An example of a response to requests from non-SHC individuals and external organisation?

From time to time, I do receive request by non-SHC individuals or external entities to link up with SilverHairsClub and its members.

Here is a good example and I like to share my response and comments with SHCians.

“Dear Mr Seah,

Foremost, I am very fortunate to have met some of the active silver collar members recently.
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My name is Azza Dina and I am writing from NTUC Club, Membership Department (Active Ageing). My team have spoken to Mr Ronnie Lai and have met up with some of the SilverHairsClub members such as Captain Foo, recently at Orchid Country Club during their weekly bowling session. We were informed about the SilverHairsClub and we applaud your club members efforts in organising such lively events.
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We are a brand new team who has been assigned to look after interest groups such as your SilverHairsClub members. As we do have on-going and future events catered for those who have reached 50 years and above, we are extending our invitations to all SilverHairsClub members to partake in any of our events and even to allow us to plan your activities if possible. This is to ease your member?s workload, restrictions limitations and hassle.
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We are actually planning for a focus group in the near future to meet regularly and to brainstorm for activities for all to enjoy. Kindly allow us to assist and provide for SilverHairsClub.
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Awaiting a favourable response from the SilverHairsClub!
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Cheers’
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Azza Dina (Miss)
Executive, Program & Community Development, Membership (Active Ageing)”

Terence Seah

Author: Terence Seah

Founder

31 thoughts on “An example of a response to requests from non-SHC individuals and external organisation?”

  1. Hi Everybody,

    From time to time, you may get requests by non-SHC individuals or instituions to cooperate with SilverHairsClub. I append a typical reply. As a SilverHairsClub member, you can also use this position. We try to be flexible, but I view it is important that SilverHairsClub activities are organised or led by registered members only.

    “Hi Azza and Ron Lai,

    I love your concept and am very supportive of activities relating to SilverHairsClub members.

    Plase let me lead you through our guidelines.

    1. We do not have corporate membership. We only have individual membership.

    2. All participating individuals should be over 45.

    3. We do not support advertising, as we are a social group. Our members do not like to have advertising placed in front of them. Straight advertising from your unit would not be permitted.

    4. My suggestion would be for you to have a registered member lead our members through your club activities. He/she must participate in every event organised. He takes registration and is responsible for collecting payment. If Ron Lai agrees, he can be this person.

    5. So, as you can see, a SHC registered member can be this link to NTUC club (active aging).

    6. We have rules. Over 45, no politics, religion, race, sex, direct selling and MLM.

    The best way to get starting is for you to appoint a link member. Go ahead,

    Have fun.”

    Terence Seah

  2. Dear Terence

    Thanks for your response to the NTUCCLUB, I have conveyed to them to get in touch with me for the link with SILVERHAIRSCLUB, will keep you inform for further developments.

    RonLai

  3. “We are a brand new team who has been assigned to look after interest groups such as your SilverHairsClub members. As we do have on-going and future events catered for those who have reached 50 years and above, we are extending our invitations to all SilverHairsClub members to partake in any of our events and even to allow us to plan your activities if possible”.

    I find in NTUC Club’s first sentence and the last bit of the second sentence very patronising. Is that a bigger authority than ourselves up there empowering itself to assign someone to lead us? This joke comes a month late after April 1st 2008 but too early for 2009.

    Fact that we are vibrant and have been very successful does attract people who wish to rein us in – a working unit and a ready package that needs no fine tuning. If we’re such a toast of watchers – and indeed we are – they should, with all their resources and paid-staff work, hard to emlate us and even model after us which we wont mind. But to take the succulent choiced cut off the plate after so much of effort we have put in?

    Thanks and no thanks, we are happy the way we conduct our activities. Free and easy, spontaneous and all voluntary. Every SHCian is as equal as and no bigger than the other.

    Terence, you have my leg-up for taking a firm stand.

  4. Tim #3:

    I had similar discomforts reading the phrase; ‘assigned to look after interest groups such as Silverhairsclub members….’, as this sounds quite condescending and usually implies some form of compliance will be required thereafter.

    The possible easing of various restrictions, limitations and hassles we face from time to time (as an unregistered group), though, sounds interesting. It is basically deciding what the trade-offs and benefits will be. I am inclined to listen to what they have in mind, rather than to switch them off entirely.

    I am with Terence as far as having a link SHC member in NTUClub, and giving an ear to their proposals.

    Ron Koh

  5. RonK, as it is, SHC is independent and autonomous as we evolve ourselves and chart our own direction and destiny (think of Tibet). You are right to observe that there will be trade-offs if we are to be a part of NTUC Club, and for me I would even go so far as to say that we will be “swallowed” and ceded to them eventually.

    I reiterate what I hv said earlier : if we are a role model, we’re happy that they emulate us and tweak what they are doing for themselves now, for the betterment of silverhairs in Spore as a whole.

    (As much of my last hour was spent with my kid going thru her returned Chinese exam papers, I will touch on the other topic on SHC Corporate which may resolve the constraints & limitations presently faced by SHC).

  6. Dear Terence

    So long SHC remains a positive, purposeful and meaningful platform to develop and grow healthily in strength and grace without undue constraints, let it be.

    Warmest regards

  7. Hi Terence and SHCians

    I find the correspondence from the NTUC person somewhat disturbing. In my humble opinion, having friendly relations and informal joint activities with other clubs may be enjoyable but when it comes to “planning our activities ….etc” for us, it may be the beginning of us coming under their umbrella. Right now, I think we are doing fine with enthusiastic members organizing activities on adhoc basis with only friendship and camaraderie in mind. It is best to maintain our “independence”.

    Just my two cents worth.

    sb

  8. Yeap, SB, shared d same sentiment oso.. Why will we nid an outside 2 plan our activities if rite now, most members r fine wif the ways we r doing. If NTUC is planning activites 4 public, then perhaps, we can adopt Robert Quek’s style, he keeps us posted of all coming events n interested attending members will just register at dat particular events lor..

    I always tend 2 think dat if an outsider plans activity 4 us, there will b a cost attached 2 it.. den will tis cost b pick up by NTUC or will it b added as extra 2 our members. If it is d later, den honestly, we dun nid that lor.

  9. Not keen to hve a “cheng hoo” body planning activities for us…very one-kind one, very boring. Our SHC is unique, very interesting. Let’s keep it that way. Now the only worry is continuity :-)) Terence, I heard that eating garlic gives one a healthy looooonnnng life :-))

  10. We used to have monthly meet, cycling, and walking only. Now we have activities on almost all weekends and sometimes even weekdays. There are times when activities clash and members wish they can be at two places at the same time.

    Terence, we are not short of activities to keep us going.

    As Dolly says, if our member is attending their functions, he/she could be the EO for the event and put it up for others to join in. Just like what Robert is doing.

    Note too, that their activities are for 50 and above. I believe many of our members are between 45 and 50.

  11. So far our free, easy and any member can be the EO style has gain momentum and is attracting more members and events, some event has also been happening happily quietly or tranparently.

    So much so, I don’t think going corporate style like NTUC or even SHC committee led style will be attractive maybe only for a once a year event only like the D n D,etc.

    So Terence, you have sown the seeds and now the harvest of EOs is the testimony of the wisdom of the founding members of SHC to help SHC members find the true meaning of being carefree living, making friends and sharing what you love doing.

    NTUC, or whatever CCs and to those who still have not got this concept, there is no turning back to being told and managed what to do, what you can do , who you can talk to, who cannot talk to ,etc.. so as the saying goes, if you tasted the forbidden fruit there is no turning back.

  12. In ref 2 JuneL’s suggestion of eating garlic 2 longevity, I hv another suggestion. We go n look 4 Ian Wilmut, Keith Campbell and colleagues at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland n get teir help 2 clone Terence. In tis case, Terence will live 4ever.

  13. YK @ #12

    Its within science to clone genetically. But we know little of how a person stores his past memories and personality, much less to transfer it.

    But what if we can!?

    Here’s my dream model – Thinks like Ter, deep pockets like Bill Gates, tall like Stevie, looks like Mary and talks like A with Tim’s humour.

    Hee-hee.

  14. Do you remember in the “Lord of the Rings” the third movie, when Gandalf says, “the final battle for middle earth has begun!”

    Que sera, sera.

    First, the gentle suitors and love proposals. Follow by ” now this thing about registration and responsibility…” Then the invasion by hordes of Orcs.

    Better to engage than to pretend that the Babarians are not at the Gate. We have a choice after Sunday’s ST. We can negotiate for the best deal or they can take.

  15. “Thinks like Ter, deep pockets like Bill Gates, tall like Stevie, looks like Mary and talks like A with Tim’s humour, the entrepreneurial acumen of KT and above all, no better HarHarHar than the natural DennisHar”.

    KT, I dont believe a guy like you will wave the white handkerchief so quickly. True enough, at close-up you were actually waving yr white underpants, believing that the babarians at the gate hv a fetish for it and will drop to their knees for a kiss of it and so take yr counsel.

    Sadly, these babrians dont come from the land of the rising matahari. Even if they do, they’re only interested in panties which you dont wear (I hope), certainly not the pair you hv been wearing since last Xams & now punctured with so many holes……….

  17. Hi Terence & All SHCsians,

    It is with great honour and pride that external bodies show such envious interest in us. We have grown steadily and happily and evolved into a closely-knead warm and cordial unique culture of our own.

  18. Oops, I haven’t finished what I wanted to write and it went into a ‘send’ mode. I don’t seem to have an ‘edit’mode for this thread. I will continue later.

    Robert

  19. cont’d from #18
    I personally and strongly feel that we should not change a winning team. We should guard, protect and preserve our treasured culture and ensure that it is not eroded away by merger, possible take-over bids and the like.

    I fully agree with Terence, Tim, Ron Koh, Andrew, sb, Dolly, June, Cheng and Ronald Wie. Let’s stay united the way we are – One for all and all for one.

    Robert

  22. Hi June Lim,

    …. Terence, I heard that eating garlic gives one a healthy looooonnnng life

    Garlic helps to destroy the bacteria in our digestive system .

    It is a very good ANTIoxidant that slows down aging. Add more garlic slices when frying.

  24. Steven @ 22

    Hello, hello!!

    What’s with eating garlic on this thread?

    Please keep the topics relevant… I know you’re the king of makansutra…

    But, please, keep your garlic breath away!!

  26. Dear All,
    Many thanks for your valuable feedback. We are sorry if we have caused any unhappiness amongst the silverhairs members.We want to assure you that we are just extending our activities to your members. At no time whatsoever do we want to patronise your already vibrant environment. In fact, we are very happy to know that the Silverhairs Club is very successful in building such camaraderie among your members and we thought we could be allowed to share your experience and in return to share ours with you. Once more, our apology.

  28. Dear Abd Rahman,

    As another SHCian and writing in that capacity, I am pleased that you have joined us. Welcome !

    It was unfortunate that, with the inclusion of her second paragraph as it was written, Aziza’s letter did not come across as an invitation to join her Club’s activities.

    Although we are running our activities separately, I am sure we do have much to learn from the NTUC Club’s events and experiences as much we have welcome others to adopt and adapt for themselves things which have won us acclaim.

    Ultimately, if it’s for the betterment of silverhairs, we will all do whether it’s within SHC or at another Club.

    G’day !

    Tim

  29. I like to thank all SHCians and to you, Tim (hope you do not mind that i just call you TIM (first name basis as a friend)for welcoming me as a member. Thank you also to you Terences. I will definitely abide by the rules set by the club. Just a little about me.

    I am of mixed blood – father Japanese amd mother Malay. Will be 69 come this November. Working at the moment on contract basis with NTUC Club as a senior executive. My only hobby is fishing though I do like to travel for holidays. Wife is still around, seven children and with a total of 26 grandchildren. Keen on humanitarian work.

    So far for the time being, will be looking forward to meet the SHCians.

  30. Hahaha, Rahman, what you dunno is, folks here call me in variations of tim….tim tim liu, tim ah liu so it’s a boon that you call me tim.

    What I like abt SHC is, after crossing 45, we enjoy that bit of dementia and so happily we start to forget our age so that if we act young, we wont be frowned upon as “old cute”. And to tell you the truth, we’re cute………..with the guys “cuter” that the gals.

    Accordingly, we are absolutely unabashed when we come out together to enjoy fellowship and, while our kids paint say Mohd Sultan red, we weave a rainbow at St James Power Stn and even at Han’ Cafe.

    Do join us in a event of your liking…………..

  31. Hi Abd Rahman

    WELCOME to our fold, the SHC, with our varied activities on hand, you will definitely able to find your choice.
    We are from 45 and above, no doubt you will find some of us are still in the “black”, but may consider “silver” in a sense that we are in “SilverhairsClub”. Will catch-up with you one of these days.

    RonLai

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