This question has been posed to me a number of times, ever since SilverHairsClub got started. However, I must admit we have not got anywhere. One member refers to SHC as a portal, others call it a website or a forum. We do have sensible rules; and our objective is well known. SHC caters to the over 45s, and its needs to meet new friends. So far, I think we have stayed well within the laws of Singapore.
Earlier discussion? Click here.
Of course, there are occasions some of us like to stray outside club rules; but whether we are a registered club or not, the laws of the country still apply.
Like many of us, and I know this very well from discussions, the majority prefers keeping our entity simple, flexibile and no-nonsense. I too prefer the existing style and mode of operation.
Now, 2008 is here, and I like to highlight some points, hiccups and complications which were raised last year. For everybody’s benefit, I point them below:
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Project leaders had encountered difficulties with external projects eg govt bodies and corporations because we are not a recognised entity.
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We do not enjoy the benefits and advantages of other similar social organisations. Not possible to seek assistance from companies.
Interesting, SilverHairsClub does not have a management or committee structure. We have no venue, and we do not collect funds. We have no constitution, just one objective and a set of taboos. No AGMs, etc.
But, we do have dedicated Event Organisers, and an active community of SilverHairs.
I like to take the next few months (until 31 March 2008) to hear from you. And, would continue to maintain the following position.
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Club objective will remain; and club taboos will stay. No discussions on politics, sex, religion, race, direct selling and MLM.
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Membership must remain free. And strictly for the over 45s.
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Members are free to organise their own activities; and other members are free to join one another.
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Healthy activities are encouraged. Continued jobs and entrepreneurship will be the drive for SilverHairs.
The founders have never envisaged SilverHairsClub to this size and activeness. But, fact is we have grown, and we have to review how to manage this. I will not call an open meeting to discuss this issue; but let’s use this forum to discuss and offer feedback. Can we or do we need to formalise SHC as a society or a company? You may have ideas, let’s hear them.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence
I must first congratulate you for doing an excellent job in setting up SHC and building it up with such a wide range of ideas and activities !!
To answer your question whether to register SHC, we must first consider the objective. What is the objective ? Is it to organise the Club’s activities better or to stay within the law or both ?
For the Club’s activities, I see from the many events that have been organised, it is volunteerism at its best. This is possible because it is unfettered by management or committee rules, subscriptions or profit motives. The activities are organised with passion by the members for members !
I therefore agree that it should be kept simple and SHC remain as it is.
To stay within the law ? Perhaps some lawyers in our midst can throw some light on this question.
The other point I like to mention is that since our last discussions in 2006, there are now two new organisations in Singapore dealing with the ageing population. They are the Council for Third Age and the Centre for Seniors. Both of them have offices at Junction 8. To help to answer your question, perhaps it will be useful to find out what these two organisations are doing.
Kind regards
Kia Chew
Hi Terence
I will still give you my same old answer. I like the way it is now and hope it will remain just the same in future.
Cheerio,
Susan
Hi Terence,
Is there a bug somewhere ? I’ve tried to post above comment by clicking on submit comment and this is what appeared on my screen : ” Sorry, you can only post a new comment once every 15 seconds. Slow down cowboy.”. what’s this ?? I am puzzled.
Hi Terence,
I agreed with Susan and prefer SHC same as now.
Dear Terence
The Motto should be: :KEEP IT FREE AND EASY’.
Registered clubs and societies have lots of red tapes to adhered to.
Elected members to the committees have frequents infightings in between.
Even requesting members to volunteer for the posts of the committee, a great headache.
Jealous state of feelings among committee members tend to arise, and whose voice should be heard louder.
If the club is registered, collections of membership fees are a great problem, arrears of subscriptions will be there.
If arrears not paid, club may have to act against the members, matters will turn sour.
Now the club is FREE for memberships and ON-LINE friendship being created, and blossomed to mutual and close friendships among members, with no string attached.
No financial statements to prepare.
No registered societies ruling to adhered to.
No dateline to keep for AGM.
Except with the few TABOOS what our good Terence had quoted. If our members have avoided these pitfalls, alls well.
Other members may say that registered clubs are good and be recogised by other clubs, can have exchange programs, so on and so forth………
but remember we are only “ON-LINE” club…….
with no finance, asset, and no club-house to call our very own.
UNTIL THEN, STAY AS IT IS, BEFORE WE EMBARK ON THE NEXT HILL.
Ronlai
Last saturday, 2 drunk ah peks were talking turkey in a hougang kopitiam, and they broached on the subject of what constituted a society within the ambit of law.
With almost 4k members, SHC is a Society many times over but generally nobody heck care abt the assembly unless it goes around soliciting for donations, sponsorships and starts to steal the limelight such as seeking publicity. When you call for attention, the Registrar will have to look hard at you, fair right?
Thus, while I too subscribe to this desire to let SHC be free & unfettered, if the time comes for us to grow as an institution & run certain activities which we cannot ourselves fund or undertake, then it has to be the time to register SHC, which, I can foresee, wont be what it is today…….informal but closely-knit, with diverse ideas flourishing and response coming no less spontaneously. Nobody needs to go thru anybody to organise an activity. No sexy but limp code of governance which therefore means we hv fewer rules to break.
At 45 and older, we all know how to take care of ourselves, when to take precautions and will be alert at all times for we must know, in any community, there may be some with motives other than honourable but so far so good………
Terence, keep the ‘club’ as it is , a cyberclub in essence but full of activities and fun and relatively unbounded.
Nobody seems to be in charge but it works!!
Maybe shc format will be the forerunner of future clubs. Born out of a desire to keep silverhairs active and relevant to society it has evolved into something unique, its final shape is yet to be determined.
Hi Terence,
To quote: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
We are doing just fine and free of fuss. Let’s keep it this way.
My views are the same as the rest…its cool & hassle-free..no obligation, just wanna make frens.
Don see the need to register,keep as it is forever & ever…
I appreciate the comments which have come in. We shall let the comments keep flowing in.
Anybody see the pros of putting SHC under a registered entity?
Terence Seah
Let’s not trouble trouble till trouble troubles us!
I like the way it is running now. The main issue is the maintenance cost.
Are we going to just let Terence bear the cost indefinitrly?
Hi, Terence:
I join Kia Chew in congratulating you for the great job you have done and are doing with SHC.
For me, the issue to register or not to register SHC centres on two basic questions:
1) Where do we want to go from here, and
2) recognition of leaders and leadership renewal.
1) Registering and managing a formal society has its hassles, no doubt. And SHC appears to be fine the way it is. Then again, are we content to stay with the present range of activites? Or would we eventually be taking on other endevours that may require working with public or private organisations, require the use of ‘borrowed’ premises (e.g. meeting rooms, exhibition/lecture halls, etc), external sponsors or collection of membership fees?
I am presently a member of another yet-to-be-registered group. Our activities are such that we often have to approach both public and private organisations for permission to use their premises for exhibitions and workshops. From experience, I can say that we would have been better respected (some public organisations won’t even give us the time of day) and accommodated if we were formally registered.
2) Unless I am mistaken, the SHC forum is presently hosted on a paid web hosting site. I suppose Terence or some other kind soul in SHC has been footing the bill from his/her own pocket. This may be a fairly small amount, but I am sure there are other fairly small amounts incurred behind the scenes (e.g. by EOs) that are being borne privately without complaint. Taken cumulatively, particularly over an extended period of time, these amounts can be quite significant. How long can we expect these individuals to keep footing incidental costs from their own pockets? Is this being fair? Will the need to foot incidental costs from one’s own pocket be a disincentive for able but less well-off individuals to take on leadership or EO roles?
2) Thanks to Terence and the various EOs, SHC is now an active and vibrant group. However, there will come a time when the torch has to be passed (especially since we are no longer young whippersnappers). How do we attract future, capable leaders, and how will the torch be passed in a way that is acceptable to the majority? We need to have a formal and democratic process in place in that eventuality, as well as for decisions that require consensus opinion to be properly taken (e.g. such as to register or not to register SHC)
Personally, I feel the good work of leaders like Terence need to be formally recognised (whether Terence wants it or not! :O)). And capable individuals need to be identified and encouraged to come forward. If we are able to manage all this and ensure the continuity of this group the way it is and without registering SHC, then so be it. Otherwise, we should consider formally registering SHC in a more positive light.
Ron Koh
(I know, I know – I prattle too much)
Hi Ron and everybody,
The SilverHairsClub will continue to function and operate as it is today. It has many leaders and many participants, and yet the structure is good and works well. So far, many has spoken up in favour of the status quo. And, I take note of this overwhelming feedback.
Meantime, we must not forget the need and desire to link with other entities, and we may need to think how to address this.
Some of you mentioned about the cost in managing the club’s website. The amount is small and is manageable.
Terence Seah
On the topic of whether we should register the SilverHairsClub, we shall close this Post at the end of March.
As of today, the general view is that we should remain status quo, keep away from issues of politics, race, religion, sex, besides direct selling and MLM. SHCians can continue to enjoy the forum and its activities; and membership will remain free. The concept would still be free and easy.
If anybody Objects strongly otherwise, please have your say, before end March.
After this date, we will address the next issue of how to take the SilverHairsClub further. As mentioned at the last SHC March gathering, a few suggestions cropped up, besides other ideas that were already mentioned from time to time, in this forum and at other gatherings. The key is how to keep the existing concept status quo.
Some ideas which have been raised include:
1. There has been suggestions for an existing business entity to front SHC activities. KT has mentioned this from time to time.
2. We have also a suggestion to cover our activities under a wing of a community centre. This idea comes especially from members with grassroots contacts.
I believe there are other ideas from SHCians with experience in running such entities and corporate structures. We will take 3 months to debate over this; and I shall raise this issue in early April; after I close this Post.
You are free to debate the ideas here, but please repect every individual has his/her own opinion too.
Terence Seah
Today is the end of March. Almost all members who had voiced their comments on this forum prefer to have SilverHairsClub as it is today. At the same time, no one has picked up or offered to initiate the club as a registered society or club.
The SilverHairsClub has one objective, and that it is to provide a platform for SilverHairs to meet new and more friends. The SilverHairsClub.com website will continue to remain accessible to members, and the same taboos will apply. Membership to SHC shall continue to be free, and for SilverHairs over the age of 45. The club will continue to encourage healthy and meaningful activities to promote and support the interests of SilverHairs in Singapore and abroad.
Another topic which requires some conclusion is the name of the club and the website. We had some fun and serious discussions on a name change. Based on the feedback on this forum, and the March monthly gathering, the club and the website name shall remain unchanged. For those who had raised this topic, please accept my thanks for the feedback.
Now, in another Post, I shall raise another discussion, and that is how can connect ourselves to corporations, without the hassles of a club under the societies act. I guess this is where we need other expert advice from the club’s membership.
This Post is closed, although it will still continue to accept comments.
Terence Seah