By Jason Sweeney
The guys from Sons In Retirement (SIRS) know how to have a good time. They socialize and have lunch the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Fremont Country Club in Los Altos Hills where they listen to some of the best speakers around. This month, Dave Price, co-publisher of the Palo Alto Daily News, will speak to SIRS about how he got into the publishing business.
The group hosts speakers of all varieties and types. Santa Clara County Superior Court judge Joe Huber is next month’s speaker.
SIRS offers retired men the opportunity to renew acquaintances, have lunch and participate in a variety of activities. The organization is dedicated to “promoting the dignity and independence of retirement.”
Members of the local SIRS branch, Branch 5, meet weekly for bowling, and monthly for fishing. Some of the branch’s other activities include golf tournaments, poker, bridge and an extensive travel itinerary.
“Our travel bureau is probably the best travel bureau in the area,” said Bernerd Meseth, the “Big Sir,” or branch leader, of Branch 5. In November, the group is taking a golfing trip to Mexico. They plan to sail from port to port stopping to golf at each one.
There are approximately 166 SIRS branches in Northern California with about 24,000 members. Branch 5 has 107 members.
The only requirements to join SIRS are to be male and retired from full-time employment. There is no initiation or membership fee and the cost of luncheons and annual branch expenses are minimal. Wives and lady friends are invited to attend several functions per year. (Members who bring wives are advised to leave lady friends at home.)
Rules are few. No fund-raising activities or political or religious agendas are permitted and members are required to attend monthly luncheons.
“If the retired men in this area knew what we had to offer they would rush to investigate to our group,” Meseth said. “They’d be lined up around the block.”
For more information log on to www.sirinc.org. If you would like to learn more about SIRS or attend a luncheon, e-mail local member Ted Hinshaw at tedhinshaw@excite.com.
