Bob McKeo wn
• I
Going over some pre-meeting notes are officers Fern Kumove Wallach, Edith Ellis,
Richard Goldsmith and Mel Hirsch.
Members gather in each other's homes for board meetings.
Jewish organizations, temples or
synagogues who had this type of
group."
For Mrs. Winton, it was a god-
send. After her husband died, she
withdrew from social activites. A
friend encouraged her to come to a
meeting, and when she saw how
"warm, cordial and friendly" the
group was, she decided to get involved.
"I made some wonderful women
friends. It made a tremendous dif-
ference in my life."
Ann Sak, a travel agent who is
divorced, lauded the creation of the
Singles Extension Group and listed
some of the problems mature singles
face. According to Mrs. Sak, single
women over the age of 50 have a hard
time meeting men to date because
there are so many more women than
men in that age group. U.S. Census
figures for 1980 bear this out: In the
25-29 age group there was a surplus of
men, but for every category after that
there is a surplus of women, and the
figures are staggering. For the 30-34
age group, there are 102 women for
every 100 men; 35-39, 128 women for
every 100 men; 40-44, 135 women to
100 men; 45-54, 147 to 100 men; and
55-64, the ratio is more than 2 to 1, 208
women for every 100 men!
Another problem Mrs. Sak found,
was that many people in their 50s and
60s have medical problems that poten-
tial dates/mates fear. 'They're afraid
to make a lasting commitment," she
said. And she says, there are a lot of
misperceptions. "When it comes to
older singles, a lot of men say there's
liberation (for women). There isn't. It's
a man's world because men are at a
premium."
Goldsmith, a mechanical engi-
neer who has been divorced and
widowed, and Hirsch, a widower and a
retiree who dabbles as a handyman,
both agree that the greatest need for
mature singles is companionship.
"Most are retired. Their kids are
not around and they live alone.
They're more lonely. They have (a
greater) need for companionship and
activities," Goldsmith advises. Hirsch
concurs. "I think we all need a compan-
ion, not one person in particular, but
someone whose company we enjoy. I've
spent a lot of time with ladies just talk-
ing." He said he believes that older
singles are just looking for a way to
spend a casual evening "without get-
ting too deeply involved."
Hirsch asserted that the intention
of the Singles Extension Group is to
provide an opportunity for people to
meet each other. The group's current
plan is to have a social every six to
eight weeks. Board meetings are held
as needed. Dues are $10 annually. Al-
though the group was offered seed
money by the temple, it refused and is
completely self-supporting.
Since its founding, much interest
has been generated among the 50-plus
singles in the community. "People are
calling constantly," Mrs. Wallach
said. The group's orientation is purely
social, but plans are in the offing to
start small special interest groups
focusing on Jewish programs, bowling,
bridge, skiing and theater.
According to Mrs. Wallach,
friendship is the aim of the group. But
member and newsletter editor Fraida
Stillwater says it goes further — mar-
riage. The group has already gotten
one on its books — Mrs. Wallach's —
and several members are dating after
having met at the Singles Extension.
There are plans to have a Yiddish
club, led by Goldsmith. Asked what
other Jewish activities the group is in-
volved in, Mrs. Stillwater piped up
"We eat Jewish!" However, Goldsmith
added, "Perhaps in the future we may
have an affair in conjunction with the
temple."
Mrs. Sak put it all into perspec-
tive: "We all want somebody special in
our lives. We want someone on our
side. It's difficult to make that connec-
tion." But Goldsmith has the solution
— get involved. "It's a wonderful group
for people to get involved in and meet
nice people." ❑
81