Local retirees gather for a few laughs and lunch
Once upon a time, they were the captains of commerce, leaders in
their community.
But today the San Benito County branch of Sons In Retirement is
a group of men as dedicated to having a good time as they were to
their careers.
Local retirees gather for a few laughs and lunch
Once upon a time, they were the captains of commerce, leaders in their community.
But today the San Benito County branch of Sons In Retirement is a group of men as dedicated to having a good time as they were to their careers.
“What characterizes the organization is just friendship, good camaraderie and a good day out,” said Paul Armbruster, the club’s current president, or “Big Sir” in the club’s pun-filled parlance. “I think maybe the reason for that is when you’re sworn in they say, ‘we’ve chucked our old bosses and now is the time to just sit back and relax.’ The organization doesn’t support any religious or political group or community cause. It’s just for the fun of it. All we’re there for is fun.”
The group – numbering nearly 150 – meets on the second Thursday of each month for lunch and laughs. With 159 branches in California and a membership of around 22,000, it may be the biggest club you never heard of.
There are no dues, assessments or initiation fees, but members are free to chip in to cover incidentals, like the club’s newsletter.
The local chapter was founded in 1986 with 145 charter members. Former county Superintendent Bob Bouchard was its first Big Sir and accepted the charter documents.
Bouchard is still going to the meetings. He and his trumpet were joined by a few other musicians in a dance combo at one recent meeting. Members and their wives whirled around the dance floor before sitting down for lunch and music by the Oriana Chorale.
It’s a group where the simple query, “how are you?” often brings more detail than a pat “fine.” Members talk about surgeries – their own and others’ – and a visitor heard “I guess he’s not doing too well,” more than once at a recent meeting.
That’s one reason a reporter and photographer were invited to a meeting. When you’re a club composed exclusively of retired people, “we tend to keep losing members,” said Harry Bank.
In spite of that, it’s clear that the group is having fun. Mike Carter, a retired teacher, presided at a recent meeting, singling members out for a ribbing that most returned in kind.
Most of the time, the group meets at the Elks Lodge at Hollister Airport, but during summer months, SIRs convene for barbecues. The club’s last meeting was at Bolado Park, where pork ribs were on the menu. Quite a few of the members enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine with their lunch. The good-natured questions members fire at the speaker of the month show a deep understanding of the community and its issues.
“One of my friends was forming this group and he told me about it,” said Bank, who began attending the meetings when the chapter was established. He’s still going every month. “I enjoy all the people. A lot of these people I already knew from volunteering. I don’t think we have any bad ones. It’s just enjoyable.”
Recent programs included a presentation about local land use planning, but “we stay away from the political,” Bank said. “We may have one of them talk occasionally to explain what’s going on, but nothing political.”
Sheriff Curtis Hill also gave presentations to build a new YMCA center locally.
The club also hosts a golf group that plays monthly.
“We’re always looking for new members,” Armbruster said. He explained that the process is as simple as coming to one of the monthly lunches as a member’s guest, and “if he likes what he sees he can bring an application and we’ll sign him up.”
Further information is available from membership chairman Max Sweet at 636-8851.
