Dear members,
We are having difficulties getting members to run as EOs for the monthly gathering. Juding from survey recently, the feedback indicates that most members would participate in the gatherings, if the activity or agenda is interesting. But, at the same time, very few put up their hand to take the lead to do the monthly gatherings.
Perhaps, the time has come for the fixed regular monthly gatherings to be disbanded; and leave any monthly gathering to the initiatives of members. When SHC was conceived, the platform to provide opportunities for SilverHairs to meet new friends was based on "Every one member has to organise one activity during the life of his/her membership". However, this concept is difficult to follow through. In fact, our feedback indicates that many members prefer to wait for someone else to organise activities, and they will participate only after all the hardwork has been done by the EOs/ECs.
Are we expecting too much from EOs? Or should we relook at the concept and start looking at paying Event Organisers? Maybe, this is another out of the box thinking.
Terence Seah
Some members do not visit the Club’s website regularly, or find it inconvenient to go through the Posts or comments. Or may not find some forum comments interesting.
The May news update has been sent out to members today. If you do not get it, oops, maybe your email is incorrect. If you get more than one copy, it could mean you have more than one email address with us.
Here’s are the coming activities, organised by fellow members.
1. Inez Lim has a regular group every Friday at the Gombak stadium for badminton. New and regular players can participate. Another badminton session, organised by Dan Huang is also reorganising. Follow up their games at here.
2. Members wishing to learn more about IT can join Hew Lee”s IT interest group for training at Bukit Batok Central.
3. James Koh has initiated a new project, “Alternative Lifestyle”, targeting those who want short stays ( 1 month or less) in other countries, and those who may want to take exploratory step before deciding if they want to go on to the Short Term Retirement ( which would be 3 months or more overseas stay).
4. Many members like Picnics and Potlucks. Rosalind Lee and Dan Huang are teaming up to organise a Picnic cum potluck. Meet other friends, and offer your help.
5. Our Annual Dinner and Dance is set for Saturday, 28 July 2012 at Serangoon Garden Country Club. Come form a table. And if you love dancing, make it a point to join the D&D. Lily Ho, Dolly Lim with their Chairman Daniel Ong and team invite you to participate. Register quickly before the seats are taken up.
6. Do you like games, board games, card games? Or just like to meet new friends, our age. Join the Games Day discussion with Frisna Tan here.
7. Robert Ong leads the Eastern monthly gatherings. If you leave in the East, watch out for Robert’s posting, and meet a few new friends living in the East.
8. The Westerlies gathering is short of an EO. If you like to lead the Western group, well, your hands up would be great.
9. Jassmine Teo puts up a regular online Fleamart where you can post and sell personal stuffs and services. This is free. Look out for the advertisement post here.
10. Christina Chan has been continuously and successful bringing together a large group of members for healthy and scenic walks around Singapore. The next walk is on 12 May at the Jurong Park/Lake. Watch out for details of the next event.
Notes:
• Remember to update your profile and inform the admin if you have changed your email address.
• If you have not registered to enter SilverHairsClub.com, please register with name and email address HERE! Registration closes within a week from today.
• Some of you may be receiving more than one email update from us. This may be because of multiple registrations. Do let admin@SilverHairsClub.com know.
I shall be out of internet contact for the whole week. Apology if the response is slow. Have fun and a good long holiday ahead.
Terence Seah
Things change whether you like it or not. Seriously the survey is a disappointment. Out of more than 10,000+ member (I was told about three years ago unless my memory fails me) there are only less than 1% participation. Therefore the result is not representative of the members at large.
We cannot cling on like an old man to past concept thinking it will alway works. Yes we are old but that does not meant we will accept old concept/thinking. We need to change to keep up with the time – technology and social changes or else we will end like a dinosaur even we do not want to.
I started internet marketing on 3 March 2003 and within less than 2 months I already started to have a reasonable good income by selling on eBay. It’s a simple concept but it only last for about 7 years due to my complacency and laziness. Things change – technology and new regulations and I still cling on doing the same old things. In no time I was kick out of eBay.
I went into blog, facebook, twitter, youtube marketing to keep up with the rapidly technological and social changes. Now I am into mobile marketing – the new wave of internet marketing.
I cannot afford to stand still if I still want to make an income from internet. Likewise SHC cannot afford to stay still if it still want to remain relevant to its members. Same old clubhouse (blog) with the same old concept.
Even the government need to change its thinking and the way it works if it still want to stay relevant to the people. Why not SHC?
Perhaps we have been taking things for granted. As we have heard many times over,things are easy to do
ANYBODY could have do it
SOMEBODY could have done, but
NOBODY did it.
It may be good for members to stand up to be counted. The Club belongs to everyone and everybody has a role to play to make it vibrant and progressive. Otherwise, the club will become an assortment of small interest groups, each doing their own thing. Then these groups will feel that the Club may not longer serve any function and leave the Club, functioning independently on their own.
Steven has rightly said that we cannot afford to stay still. Yes, can members speak up on what they can do for the club :-) ?
James
Terence, not many members are willing to fork out money to participate in activities unless they are provided with food. Even then, the EO has to ensure the food quality is considered ‘worth it’ for the price the member has to pay. I reckon this is normal for the majority of Singaporeans to want ‘cheap and good’ things…:p
I must applaud you for inviting members to join you for a trip to coastal Thailand. Unfortunately the mention of cockroaches gave me heart palpitations. I absolutely detest cockroaches!!!
Perhaps a short trip to Malaysia/Batam would be good for those of us who have family obligations and hence, cannot be M.I.A. for too long.
Cheers
Ros
Hi Terence
In view of the dearth of volunteer EOs, i’m in favour of paying EOs for their time and effort in initiating and organizing events for other members to enjoy. :)
Hi Jassmine #5,
When I wrote the Post on the difficulty of getting EOs, I was emotionally and frustratingly annoyed with myself, for not being able to get members to come forward as EOs.
Your support of the idea of paying organisers tells me, at least, there are some members who agree with the idea.
I shall take note of this feedback. However, by doing so, I feel it is going to have a massive negative impact on the way the SilverHairsClub work. SHC does not have a management committee or board. Its activities are 100% decided and run by members. SHC EOs are committed and dedicated members; and they organise activities because they love the activity and they like to share the joy and fun with fellow members. I guess there are pros and cons.
For the moment, I think I was out of my head when I made that suggestion.
Terence Seah
#5 Jasmine & #6 Terence,
Oh dear, if members have to be paid to organize activities then the spirit of being spontaneous will be lost! :(
I rarely organize activities but when I do, I do not expect strong support from members. If there’s only ONE keen participant so be it! Perhaps members are fearful of organizing events and getting poor response….. Methink the effort to post an activity as an EO should not be based on numbers of participants to be considered ‘successful’. THE effort itself is already a success. Hope fellow members understand what I’m trying to put across…….
I recalled Dan setting up a post of some activity and getting zilch response. He doesn’t give up and is still organizing activities for SHC members.
Let’s Work together in keeping SHC vibrant!!!!
Cheers
Ros
Hi Terence #6
I do not subscribe to the notion of paying the EOs for organising events. This is against the very spirit of the club. It is a non-profit organisation and any effort from the members should be voluntary and appreciated by participants.
At times, due to under estimation of costs and insufficient number of responses, there may be a small shortfall in the fund collected. In this scenario the EOs may have to foot the difference.
Hi Terence #6, Rosalind #7
i think of the idea of ‘paying’ the EO as a win-win situation. The ‘payment’ is actually just a token sum – appreciation in kind from the participants to the EO and the EO can use this token sum to give his/her helpers a refreshment treat.
As for the participants, their cash contribution will most probably be a negligible amount and i’m sure they will gladly contribute to show their appreciation to the person who is doing all the hard work.
a win-win situation :)
#9 Jasmine Teo,
You do have your point Jasmine but if it is me, I’d rather do it voluntarily. However, should there be costs involved in provision of food then participating members must share the costs and not let the EO bear the shortfall…:p
Have a good holiday!
Ros
As an occasional EO, I rather not be paid. Having good company is already reward enough, be it 4 or 60. I expect all participants to foot their own expenses although of course all the activities I have organized so far are FOC.
My 2 cents worth.
#5 jassmine ,
sorry hor..for this paid EO ..for me i am totally against it…agree with wat rosalind jie stated 1 lah….
beside myself , i know of lily dolly ,oi cheng they ve chip in their own $$$ ( christams party in TC )
de EO for de freak nite is also popping out her own $$$..also agree wif conrad tang ve good company is oredli reward liao lah…..
sam huat huat
Hi Terence #6
i think it was more out of desperation you thought of the idea of paying the EOs. Anyway from feedback re. this matter, it seems the existing pool of EOs does not even want to consider receiving a token of appreciation in kind, so the current dearth of EOs remains.
Hmm …how about calling for “paraprofessional” EOs to specially organise activities/events for members? This could come under ‘green helmet’. lol! just joking!.