In January 1978, a Silver Chain Newsletter contributor known as “The Kaptain” asked the club’s members to complete a survey.
A dismal attempt at intellectual pursuit for a special interest group? It sounds like The Captain has heard some shady comments at The Thunderbird Motel. In this week’s bonus episode, we learn that Carol and George identified themselves as “Utopian Swingers” i.e. interested in the educational side of swinging, something that rings true with Carol’s writing in particular. But we also know from the conversations we’ve had with other Silver Chain members that this element of the club wasn’t for everyone.
Keep in mind, this is before email. The Kaptain could have taken a cooling off period before typing this out and printing. But this man means business. Here’s the survey:
This doesn’t go well. At all. So poorly in fact that it becomes the cover story for months, unintentionally resulting in making the newsletter less readable.
I’m sorry to report that The Kaptain doesn’t even come close to his 70% benchmark. But that doesn’t stop him from reminding members once again in March.
This is starting to feel like filling out peer evaluations at work: not fun and very unsexy. Also, keep in mind these swingers had to find a stamp and envelope after completing the survey and then bring it to the post office. Way too much hassle. Finally, in April, The Kaptain reveals the results.
And yes, I am very interested in the results but also my question is: WHY IS THIS STILL A COVER STORY? Read the room, newsletter editors!
An interesting note here is that, while volume 5, issue 4, of the newsletter, this “new” version of the newsletter is celebrating a milestone.
And the good news is the majority of the minority want to read it. Also, I’m dying to know what the newsletter’s earlier version was like.
Like me, The Kaptain eagerly invites all feedback, so long as it’s positive. I guess inheriting the Cumming Events section of the newsletter was a curse he couldn’t escape. It’s not him, guys, it’s the club’s history.
Almost fifty years later, both of these survey comments are correct. Very few things today can be well-hidden and indeed the newsletters, for us at least, play a major role in painting the image of what the club was. Here’s a summary of those results:
If The Kaptain’s estimation that only one-third of the club’s members answered the survey is accurate, this means that in April 1978, the club had over 300 members/150 couples.
The Kaptain’s persistence did pay off. We have some questions answered about some of the club’s members. But did the other two-thirds dislike the newsletters or surveys in general? Or both? I’d love to hear your thoughts. XO, Paul