As you know, I have plans to relinquish ownership of SilverHairsClub this year. The objectives are to ensure continuity and give it more vibrance.
Unfortunately, no member or groups have expressed interest to take over, and I have decided to drop looking at within the club. My intended plans for 2012 would not make it possible for me to continue in the present capacity.
I thought over this, and despite the cons posed to me, I have decided to put SilverHairsClub and SilverHairsClub.com under a corporate entity. Within the next few months, SilverHairs Enterprise Pte Ltd will be created. It will be a social enterprise, and will run as a business enterprise too. I shall have discussions wsith those who have posted suggestions on this club in the coming months.
SilverHairsClub and SilverHairsClub.com will continue to run as it is now. This has been the way it has been operating since Oct 2005. However, SHC will have additional features; and one of them includes corporate membership. SilverHairs Enterprise will extend its reach to the wider group of SilverHairs in Singapore. And, of course, the ownership of SHC will be moved from an individual, myself to an enterprise.
I hope to spend more time outside Singapore, immediately and effective early 2012.
Feel free to share your thoughts.
Terence Seah
Terence,
So sad to hear your relinquish ownership of SilverHairsClub. If SHC comes under a corporate entity then will there will be a change of eligibility of memberships ? Of course it will be good if SilverHairs Enterprise Pte Ltd become a social enterprise and run as a business enterprise too but wonder there will be any implementation of membership Fees for existing and new members in the future so as to maintain and run the business ? It will be good to maintain the FREE memberships as it has been so that it continue attract and foster more bonds for members.
Terence, all the best to your future activities.
Rgds,
Danny Lye
Boss,
Query: How will this Social/Business Enterprise be funded apart from the Corporate Membership Fees/Subscriptions?
You can reply me privately if you feel that it is inappropriate to response openly on this forum….no problems.
I am as curious as the next SHCian on this issue.
Boss,
Pls keep us informed. What does this change entail? Do we still enjoy free membership? Will the club still be run on same vibe?
Very sad to see you leave… ! You’ve been the anchor. Will miss you at the Chinatown event too. Let us know, when will u be back?
Hi Ivan, Danny and Lydia,
SilverHairsClub will continue to run, in its present format. There will be no fees for Individual membership, as it is now.
There will be corporate membership, meaning some companies or institution can be members. These companies can be represented by a corporate member. There will be a fee for companies or corporate members joining SHC.
For funding, I prefer to keep this issue something for
SilverHairs Enterprise Pte Ltd to decide.
I hope to complete this change before the end of 2011.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence
If you want this to remain a social organization. Would it be simpler to make it a non-profit NGO.
The members here can agree on a constitution and elect their own leader.
Legally, no one can make profits from members but we have to share the cost of upkeeping the club.
Talk talk only lah. My brain already retired from business. I just had a cup of coffee, my brain wake up, so I quickly write this down.
Hi Tian Soo,
Can you enlighten what is a non-profit NGO? I hope you can reply, after your next nap or coffee.
Terence Seah
Hi everybody,
I am looking for members who would want to work for SilverHairs Enterprise, not SilverHairsClub. If interested, please write to me at terences@SilverHairsClub.com.
The criteria would be:
1. You must have a strong vision of SilverHairs Enterprise, as a social enterprise.
2. You have corporate contacts in Singapore.
3. Preferably, retired or about to retire, or thinking of changing job.
4. Must have business sense.
5. Familiar with the culture of SHC, and has been a active member for at least one year.
Please email me only. Thank you.
Terence Seah
Terence #6
NGOs(Non Government Organization) are usually set up by people with common interest wishing to get together to enjoy or promote their interest, e.g. Nature Society(Singapore),AWARE, SPCA etc
There is one call House Rabbit Society, the members there believe Rabbits lives in houses. I told them my teacher said rabbits live in burrows and they only eat with spoon and wear bibs in story books. They say I am stupid.
These organizations are usually non profit, meaning they have a constitution that say they are joint together to enjoy or promote their course and not to make money. They can be involve in business but only if it suits their purpose.
Silverhairs Club can be registered as a non profit organization with the sole purpose being to promote ‘social intercourse’ between adults over 45 yrs old. The club can have its own constitution which spell out its purpose and provide for annual election of office bearers and rules like, NO FIGHTING etc. You Terence can be it’s Honourable Past President when you retire. But unfortunately you wouldn’t get paid…you must be used to that by now.
Our Honourable President Elect of Singapore Mr Tony Tan said recently that he would like to engage with NGOs to know Singaporeans better. He earns $4M a year and lives in a palace……even I want to be engage with him.
If our President Tony Tan engaged with the members of House Rabbit Society, we will see rabbits all over Istana in the next open house. They will be an example for procreation to young Singaporeans. The only problem is Istana will be full of rabbit stool.
Ahh, TS
Good to hear the detailed NGO’s thing plus the bunny thingy. So cute.
Was kinda worried with your staccatoed #5. Glad that you are back in form.
I’ll second, third, middle-finger-raised (in a good way) to the rule in ‘NO FIGHTING’ (triple exclamation marks)- geesh, what a trip!
Zen now. Totally.
Hi Tian Soo,
I am receptive to your idea. I am prepared to take up your suggestion to have an annual election of office bearers in SilverHairsClub. If more members like this idea, then we will probably organise a team in SHC to work on the concept.
It’s interesting what you suggest; although this has not been the culture of SHC which is to allow any member/s to lead in any activity or events. It can be one-time or it can be forever. They can even drop out anytime, if they are busy or just dont like doing what they had started.
Even our Club Manager is based on a hands-up approach. So, if more members like the idea of an election, why not?
As, of now, I am of the belief that SilverHairsClub should continue as it is currently being organised. No change. There will be a Club manager, with various EOs and ECS, plus supporting services. Individual membership remains free, and the club operates with the same rules.
What will happen in the coming months, is the ownership of SHC and SilverHairsClub.com will be transferred to SilverHairs Enterprise PL. And, Corporate membership will be added.
So, Tian Soo, back to your suggestion. If members like to have an election system of office bearers, yeap, please let us know. I am open for anyone to set the rules and be part of the elections committee.
Terence Seah
Am watching d national science challenge wif kid. After d 1st segment comes a cartoon acted out by some scientists. Brainless. How cd d whales stomach it n not leave our shores?
About 15 members have expressed interest in joining SilverHairs Enterprise PL. Out of this group, most of the suggested activities are already covered by SilverHairsClub, and likely SilverHairs Enterprise will not duplicate these activities.
Briefly, the most likely activities that the enterprise will offer to Singaporeans over 45 will be activities related to SilverHairs conferences, a nationwide Talentime, concerts and big scale dance item. I hope to put in place 12 activities a year, catering to groups over 300 people. These activities will be organised under the umbrella of SilverHairs Enterprise PL.
I am glad to hear that more members are beginning to see the benefits of a structured entity. Mainly the ability to liaise with other corporate entitities and be recognised as a social enterprise.
It is unlikely the enterprise will have charity activities as one of its focus. There are many organisations running such programs, so I rather the enterprise leaves this area to them. The main focus of SilverHairs Enterprise will be larger scale activities leaning towards the interests of the over 45s in Singapore.
Meantime, SilverHairsClub will continue in its current format, with the same membership format and objective in providing a platform for SilverHairs to meet new and more friends.
Feel free to write me through my email.
Terence Seah