Fellowship

  
An excerpt from the Blue Book section of the National Website.  (See "Blue Book" under Member Services for all things Progress.)
  

One of the foremost objectives of the Canadian Progress Club is the promotion of fellowship.  All clubs should endeavour to make this a major point in their program. 

Fellowship before and after meetings may take any of various forms decided by the individual club.  Some clubs have had success in sponsoring after-meeting get-togethers at members’ homes, while others endeavour to promote the same fellowship at another meeting place.

Promotion of fellowship outside of meetings can be assisted by social activities, sports, etc.  A bowling league, golf competitions, curling matches, spouse’s nights, stag and stagette nights, and picnics are all worthwhile activities, and can be the means of attaining a greater fellowship.

Nothing makes a person feel better than being welcomed.  All members should make a point of welcoming each member and guest at all meetings.

Entertainment
Entertainment is considered secondary to the existence of the Canadian Progress Club, yet it is of vital importance to create a good social program to acquaint spouses and other guests to the club, and also create an opportunity to further friendships created through association with the club.  Entertainment events don’t have to be large in scale.  Clubs may wish to consider smaller projects such as theatre parties, dinner engagements, home parties, barbecues, Spouses’ Day programs, club birthday parties, etc.

Inter-club Meetings Participation
Inter-Club meetings should be encouraged and promoted as they are a good opportunity for meeting and enjoying fellowship with members from another club and are usually a time for a lot of fun.  Plans should involve a visit at least once a year and hosting of a visiting club at least once.  All members should be encouraged to participate, especially new members.

Inter-Club meetings can be an opportunity for a good exchange of thinking, for the broadening of one’s viewpoints and for giving a clearer picture of Progress.  It should be arranged to take in the business portion of the meeting in the club you visit and arrange for them to do likewise when visiting your club.  It can be very interesting and informative to see how other clubs operate and function.  A program should be arranged when hosting a club so everything moves along smoothly, is interesting, and allows for participation and involvement by all.

Zone & Regional Meetings Participation
Zone and Regional meetings are a very necessary part of Progress affairs and should be fully participated in by all clubs.  They are where clubs can have a mutual exchange of thinking, trade ideas, get new ideas, where many of the various programs are formulated, where an individual and club have an opportunity to speak on Regional as well as National matters, and where resolutions that can affect the Region or even the National Association are drafted and discussed.

It is recommended that the President and Vice President be the representatives of the respective clubs and that provision be made by each club to invest in its said representatives sufficient authority to speak on behalf of the club on any matter, in order to facilitate the carrying out of routine matters.

At these meetings, new and experienced members have an excellent opportunity to broaden their Progress knowledge and experience.  It is strongly suggested that all new members be requested to attend at least one Zone and/or Regional meeting during their first year of membership, as it is usually found that once members have attended, they will be more informed and committed members.

Club Anniversary Celebration
This presents an excellent opportunity for briefly reviewing the history of the Association and of the individual club.  It is a time for reflection of the past and a rededication to the future.  Guest speakers can speak on subjects relevant to Progress either as a National Association or as a local club in your community.  Here again, many different approaches can be taken; the most important being that your Club’s Anniversary is recognized and is recognized in a manner that will do justice to the occasion.

An Anniversary Meeting with special plans can be a time to host some of your local VIPs and members of the news media who have perhaps co-operated with your club on past occasions.