Senior Single Events

[tina]

Has anyone ever done an event for single (as in, not married) seniors?  I am considering an evening event and wonder if it should be a dance or just an evening with games & snacks available and maybe some background music.  Any suggestions???

[alice]

HI Tina,

We just started a singles night.  We began by just advertizing dinner out at one of our local restaurants.  I had people call the center and let us know if they would be attending so we could make reservations for them.  I asked the restaurant if they could do separate checks and we had the event at 5:00 p.m. which avoided the dinner rush.  It was a great success.  The first month we had 15 attend.  It then became the group's responsiblity to decide what they wanted to do the following month.  They chose to go to another restaurant that had dancing.  I think dancing is fine once in awhile.   Of course we had about 2 to 1 women but I try to stress that this is not a dating service but just an opportunity for single people to go out for an evening together.  I have suggested that they come to center one evening for games and such but they seem to enjoy just going out to dinner so far.  We just started the group in April.  I will keep you informed how it is going.

Alice Andrews

[tina]

Thanks for your response, Alice.  Did you go with them to the restaurant the first time?  Now that they've done it once, they are totally on their own?

[alice]

I did not go with them but I knew I had  people with leadership skills going.   

Alice

[dawnwhite]

We have not done a singles event as of yet.... but I certainly feel that there is a market for this!  So, anyone with experience in this area...  please post!

We had a trip to Branson last year where two different couples on the trip had met through senior single ads.  That sparked a lot of conversation on the bus, dinner, etc... and many were talking about a need for this.  When I asked on the bus how many would attend a trip designed for singles, over 90% raised their hands.

-Dawn

[Virginia]

The only singles activity we have at our center is a group hosted here by Hospice.  It is called "Living Connections".  All attendees are a widow/widower.  THey meet here once a month in the evening and either play board games, have a potluck or have a speaker or entertainment (Music, etc).  Once in a while they meet at a restaurant or park.  It seems well attended at times.

[RhondaZiethlow]

How about a "how to be single" class after divorce, during the incapacitation of spouse, or death of spouse?
Many need to know how to handle finances, questions about retirement benefits and insurances, and security issues in using technology.  We have had seminars here, but am thinking about 4-6 week course to better inform and personalize.

[alice]

Good idea Rhonda!

[Larry Erlandson]

We have singles group at Evergreen.  Contact Barb at bvisser@evergreencommons.org for information.

[Debbie Heraty]

Someone at the MASC conference said they had a "speed dating" program.  I would like to know the format that was followed.

[Horan]

We have a Senior Singles group that meets the first and third Saturday of every month at 7 pm. There motto is "The Three C's: Coffee, Cards, and Conversation". It is basically just your typical card club, except target marketed toward singles. They average anywhere from low teens to low 20's as far as attendance, but they've been meeting for at least 10 years, so they're dedicated.

Of course the key is that there is a core group of volunteers involved that essentially serve as the groups leadership and keep them going. I don't even schedule a staff person to be in attendance. The lead volunteer has a key to the building and the alarm code. If she isn't going to be in attendance, she has a couple of sub's she can call on. It's a self-run operation.

They will occassionally plan a potluck and meet at 6:30 instead of 7:00.

[molasconp]

Just trying to start a supper club, where the group would go to local restaurants.  I plan on going the first time, but so far no takers!