The formation or birth of Shell Club15 Plus was borne out of legal requirements and the imperatives on corporate life, and the desire of retirees exhorted or encouragedby Shell management to form an organization similar to an “alumni club”. The old and defunct 25-year Club has reached its limit of legal and corporate existence, thus there was then a felt-need to form a new one. Initially, there was not any plan or effort to make it any much different from the old one, but the exigencies of the times, especially with the fast evolving influence of social media and digital technology, there was then a common belief that the Club should be attuned to the dynamics of retirees’ needs and status in life after retirement. Updating one’s status and the predicament of members as well as interaction among membersbecame far easy to do and share with.

The management of the Shell Group (then under the able leadership of Ed Chua) was very supportive of this effort but with a caveat to the Club officers not to promote a “sense of mendicancy” among the members/retirees because funds however raised or obtained will not be unlimited. The modality used by other major local companies and other Shell operating companies overseas may worthily serve as good guidelines. The mandate was then clearly received and understood.

Related to this, in a number of Board Meetings, it was established and agreed to create a Fund to serve the welfare of the retirees, or possibly redress or help those in dire need within bounds of reason. The Fund thus created was appropriately called the Good Samaritan Fund (GSF). The birth of this idea is far different from how or the manner by which the Fund will be established ringing very clearly the guidelines and eventually the protocols set my management. The consensus was to raise funds ourselves not depending on any organization to help with the implementation of the stated objectives. It was to be the start of an uphill battle and a lot of sacrifices for the officers. The challenge nonetheless was worth every pain and struggles that we all went through. Shell management was quietly observing how the retirees, most of them seniors, will measure up to the challenge. Thus, as one prolific writer of the Club said, the GSF became the “Holy Grail” of the Club.

The rest is too long to relate, except that those who benefited from the GSF expressed unrestrained emotions, especially that the assistance was given way after their tenure with Shell, and it was done in the name of Shell – our Alma Mater.

After this, with GSF as the element that provided the impetus to care for the retirees, Shell Club15 became a model for many local business organizations as well as other Shell Operating Companies overseas.

Shell Club15 is what it is – an excellent collaboration between Shell management and the retirees in the spirit of amity, friendship and cooperation. “Malasakit” was palpable in the very sense of the word. It has become more than an “alumni club” – Shell Club15 became an organization reflecting the basic Shell values and high respect for people.