At last night’s meeting, 11 Jul 2021, Daniel Chan has suggested to take SHC forward as a registered entity. His view is that we cannot collect donations if we are unregistered.
From members’ feedback in recent surveys and live recordings, members have overwhelming opted to remain status quo ie unregistered and informal. Plse follow this thread.
To give this topic one more opportunity to bring SHC into the registered status, I am open to Daniel Chan bringing his suggestion into fruit.
DanielC, pls go ahead to do all necessary discussions with members, to set up SHC as a registered entity. This will likely take some months. Once your protem committee and entity is set up, you can invite current members to join this new entity. I open this option and shall leave this to you.
Meantime, SHC shall proceed to move forward as preferred by the majority of SHC members. We shall stay clear within the laws as Singapore citizens, and keep to our rules of not engaging in politics, race, religion, sex, direct selling and MLM. Our single objective, since 2005, is to provide a platform for seniors to meet new and old friends.
Terence Seah
NO. Terence. I have never said I want to bring SHC forward as a registered entity. I said we cannot and should not collect money if we are not a registered entity. I could simply tell you, like all other members, “It is okay. Go ahead”.
If you must collect money then you are skirting on the fringe of the law. Don’t want to land you in jail or fine because of SHC. The law is not legislated by me.
It is by Parliament. Members want to remain status quo, unregistered and informal. You want to collect donations. You cannot have the cake and eat it, as far as the law is concerned. I will be happy that the Club remains status quo and NOT collecting money. But if you insist, nobody can stop you. Go ahead. Collect money.
I have heard some members object to the idea of SHC collect donations or contributions for operations costs.
Let’s again give some more time for members to think this idea. SHC, as a social, informal and unregistered, needs funds to move ahead in the next 5-10 years. If you had tried to be an EO, you will understand the difficulties of organising activities for fellow members.
Some members see they do not feel the need to donate or contribute because they do not participate in club activities. In this case, I can understand the objection.
Many members particioate in many SHC activities, and object on many issues.
But I must say many members have also enjoyed the friends they have met, the groups they have joined and the new interests they have picked.
Let’s give ourselves more time. If you feel we should not have a fund to help us operate the club for the next 5-10 years, pls speak up. Tq
Terence Seah
First of all, I wish you well Terence. Actually you shouldn’t be worrying about SHC at a time like this. Take good care of your foot first.
Since we are on fund collection, let us not twist the fact. Nobody is against having money. In fact the more the merrier. It will be mad for anybody to say we don’t need money.
Now the approach – as I have said, if you (personally) are comfortable collecting and keeping money on behalf and in the name of an unregistered club, go ahead. Nobody can stop you. Like all other members, I can only watch from the sideline and wish you all the best. But I advise you to think again. Singapore as a whole is governed by rules, laws and regulations. Why should SHC, or Terence, be exempted from such?
Everybody can say the obvious when asked for their opinion on a noble intention, but when it comes to approach, who would want to risk him/herself?
Do you have a volunteer to be your fund-coordinator?
DC
For your info :
Any club, company, partnership or association of 10 or more persons, whatever its nature or object should seek registration with ROS. The income and property of the Society whensoever derived shall be applied towards the promotion of the objects of the Society as set forth in its Constitution and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend or bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit to the persons who at any time are or have been members of the Society or to any of them or to any person claiming through any of them.
(Source : Ministry of Home Affairs)
DC
To register a club or society in order to be accountable including handling of money requires a group of dedicated people volunteering for the respective roles in the organization chart of the registered club or society.
This group of dedicated volunteers managing the club or society should not expect any monetary returns- this is the spirit of giving something back to the Community- the true meaning of volunteerism (https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=5j214RuYO4Y&t=28s)
I have done quite a number of SHC “EO” assignments, in the past, that I spent out of my own pockets (IT talks, Christmas/photo walks, etc). I can say with confidence others like SHC interest groups on walking, cycling, organizing group on dancing, annual dinner, etc are also enjoying their events with like mind people. Gossips and complains are part & parcel on getting old. Just ignore and move on. Enjoy with whatever you have organized for fellow SHC members.
To my knowledge, Terence main costs in running SHC now is the annual cost for zoom account and probably a small cost on the blog (platform) hosting. This can be easily addressed without the need to have a formal registered club or society.
The issue here is not whether we should register the Club. We have been okay the last 15 years or so without registration.
The issue is about collecting contributions, or donations, in the name of an unregistered Club. When money is concerned, the authority is also concerned.
This is how I interpret the above legislation from the Ministry of Home Affairs :
1. If you have a gathering of 10 people or more and call it a club, company, partnership or association, you ought to register the group.
2. Money or income must be paid to a group account and not to any individual account within or beyond the group, and with a clear definition on what the money shall be used for.
I stand corrected if any member is able to quote the MHA for a different interpretation. However, if the member chooses to interpret it otherwise based on his own belief, he will have to put the money where his mouth is – or more exactly, put their money to where his account is. “Their” meaning other members who share his conviction. Use YOUR account. We cannot push Terence to the front line, while others enthusiastically shout their support from behind.
DC
Hi Daniel, thank you for your suggestion to take SHC forward as a registered entity, in order to raise funds legally. From your comments I guess you wont be taking this step.
I am also open to any other members wishing to take up this suggestion too.
Until then, we shall remain an informal social club with the same objective and rules..This is the clear preference of members.
Terence Seah