SSI Member Clubs
Discussion Paper
May 2023

What is an SSI Member Club?
   A small group of members gathering to provide a variety of social                                  opportunities, reaching beyond the classroom to bring members together.
   Expanding opportunities to make new friends and connections outside of                  lectures and classrooms.
   An opportunity to create small social groups with individuals with similar
    interests.
   A way to provide informal, casual and supportive ways to ensure consideration
    of all members health care issues.
   Clubs provide ways to have FUN!!
   Join a club…or start one!

Why do we need clubs?
   To provide still more opportunities for socializing and friendships
   Socializing is the antidote to three years of isolation and loneliness
   To extend compassion, empathy and friendship to all members
   To encourage members to reengage with classes, lectures and events
   To provide a supportive environment for friendships and relationships to be               established and to thrive
   Strong relationships between individual and small groups will strengthen and 
     revive our organization

How do clubs operate?
   Each club determines the details of all their activities with board approval.
   Clubs may meet weekly or monthly, in person or online or in combination.
   Club meeting places can be on campus, off campus or online.
   See the newsletter for details on how to join and for meeting information.
   All new committees are approved by the board.
   Each group has a leader.

What kinds of clubs?
Some suggestions for clubs are outlined below. These are suggestions only. Clubs are not “activate” until the board approves it and one or two members are ready to start the club.

Here’s some ideas for clubs. See the following page for a brief description of each club idea.

Friendship Circles
   Fresh air connections
   Lunch bunch – indoors and outside
   Garden tours
   Happy hour- online and in person
   SSI senior yearbook
   Legacy interviews
   Health & wellness
   Movies, theater, concerts, festivals, art, dance and more
   Day tripping to the coast or the gorge
   Newcomers group

Helping Hands
   Sunshine bright
   Seniors Helping Seniors
   Membership Support

Outreach (marketing, publicity)
   Citizen journalists
   SSI event photography
   SSI Ambassadors

Detailed descriptions

Friendship Circles
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Fresh air connections. A sunny day, a park nearby or your porch or patio, you decide. A cup of coffee, take out lunch or brown bag it. A great way to have a conversation (and a cup of coffee, or?) with another member or a small group outside.

Lunch bunch. The lunch group may include small groups of members, including a lunch group who want to eat outside during summer weather.

Garden tours.  You don’t have to be a gardener to join this group. The garden group travels around to a variety of public and private gardens and special events.

Happy hour.  This committee may set up a happy hour location in person as well as a regular happy hour online.

SSI Senior Year Book.  Join this club and help us establish an annual digital yearbook. Help us get member headshots using an iPhone and a one sentence description for each and every member.
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Legacy interviews. Do you have a short video of you talking to your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc.? We can match you with a member who will take a headshot take and record a short interview. A list of interview questions can be supplied. The photo and video are sent to your secure storage, online or your phone/computer for safe keeping as well as to share with your family.

Health & wellness. This group may attend local events, festivals, speakers, etc. It may include a walking group, hiking, pickleball, etc.  Movies, theaters, dance, concerts and more! It’s more fun to go with a group!  From the Gorge to the Coast! Join 2 or 3 members and take a leisurely drive up the gorge or to the coast for the day.

Newcomers group- New to SSI, come and meet new members and old, sharing their experiences and inviting new members to fully experience new friends, events, classes and special events.

Helping Hands

Sunshine Bright! This club offers sympathy and well wishes to our members experiencing hospital stays, illnesses, bereavement as well as special birthdays and celebrations. The club members may mail or deliver in person cards and flowers. Anniversary, retirement, birthday, what are the times and ways we could extend good cheer!
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Seniors helping seniors. Need a helping hand? Membership support. This club may include a phone tree with weekly phone calls. Just check in and see how a fellow member is doing.

Outreach (marketing, publicity)

Citizen Journalists. Do you like to write? Do you have time to write a short piece about your experiences at SSI to help promote the SSI? This group writes short opinion or news articles about activities at the SSI and submits them monthly to local (mostly) free publications as well as other public and private websites and more.

SSI Event Photography – This committee takes current pictures and short videos of activities, individuals and groups. The photos are used for the website, newsletter(s), publicity and marketing

SSI Ambassadors. Publicity, marketing and outreach. This group prepares short presentations to be taken out into the community for in person as well as online presentations. Individuals may join or attend other organizations as ambassadors.

“There’s more to going to college than just studying …. Let’s party!”

Helen Elder, graduate, Cal Poly ’75, USC ‘77