Current status of SHC stays, while we now add on SilverHairs Enterprise PL (SHE)

For a long time, we have discussed offline and here on this forum the idea of taking SilverHairsClub to another level, and making the club more structured and registered.  We have all discussed, and the preference is to have SHC what it is today.

Next, I had offered to member/s to take over SHC, with the aim of shouldering the costs, legality and management of SHC, and maintaining SHC as it is today.  However, I have not been able to find someone or groups to take over this role.  As I have mentioned many times, I am in Singapore no more than 3-4 days a month, and have not been able to participate in most activities too.  Most members are aware of my travelling patterns and absence from activities. 

I had also offered to members to form a registered or business entity to own and run SHC, while leaving SHC social activities as it is to the Club manager.  I did not receive any viable plans or concept.

This brought me to the idea of creating a new business organisation end 2011 – "SilverHairs Enterprise Pte Ltd" which owns SilverHairsClub.com and SilverHairsClub, a social and informal club for Singaporeans over 45 to meet new and more SilverHairs friends.  SilverHairs Enterprise is intended to be the formal link with outside organisations and the public.

The initial targets of SilverHairs Enterprise PL (SHE) is to  look at part-time work opportunities for SHC retirees and to find means to keep the club financially sound, without collecting membership fees. 

So, you will hear more from SilverHairs Enterprise and more links to the public via SHE. 

I like to set a one-year goal to relinquish my responsility as founder of SHC, and be an ordinary member.  I really do not have the time and resources to continue running SHC as it is.  3-4 days in Singapore now and in the coming years is not possible to run SHC and now  SHE as it is.  Neither can I continue to fund the organisations indefinitely. 

To make this possible, I intend to identify volunteers to work inside SilverHairs Enterprise PL, as I and SHE obviously cannot afford to pay salaries.  We do not receive government support, and neither are we a charity organisation where we can solicit funds.  When the different roles become successful and profitable, SHE will be able to pay for this part-time roles. 

This is the way forward, as I do not wish to see SHC and SHE discontinued when I am unable to do so.  I also prefer to go over future ideas and tasks, rather than relook back at what we have discussed over the last few years. 

If you feel you have the experience and would like to work for SHE in a volunteer role, I would like to discuss with you how you can fit into SilverHairs Enterprise Pte Ltd. This is where you can re-engage yourself with outside organisations and the public.  You may write to me at terences@SilverHairsClub.com. As a member, please feel free to offer your comments and ideas here. If you like to track back to the last discussion, read here.

Terence Seah 

Author: Terence Seah

Founder

10 thoughts on “Current status of SHC stays, while we now add on SilverHairs Enterprise PL (SHE)”

  1. Terence

    Your intention to relinquish ownership of SHC was first brought up in May 17 2011.

    When I read it at that time, I thought, hey, life goes on and if you can’t go on running whatever the shiat, it is okay to give it up!

    Obviously I understand your pain should the club no longer exists; a matter of letting go.

    Did not utter one word then.

    With this new posting, again, due to the fact that you really, really can’t run SHC plus your new headache (that’s what I call it) SHE anymore and do not wish to fund these 2 indefinitely (why should you?), you are looking for volunteers.

    Your idea of setting up SHE is to offer part-time work to members (excellent) and hopes in time it will be successful and maintains SHC. Will this be achievable? No one knows; we can only hope for the best.

    Back to the volunteers. Don’t know how many are you looking for – it also depends on how many volunteered and are suitable.

    This is where your headache comes in; will this person work well with you? If it’s more than one, ooh, bigger headache; will they fight between/amongst themselves? Think you’ll be busy handling their shiat but knowing you, you will choose to ignore and hope everyone dies and gets back to the job.

    With the above shiat said, I wish SHE every success so that SHC is sustainable for me to continue to yak.

  2. Well StevenC #1,

    I am glad you noticed the advertisement.

    I wasn’t too sure if we should accept advertisements; initially I was reluctant because this will mean additional work. Some members including StevenN have suggested; but I only kept the idea at the back of my head.

    Sometimes, members totally ignore that this Club and forum is not for advertising, despite the fact that we offer “Online Fleamart” run by Jassmine Teo, for personal items.

    Well, after sometime of doing nothing, sitting at airport lounges and the need for funds to support some of our ideas, I decided that “Paid Advertising” will be allowed. This advertising will be managed by SilverHairs Enterprise PL.

    Again, such thoughts are ideas, and need resources to run these ideas, both time and money.

    On this note, SilverHairs Enterprise is opening two positions for two members to volunteer as Advertising Directors at SHE. This position will not be required to travel, but have good contacts with organisations in Singapore and abroad, have reasonable knowledge of email, jpg and pdf files, attachments, internet websites and advertising experience and practices. If any member is interested, please write to terences@silverhairsclub.com.

    These concept of volunteer roles will continue with many other services that SHE plans to provide. My aim is that by mid next year, we can run many services commercially viable.

    Look forward to members’ participation.

    Terence Seah

  3. Hi Geraldine #3,

    Although it was not my initial intention to set up SHC, today I have grown closer to many members and the Club. And therefore, I am not going to see it wither.

    Many members have expressed sighs of relief after joining SHC. This is the place where they find new friends. And, what happens later, goes on. There is life after retirement, after losing a job, and after spending years in the flat cleaning the place and facing all the walls. So, you can understand why we should sustain SHC.

    I wasn’t too sure what to make of your comment, but I see you see me too well. Yes, one of my characteristics is I ignore bad news, quarrels and negative thinking. Yes, this is true, but I write them on a piece of paper. Most times, I keep the notes in my pocket, allow the shirt to be washed many times, and then pick up the notes to review them. Well, if they are not torn by then.

    Thank you for your positive thoughts.

    Terence Seah

  4. Terence

    Washing those little notes and hoping they are magically gone is a classic avoidance and denial shiat which do not work all the time, just like silence is golden does not make the problems go away.

    At times, these issues will fester like a disease if left ‘untreated’.

    I hope should future bad news, quarrels and negative thinking crop up – you bet they will, please take your thumb out of you-know-where and DEAL. WITH. IT. Otherwise, no one in their right mind wants to volunteer.

  5. “no one in their right mind wants to volunteer”
    I think we should not speak so strongly like this
    Volunteering, organizing activities is fun and satisfying
    I done that, been there before even when I was in my prime working age 30s I would have focused on building my career instead I spent almost 2 years of my time organizing activities for the singles Many had tied the knots through my activities co-organized with another guy. It is not once a month kind of activities but practically every week and even weekdays. Squabbles, conflicts and flictions are normal or inevitable when people come together. It takes a mature, open and great mind to co-exist with everyone.
    If I have no other passion to pursue now I would certainly step in.

  6. Success has its own problems. Perhaps Terence, you have done so well in nurturing SHC that we SHCians have grown lazy and depend much on you for leadership. SHC is functioning so well that we had become laid back and complacent. Your anxiety to relieve your post is “passively resisted”, as I guess many would not want to miss you presence! Patience will be needed to pass the baton.
    With technology, nobody noticed your absence in Singapore as you have been promptly answering sms and well plugged in to the website. At this juncture, few will accept your reason to step down just because you are spending less time here. As it stands, SHC has many with great ideas and enthusiasm, that as a group have made it vibrant without your physical presence, but yet knowing that you are “there in spirit”!

  7. Hi Terence, i think it would be a pity not to identify “Terence(s) with SHC”. You have spent time, effort and absorbed the good, bad and ugly. I think there are a lot of readers of the comments/ blogs but not many are vocal or want to put comments/arguments. As James’ wrote above “nobody noticed your absence in Singapore” – so you should just take it that this “SHC baby” is a growing one, and nurture it, so please don’t pass the baton to someone else.

  8. You must be contemplating investing substantial amount of funds in SHC to warrant the ’employment’ of 2 Advertising Directors. I understand that Advertising Directors command a monthly salary of at least 5 digits and some even 6 digits.

    They are highly paid professionals and expert in negotiation skills apart from extensive and in-depth knowledge of various type of cookies, various media buys/advertisers networks, ppc, ppv, cpc, cpm, heatmaps, geo targetting, email + web analytics, various type of tracking tools and more. To expect them to be a volunteer will be asking too much.

    I have test advertise on a quite number of website/blogs which cost about US$100 to US$300 a month depending on the page/position of the banner or inline text. These sites are ranked in the top 100,000 globally. In the exceptional circumstances when I can’t find a site/blog which has the required targetted traffic will I consider sites which are in the top 500,000.

    A search on SHC show it is ranked 7,470,780 as at today. It will be difficult to attract advertisers based on the traffic and demographic of SHC. Of course on and off there will be someone who will advertise on your blog based on relationship. Unfortunately these type of advertising offers are not sustainable.

    I do mention previously of advertisement on SHC hopefully it will be able to fund the operation of SHC which amount to about $10 a month (hosting and domain registration). However I do suggest the revamp of the blog to attract more traffic and look attractive to potential advertisers’ network and hopefully it can earn enough for its upkeep.

    I have never envisaged that SHC will be an attractive magnet for advertisers due to the traffic and demographic of its visitors/members.

    Therefore I am quite amazed that you need 2 Advertising Directors to manage your advertisement related matter.

  9. Hi StevenN #9,

    Thank you for your contribution comment. Unfortunately, I find the comments rather negative, not encouraging and very discouraging. I wish you would offer positive comments, and perhaps offer to play a role as a member. If the club does not need help to maintain and move forward, I would not have asked for volunteers. Please do not dampen our way forward.

    I also sense a tone of cynicism in the comment. Perhaps, this is your way of participating in the Club. I do not see our club demographics or membership as not being an important group in our society. Please be reminded SHC is not in the business of internet marketing. And, we shall stay focus on our objective.

    Despite what you say, I shall endeavour to put SHC a few steps ahead, with the support and ideas of the many members in the club. And, I look forward to you taking a role in SHC or SHE.

    Again, thank you for your opinion.

    Terence Seah

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