Clemmie's Parting Letter

The end of the 2024-2026 executive team era o(>ω<)o !!

What a run indeed! The second generation of KeebSoc executives has come to its end and during this time I have learnt so much, met so many and felt so much. I am so incredibly grateful for all the things I have been lucky enough to experience and do through this society.

As my final goodbye to the society, I am typing my first and last public letter to KeebSoc. I have many thoughts I want to express about my time and also the next generations of KeebSoc. To be honest, leading up to the AGM there were many extensive discussions with my team and the founding team about closing/disbanding the society, so the fact we were able to actually get another team, meet quorum for the event, and now finalised and sent the reaffiliation paperwork to Arc is something I am extremely grateful for. I feel incredibly lucky and privileged that I was able to be handed this society by Xuan and the other founding execs and have been able to be in a position where I hand it off to others.

As I mentioned in my president's address at the AGM, I think the hobby is slowing down. There is no point in denying the hobby is significantly smaller than what it was back 5 years ago during COVID-19 or even two years ago. I see this in the numbers we pull for our casual events, the slowing down of chatter in our KeebSoc server and the "RETIREMENT SALE" which I feel like I have been seeing more and more of in the discord servers. Nonetheless, mechanical keyboards hold a very special place in mine and the hearts of many (253 on rubric!!), which is why KeebSoc will continue to foster a specific, welcoming and safe space for all enthusiasts.

The goal of myself and the 2024-26 executive team has been to open the door for newcomers to the hobby with our events such as intro to keyboards workshops, artisan keycap workshops and other miscellaneous social events. Were we successful? I'd like to think so, and those new events I have very fond memories of. I don't know what Gen 3 (Marcus, Phu, Orlando and Amal) of KeebSoc executives plan to do, if they plan to keep it open just on paper, to go all in with events catering to specific subgroups of the hobby, or whatever else, but I hope they know the world is their oyster and they are free to do and guide this society in whatever direction they'd like (as long as it abides by Arc).

Once again I'd like to thank my executives Jake, Kyra, Daiva and Winston because they really have been my rock these past two years. Thank you to all the directors I have been able to utilize over these two years - Jarret, Ben G, Graham, Anson and Xuan. Jarret especially, thank you a lot for all the marketing work I have made you do over this time because you have done it to such a high level of excellence, you truly deserve a zID.

As this team and I move onto a grey corporate future, these years of being a KeebSoc executive will serve as our simpler happier times. I hope that when those who have encountered myself and KeebSoc, they reminisce on us with similar feelings too.

With Much Love,

Catherine Wong
Clemmie <3

P.S. I AM TAKING THAT FUCKING CLEMMO EMOTE WITH ME AT THE END OF THE YEAR.