We did a summary of SHC membership. Thought it is good to share with you. Due to difficulty of collecting response, I would give an accuracy of +/- 5%.
Membership composition:
– Total registered – close to 3,000 with a mix of Chinese, Indian and Malay.
– to the best of our knowledge, 100% are over 45 years.
– 85% are still actively employed or engaged in own business.
– 15% are retired or not working.
– 60% are females and 40% are males.
Language:
– English is commonly used.
– 10% speaks mainly Mandarin, and not comfortable to join SHC activities because English is our common medium.
PC and internet fluency:
– 40% have no access to a PC at home, or their kids occupy most of the computer time.
– 60% have access to internet at home/office.
– at least 50% are not comfortable with PC and internet.
– about 80% prefer phone and SMS communication.
Reasons for joining SilverHairsClub:
– a high 85% join with the aim of finding new friends, although we are not clear about the remaining 15%.
– common reasons for joining include friendship, finding travel partners, find healthy activities and sharing retirement issues.
Interesting perceptions about the SilverHairsClub:
– each month, we encounter about 5-10 queries if SHC is linked to any government agencies, in particular RC groups. We try to stay as an informal social club.
– prior to joining SHC, common queries include "whether SHC is a dating club?" However, after going through the SHC website, and when told SHC is not a dating club, these group still decide to join SHC.
Feedback:
– More than 80% of members prefer SHC to remain independent, simple and free and easy.
– some 5% prefer an organised structure, with a management structure or committee. SHC operates by events. Each event is led by an Event organiser, with a small adhoc committee. All are volunteers.
– there are suggestions for a membership subscription of $1-2 per month to help with expenses. SHC has taken the decision, no subscriptions will be collected.
– SHC receives strong support from members for its one single objective of providing a platform for SilverHairs, over 45, to meet new and more friends.
– Many members have accepted our taboos on politics, sex, race, religion, direct selling and MLM during club’s events.
We would like to your feedback to this summary.
Terence Seah
Top marks to you, Terence, for the summary, a job done better than the chief statistician on demography.
To SHCians who feel more at ease with Mandarin, I say, pls be reassured that we do hv many members who too speak Mandarin and enjoy conversations in dialects. This is a place to relax, foster friendship and nothing works better than an effective communication. So do pls come to join us.
I too dont see SHC as a dating club. But if dates ensue, who is there to stand in bwtn? Terence & I hv dated; even our pas & mas cant stop that fr happening. At 45 or over, we are able to take the responsibility of a relationship that’s closer than friendship. But do pls be cautious. Always.
For me, it’s good that SHC stays autonomous & independent and so is nimble & spontaneous to meet the likes of the bigger interests. Smaller groups thru posting their invites too can cater to their own smaller needs. So, happily, we hv danz groups. walkists, cyclists, k’okists. This dexterity & flexibility may be lost if SHC is structured & comes under some form of patronage. Definitely Seah Kim Seng is a lot sweeter than TT Seng.
The OB limits, or taboos if you like, are reasonable, will make us stayed focussed and not stray into situations which can hv dire consequences to individuals & the club.
tim
Hi Terence!
You have given an excellent overview of what is SHC is all about. I’m looking forward to meeting up with you guys.
It’s a secured feeling to join your club rather being afraid of being conned into any business dealings. Better still no politics!
As to people who go dating after all it’s a democratic society rite?
Cat Ho
Hi Terence,
Kudos for a job marvellously and professionally done.
The statistics is quite disturbing as a high percentage of the members are not comfortable with PC and internet which is the main means of SHC communication and they would prefer to use phone and sms. I wonder how we could solve this teething problem.
Are there any statistics of attendance of participation in terms of popularity of the activities and the activeness of each member. From such statistics, we can determine the types of members: active, dormant and inactive.
I endorse strongly the following decisions:
a) No subscription
b) Operation by events, with event leaders and a small group of adhoc committee
Robert Quek
RegularInteractionCircleofHarmony
Hi Terence & All SHC Members,
The “Stat & Data” reported is truly motivating and definitely there are still more out there who would like to mingle with SHC members except they’re still not qualify in age.
Personally, I feel that this SHC Platform sponsored by SHC Founders is generously given away. The interactive website is not easy to maintain and let alone to say that much sacrifices are given to organise monthly or even weekly adhoc meetings and activities.
To all our SHC members, I would like to encourage all of you to participate in those events that are of interest to you. If you find that there are other events which you would like to lead and gather participating SHC members to join in, please feel free to propose to us.
I look forward to meeting all of you who will be attending the SHC Dinner and Dance.
Have a Nice Day
Thank you Terence for given us this opportunity to find more friends that share the same interest. At least life is not BORE after age 45 and above.
Long Live SHC and its’ Founders.
Long live SHC………………….? Can.
Long live the founders………….? Can meh?
The founders? They have initiated the SilverHairsClub. Importantly, it is now up to all of us. As you can see from the activities, the contributions are coming from members.
And, if you like to do something, no matter how young and crazy an activity it may be, try posting your thoughts here. You will be surprised.
Terence Seah