Author: Terence Seah

1.  Nov gathering was just over.  About 40 SilverHairs attended.  Richard
Kwok was organiser and Gibson Tan was the venue host.  For pictures, plse
see http://SilverHairsClub.com/SHC/SHC051130/

2.  Next gathering – We will have the next SilverHairsClub get together on
Dec 30.  Subject to confirmation, the gathering will be at the
Shenton/Robinson area, from 1830 – 2000 hrs.  Plse see events – www.SilverHairsClub.com/events

I am 55 now. I migrated to Singapore (from Hong Kong) 13 years ago.

I don’t have must activities and have not many friends in Singapore. Besides working, I usually spend most of my time at home playing PC, watching TV and reading books sometimes.

Previously, I enjoy this mundane lifestyle. But when my wife passed away (one year ago), I considered I cannot carry on this kind of lifestyle and have to broaden my interests and know more friends. I hope I can achieve this in the SilverHairsClub.

About 40 people attended the SilverHairsClub Nov 30 gathering at ONE Fullerton.  Starting at 6pm, the event saw SilverHairs writing their names on sticky labels, actively introducing themselves to one another, and enjoying the view of the setting sun at the Singapore river mouth.

Event organiser was Richard Kwok and Venue host was Gibson Tan.  Also present were Patrick Yeo (Team leader for 2006 Olympics) and Elsie Ho (Team Leader for 2006 Talentime).  For pictures, please click on silverhairsclub.com/SHC/SHC051130.

The evening topic “What do you plan to do when you reach 55?” started at 7pm.  Although we had a few observers, many SilverHairs shared their meaning of retirement.  Some ideas include travelling, fellowships, nature walks, cooking, potluck, computer classes, making money and collecting CPF.  There were also concerns of no CPF to collect, little money left, no where to go and no friends to talk with.

And, on the whole, we had fun and friendship.  Small groups start to form.  We look forward to the next gathering, likely to be much bigger.

We have just created a logo to represent the SilverHairsClub.  Hope you like it.

Not all SilverHairs have a job to take them through their SilverHairs years.  Then, there are some of us who will always want to keep ourselves busy with a short term assignment, after retirement. 

Although we are not a job agency or a company looking at engaging staff, we do come across companies (Singapore or foreign) looking for certain skills and management experience.  If this is something you are looking at, please drop a short summary of your experience in this category on this website, clearly stating what you are looking for.

Terence Seah (Match maker – Jobs)

I cannot be a leader as I do not drive these days, but I can help out when your club gets going.  I have only 4 more years to retirement.  I am Singapore based, still working but not on Sat.

1. An online Forum for discussion after each event may be useful to gather feedback.
2. I suggest an outdoor outing for a start to see your response.  A walk to MacRitchie Tree top.  Not much organization.  Interested parties just meet at a spot at MacRitchie at a predetermined time and after the walk, interested parties adjourned to a lunch.

The other is a Sungei Buloh walk. Healthy lifestyle and these activities give participants ample time to get to know each other.

3. I do not know ballroom dancing altho’ I go dancing often when I was young.  Good to have a half a year/one year for beginners, then have a once a month dance session.

Also when you have a function, you can be sure there is a group who gives life to your party.  Ideas will come when your club gets going.

In Singapore, the percentage of aging group is very high.

By the way, the ideas of newsletter can be incorporated into the website or through e-mail. It would be convenient to assess & cost saving too. At the moment, I am still active in work. I could only help to e-mail some of the interesting articles (health or jokes related) from website or friends.

Regarding the hobbies, I am interested in Chinese music. Other hobbies are the same as what you have mentioned. Perhaps I want to know more about the living in Thailand or China after retirement. What kind of job opportunites are available after retirement.

I would like to join the club asa member but I do not know whether I wi ll be able to
contribute. I do not support the idea for elderly people to migrate to another country  for retirement.  They will miss their relatives and friends.
    
At the moment, I am trying to  form a group  of  retired people who are interested in build and create  projects using  lego  products.  Such activity  will keep their minds active. They  can  work as facilitators for children groups, which our company is trying to promote in childcare centre primary and secondary schools, youth clubs. The skills they acquire are many : self discipline, mathematical concept, observation power  etc.  If you have any one interested, please contact me.

I’m 59 years of age and am staying at Tanjong Rhu Road.  I have organised the QIGONG SHI BA SHI exercise for the resident of Tanjong Rhu Road and the vicinity to practise every morning starting from 6.30am to 7.30am (where the qi is at its peak).  There is no fee to pay and I am willing to teach you the proper way of practising Qigong thereby improving your health and enhance your immune system.  Any persons regardless of age, religion, gender, nationality and culture are welcome to join free.
 
Location: Grass field infront of the bridge leading to Indoor Stadium near Cosy Bay.  You will not miss it when you jog or breeze walk that area at 6.30am.
Time/Days: start from 6.30am to 7.30am from Mondays to Saturdays (unless raining)
Dress code: comfortable jogging or any track shoes, track pants or shorts and t-shirt.
Medium of instruction: We use Mandarin and English for coaching the art of qigong.

I’m keen to know more about your silverhair programme. I’m retired Education Officer and presently employed by MOE as a part-time school counsellor.

Thank-you for enlightening me on the proposed activities of the club. I’m interested in travelling and social activites ( get togethers ) among like minded senior citizens.
Do keep me informed if you’re going to organise such activities.

I will be pleased to be involved in your activities one way or another. I have diverse interests and have the time. Just tell me what you need.

As far as Silver hair clubs, I am involved in my own alumnis. SJI and NJC for the class of 50’s. Same age so we have something in common straight out of the bat.

Bangkok was my home too for two years when  I was looking after a Thai-Spore JV some time back. Since then, I have always been very partial to the country and love to go back for holidays.  I am toying with the idea of setting up a retirement village in Chiengmai. Tell me about your stay-and-tour plans. I would like to join your activities. 

You are right too. Get out the smaller informal meetings first. Just a coffee anywhere will do. If the interest is strong it will naturally grow and take root. Forcing it otherwise will not work as well.

Some of my thoughts on the activities. Firstly, it should be easy on the participants, ie. the organizing, planning , logistic could be handled by a full time paid staff . Secondly, the activities should be low costs, affordable for retirees . There could be a coffee/cake session perhaps once a month where members can  fellowship and get to know one another,  at some free premises. Unless members know one another well and feel comfortable with each other, it would be difficult to get them to participate in any activity organized for them.

Use the email as the tool of communication. For those without computer skills, SMS . In this way, the administrative work will be kept simple and effective.

My view of self contained environment meaning only limit as own circle of friend.  I strongly believe that when we getting older we should actively participate social activities and make new friend to enlighten our golden year.

I spend most of the leisure hours and weekends at home surfing the net, reading books or watching TV.  Currently I am working full-time.

I hope to get to know more people and make new friends and to break away from my current mundane lifestyle.  Presently I have a friendster page which is largely inactive as most of the users are teenagers.  I hope SilverHairsClub can have similar platform where we can get to know members better and interact with members of similar interests.

It was indeed an opportunity to meet up with you (the founder of Silver Hair Club).  There are much things to learn and share amongst our silver hair community.

I am glad that you have entrusted the important role of matchmaker to me. I will try to the best of my ability to fulfill this task.  Looking forward to more info on our existing members and matching their interests in the forthcoming gathering.  Till then, all the best to you and your organization.

YOUR EMAIL FOR THE SOCIAL GATHERING SOUNDS GOOD.  I AM INTERESTED IN JOINING THE CLUB.  YOUR SUGGESTION IS VERY GOOD.  I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO ATTEND YOUR MEETING.  CENTRAL MEETING PLACE IS GOOD.  PLEASE LET ME KNOW MORE DETAILS.  THANKS

MY NAME IS JENNY GOH. I AM 58 YEARS WILL THAT DO.  MIKE IS MY HUSBAND’S NAME AND WE SHARE THE EMAIL ADDRESS SO I ANSWER HIS EMAIL.

LOOKING FORWARD IN MEETING YOU ALL.

A FREE HEALTH TALK by DR CLARENCE ING (USA)
"How To PREVENT Cancer, Diabetes, Stroke, High Blood Pressure & Heart Diseases NATURALLY?"

Friday 4th November 2005

YOUNGBERG WELLNESS CENTRE
798 Thomson Road
Singapore 298186
(Adjacent to Thomson 800 & Opposite Far East Flora Nursery)

6:00pm – Carotid Ultrasound Examination (OPTIONAL – see below)
7:00pm – Please be seated (Seating Capacity : 150 persons)
7:30pm – Health Talk by speaker Dr Clarence Ing commences
8:30pm – Q&A (Time to ask about health matters & tips concerning self or friends, etc)
9:00pm – END

About the Speaker / Topic:

DR CLARENCE ING, MD, MPH is the President of NEWSTART Medical Clinic and Medical Director of Weimar Institute in California. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Opthalmology and the American College of Preventive Medicine with a Masters of Public Health in Nutrition. He was the former Director of the Youngberg Wellness Centre in Singapore for about 10 years.

His talk will cover the role played by lifestyle, nutrition and activities in the avoidance and management of many diseases that destroy many lives and affect many more.

The irony is that diseases are preventable naturally, if we only know how. What you don’t know can hurt you!

Dr Ing, an American-Born-Chinese (ABC) has worked in the field of Lifestyle Medicine for 26 years and have give his talks in the USA, China, Egypt, UK, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

His knowledge and experience have helped many take the necessary steps in the successful prevention and management of these diseases.

Passed on by Roland Chou.

Here are some updates for the month of Nov 2005.

1.  SilverHairsClub founders:
We are pleased to announce the founders of The SilverHairsClub founders.  They are:

* Terence Seah
* William Chew
* Richard Ng
* Margaret Lee
* Richard Kwok.

The founders are tasked with ensuring that the SilverHairsClub meet its objective of providing a platform for "over 45s" to meet and make new friends.  The club taboos are activities and discussions related to sex, religion, race, politics, direct selling and MLM.

2.  Match makers and event organisers:
*  SHC matchmakers are SilverHairsClub members who have vibrant personalities, keen to meet people and whose main task is to identify members’ interests and introduce them to other members with similar interest.

*  SHC Event organisers are also SilverHairsClub members who have their own special interests eg table tennis, social dancing, keeping fighting fish, chit chatting, having a few drinks together, Karaoke, small group remote travel, playing music together, starting a food stall together and enjoying short overseas stays together.  Their key task involves getting you to join them in their activities and events.

The names will be introduced very soon, on the website.

If you like to be a matchmaker or event organiser, simple drop me an email.

3.  Monthly event:
Currently, we have two places to hold the Nov monthly event.  The next meeting date is Wednesday, Nov 30, starting at 1800 hrs and finishing at 1930 hrs.  The location is at Shenton/Raffles area and will be informed to you next week.  It is near a MRT.  Please let us know if you intend to attend, and we will send you an invitation.

There will be a short topic for the evening.  "What do you plan to do when you reach 55?"  As a guide, the general concept for monthly meetings are inexpensive coffee/tea 50 cts to $1, no liquor and a nice pleasant place, preferably free premise.  The idea is for you to meet other members.  It is our belief that the monthly meeting will generate beneficial activities among members.  Only Registered SHC members can participate.  For both English and Mandarin speaking members.

4. Monthly online live forum:
Some members are not able to attend the monthly event. From the comfort of your home computer, you can log into www.star-conference.com.  A short program will download into your PC.  The session starts at 0900 hrs and ends 1030 hrs.  Sunday, Nov 7.  Overseas members can also join in the online forum.  Textchat is available this year, while the voice chat is disabled for the moment.  Please observe SHC taboos.  Join in, and share your ideas and meet other silverhairs online.  If time or day is not suitable, please let us know.

Conference name:  star-conference
Conference Password:  star
User name:  Your registered SHC nickname

5.  Register your name in SilverHairsClub.com:
Please take a few moments to register yourself.  We only need your name, and you can create a password.

Please also write a post about your interest or yourself, under category of Member Profile.  Do not include your telephone contact or addresses when writing a post or a comment.

You can also send us your profile, and we will post for you.

We will use your first name and the last name when we create the membership card. And you have to be over 45 years.  This card will be used to pin on your shirt/blouse when you attend functions.

6. Deregister as a member:
If for any reason, you wish to deregister as a member, simply send me an email. No questions asked.

Terence Seah
SilverHairsClub.com

I am a Singaporean of age 54. I am still working but may be retiring soon.  Agree that we should make more friends, make our lives more meaningful and enjoy our silver age.

My interest is in cooking, baking, hiking and travelling. I have recently completed a certificate baking course at Baking Industry Training Centre and may be able to contribute in this area.

I am a retiree and am interested in participating in a club that "excites" me.  I’ll appreciate your informing me of any coming activities or, share the club’s goals and objectives for my consideration. 

I have read the comments in the silverhairs club and have studied yours – the one below, pretty closely. I must say that everything sounds exciting and I can feel the "vim and vitality" emerging. However, I’m not sure if anything has actually taken place. It certainly would be good to have one/two events to kick off and then, keep the momentum going from there. This is only my opinion, pardon me if I’m too quick in commenting.

Well Terence, it appears that most if not all of your members are silver haired. I’m not sure if I still qualify as one or, would be considered a tad too old. I’m close to 58 and fully retired. No, I’m not sitting around and not knowing what to do or how to pass my time. I’m fully occupied pursuing stuff which I’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t when I was in employment. My interests are manifold. Some being, travelling to non-touristy places and roughing it out if necessary, organising makan makan / pot luck parties for those who love cooking, "makaning" and socialising in a more informal atmosphere, participating in activities for nature lovers like trekking, gardening, nature conservation etc, lots, lots more and finally, voluntary work – paying back to society. Hence, my schedule is really tight.

So, why my interest in joining a club like the silverhairs! Well, I can always do with more friends, new people, new crowd and, participating in other interests like, dancing – no not line dancing please, "clubbing", having a drink or two and laughing the night away. Anyway, I’m game for anything that smells excitment. I am adventurous, daring but cautious at the same time and, always looking out for something new. Would like to try "backpacking" if I have some company/companion willing to do this. However, this will have to be some time from now. Too many commitments at present.

You may wonder why I’ve written so much & not bother creating a profile under the silverhairs website. Well, I’m not that skillful in handling modern day gadget yet. Perhaps, you or someone can start a class teaching us to be more computer savvy. I may be late again in responding should you reply to this. I’ll be leaving for a 10-day vacation to Sabah tomorrow. I love the place. This is my second trip in two months.

It is good to have such a club to keep all the silverhairs buddies actively occupied in meaningful activities that will make our minds and bodies active and strong. Though we may be advanced in age  our minds and bodies should remain young, alert, active and strong. It is through active interactions with peers that we silverhairs clubbers can maintain and remain young in mind, body and spirit.

I am at the moment very busy with my job especially when my colleaques are travelling; I have to "pau suar pau hai".

I will try my best to participate in some of SHC activities whenever possible. Please keep me informed.

Besides tossing on the ideas of summing up the members potential area of involvement.We can look into sub-grouping all the different linkage of the SHC members Ie: those who are fully retired and NO work involvement and those who are still actively working.I am toying with the idea of encouraging the “non-involvement” type of minority group. This group of people who are nearer to 55 and yet has no plan or totally no idea what to do next. We can sell the idea of how To grow old with “rich” enhancment and fulfillment. Rich not in moneytary term. Rich in experience and sharing with each other. Encourage “old” and those not so “old” to walk out of their usual small comfort zone.
I do agree that monthly event is rather important to get SHC members keep in touch and look forward towards some happening. Be it a gathering at coffee shop. It will be a good meeting ground.

Fri, Dec 09 to Dec 12.  Start from Chiangmai and drive to the Golden Triangle.  The Golden Triange is where Laos, Thailand and Myanmar meets.  Mae Sai – entrance to Myanmar from North Thailand.  Doi Mai Salong – beautiful drive to moutainous northeast, a countrified Chinatown, settled 50 years ago.  Interested to join, contact Terence Seah at terence@silverhairsclub.com.

Some people are very net savvy.  Some are just frightened.  Emails and browing are common internet applications.  Then, there is VOIP or voice chatting on the internet.  If you like to lead this category and be match maker or event organiser, raise your hands.

Garage sales are popular exciting  activities.  Definitely, we should keep this to members’ corner.  Can be a worthwhile activity, besides generating some income.  November, December and pre-house cleaning months before major holidays are periods where people throw away unwanted house items.  Unwanted toys, kitchen utencils, electrical items, dresses, furnitures and books are wanted items in other homes.  If you like to organise this column and be a event organiser, please let me know.

This column has been recommended by members.

If you have food receipes to share or like to recommend some good and value for money places, this is the category.  If you like pot luck gatherings, again share them here. Like to be a Cooking and Food evening organiser, please let me know too.