they retire, these clubs were initially started for men but over the years has seen a steady growth in Ladies and Mixed clubs.

The Probus Club movement was initially formed in the United Kingdom in 1965 but has since spread to many countries throughout the world and has even been described by a member in Australia as the best thing England ever exported.

Ferndown PROBUS Club

Shortly before Christmas, on 11^th December 1979, a meeting was held at the Whincroft Hotel with the aim of forming a new Probus Club.

The Rotary Club of Ferndown sponsored the project, a managing Committee was formed who then drew up a draft constitution, proposed administration details and a plan to arrange monthly luncheon meetings.

The inaugural luncheon of the Ferndown & District Probus Club was held at the Whincroft Hotel on Tuesday 22^nd January 1980.

The Club proved to be popular and a waiting list was created, but this problem was solved when another Club was opened in the area in 1982 and was named West Moors Probus Club.

 In 1983 the Whincroft Hotel, situated on the corner of Wimborne Road East and Whincroft Close, was closed and demolished, so the club re-established itself at the Coach House Hotel in November 1983. This hotel was then also demolished and the club were again obliged to find an alternative venue. In August 2000 we made our new home at the St. Leonards Hotel.

The two local Probus Clubs were so successful that in 1987 another Club was formed and named Forest Edge Probus Club resulting in three Probus Clubs in the near locality. Nevertheless, in August 2004 the West Moors Probus Club closed and the same happened to Forest Edge Probus Club.

At the Annual General Meeting held in March 2004 the name of the Club was changed to Ferndown Probus club.  Then in 2005 the club celebrated its 25^th Anniversary.

Meanwhile, we were obliged to leave the St. Leonards Hotel and moved our lunches and Coffee Mornings to Dudsbury Golf Club in April 2007.  We currently remain at Dudsbury Golf Club where we hold our monthly Lunches and Coffee Mornings.

Club membership currently stands at 41 Regular members, 11 Associate members and 14 Consociate members.  Since returning from the period of COVID restrictions the club has moved forward strongly and has so far attracted 9 new members to join us.

Ferndown Probus Club Development Seminar – 23^rd March, The Bridge House Hotel

Attendees – Roger Armstrong, Alan Bardsley, Kevin Cartwright, Keith Gray, Geoffrey Holland, Gerry Hughes, Chris Loring, John Luxford, Roger Newman, David Oddy, Gordon Pond, Brian Quist, Alan Redknap, Ian Reeves, Alan Stevens, Richard White.

Apologies – Derek Brown, Sid Davis, Ian Potentier,  Charles Rees

What do we do well?

• Those present felt that as a club we were strong on Welfare, Befriending and initially welcoming guests and holding events that include the ladies and guests of members

What do we do less well and can improve upon – Lunch/coffee morning experience

• Buddy system needs to be enhanced to a) give longer support to the newer club members and b) improve integration between the older and newer club members
  
  Action: Alan Redknap offered to act as conduit to assist on both elements of above and Roger Newman and David Oddy subsequently offered to assist also
  
  Action: Committee members to be spread across multiple tables to improve two-way communication of Probus matters
  
  
• Use of name badges/membership list – need to encourage greater wearing of the name badges, especially for the benefit of the newer members. Is reverting to the previous system of a single point of contact for the issue and collection/retention of name badges on arrival and departure worth considering?

Action: Committee members to discuss and agree the preferred option

• Can membership list and/or badges be enhanced to include photos?

Action: Committee to consider points raised and investigate costs, if appropriate

• Can table layout be improved? The merits of circular and long tables were discussed with a circular table seating 6 probably the optimum practical choice of those present.

Action: Committee to consider and please see Questions for Dudsbury

• Improve integration of members via random seating (e.g. drawing of table number)

Action: Committee to consider trialling at a future meeting (with notice given)?

• Implement a free lunch for potential new members?

Action: Committee to consider 

Speakers

• There was strong consensus from those present that they would like to have more speakers from within the group (perhaps a session dedicated to >1/2 members giving an overview of their life stories or a Q&A type session across all members on specific topics)
• Could the Speaker be before lunch?
• All were encouraged to submit any particular Speaker requests to Charles Rees
  
  Action: Committee to consider and please see Questions for Dudsbury

Special Lunches/Social Events

• Consider venues other than Dudsbury for e.g. ladies lunches, although it was acknowledged it’s difficult to find somewhere as convenient
  
  
• Some discussion was held on potential other events, including ‘twinning’ with other groups but it was acknowledged that appetite was limited, as witnessed by cancellation of President’s Dinner and slow uptake for the Jubilee lunch
  
  
• Richard White offered to organise a future event, possibly at the St. Leonards and St. Ives Village Hall
  
  Action: Committee to consider; Gerry Hughes has prepared a questionnaire designed to ascertain the current mood of members for any social event and offering potential event ideas. Gerry is also asked to propose an events plan for the remainder of the year for agreement at the next committee meeting in April.

Welfare  

• Question was raised on the format of Welfare briefings ongoing. The suggested response was to leave as is for now and newer members were interested in knowing more about our older members, which hopefully is in part addressed by proposed greater integration measures.
  
  
• There was much praise for our Covid-initiated contact regimen which was welcomed by the vast majority of membership. David Oddy was especially effusive.
  
  

Publicity/New Member drive  

• A suggestion was made that to complement our existing practices (our current efforts are viewed most favourably) that we attend local events to hand out e.g. promotional leaflets and promote the club. Fete on The Field – Ferndown was suggested as a possibility and Chris Loring has a contact to assist with tent/stall if appropriate for us

Action: Committee to consider and promotional volunteer to be identified. 

Questions for Dudsbury

• Can an earlier start time for our meetings be accommodated to facilitate greater socialising – e.g. bar opening at 11.00 or 11.30 am?
• Could a speaker before lunch type format be supported (e.g. 10.00-14:00 rather than 12:00-16:00)?
• Could a Spikes Bar menu system be supported to replace the current monthly menu plan?
• Are there any Dudsbury discount schemes in place that could be applied to us?
• Is there the scope for a 6-seater table option to be in place for our monthly lunches?
• Is our club publicity still in place within Dudsbury (will probably need updating)?
• Additionally, do Dudsbury have a Defibrillator on the premises and a first aider trained to use it?

Action: Alan Stevens to raise with Dudsbury and to advise responses

How might members support our Club?

• One personal benefit of doing something for the club is getting to know people.
• Would you help to organise one-off events as that can add significant value to the club?
• How about a Members rota to support sign in at lunches and particularly coffee mornings?
• How about saying Grace before lunch?
• Why not help to run raffles?
• Could we follow the example from other clubs and establish deputies for key club roles, thus providing cover for holidays or illness and possibly a natural succession plan?
• Is there any reason why all members should not pre-pay for lunches via BACS? It saves time at registration and also saves the club the cost of each card payment, so why not do it?

Action: Committee to consider and determine an effective way to address these issues.

One final thought – our current committee suffer the same aging and health issues as other clubs experience.  They can’t go on for ever, so please think about what you can do to help share the load.  We really don’t want to end up closing down like some other clubs just because members weren’t interested enough to step up and help keep our club alive and well in the years ahead. 

Action: All members to consider what they could do to better support our club going forward.