Director's Message
Civic Engagement September 2006
September is traditionally a time of transitioning from the “leisure time” of summer, when we travel, see family, and are supposedly less busy, into our fall activities. For many, this is a continuation of the cycle of returning to school in the fall. Here at PSRC, we enjoy having you return to fall classes and activities.
In recent weeks I have been trying to read many of the journals and newsletters that come across my desk. I have noticed a growing interest in “civic engagement”, formerly known as volunteering. People in the aging field are actively discussing the impact of the pending retirement of 76 million baby boomers. It has been noted that many of this generation have not been engaged in giving back to their communities. Non-profit and community organizations will suffer greatly if they do not have the volunteer support that is their life-blood. Baby boomers can also anticipate 30-40 years of life after the traditional age of retirement of 65. They are used to being busy, feeling useful, and working in a peer environment.
Increasingly, we see people of retirement age continuing to work. New paradigms are needed that value the wisdom of experienced workers, but enable them to work fewer hours or shift into less stressful positions. Some people move into a second career, pursuing life-long passions that are very different from their primary career. These workers will be needed for the economy to grow when there are fewer people in the younger generation to fill the jobs.
We want to encourage you to consider civic engagement as another way to feel that you are giving something back to the community, that your efforts are greatly needed, to enjoy the friendships that are formed when working together, and to explore passions that you either discovered when working, or always wanted to pursue.
The National Council on the Aging and MetLife Foundation are sponsoring an initiative called Wisdom Works, fostering civic engagement among older adults in self-directed teams. The first phase revealed that “transformational leadership” is required from staff or volunteers and that personal social connection and engagement with the team is the vital component to maintaining interest and longevity in the volunteer effort. Other studies have demonstrated both mood and physical activity improvement in active volunteers.
PSRC would like to encourage all of you to consider ways that you can support your community by volunteering for a local organization. We will host a Civic Engagement Fair on September 15 from 1-3 pm. Representatives from Hands On Helpers and local agencies will be here to talk with you about volunteer opportunities. Find a match that uses skills you have developed in your life or that give you opportunities to explore un-tapped interests. Your contribution of a few hours a week can make a life-saving difference for a local organization. You will find it makes a world of difference in how you feel. Susan W. Hoskins LCSW |
Previous MessagesJune 2013 - Age Friendly Communities June 2013 - Age Friendly Communities May 2013 - Navigating a Changing HealthCare Landscape March 2013 - Navigating Life’s Transitions February 2013 - Partners in Caring Princeton January 2013 - Men as Caregivers December 2012 - The Safety Net October 2012 - Documenting Your History September 2012 - A Journey of Transformation July - August 2012 - Gratitude & Moving March 2012 - Patient-centered Care February 2012 - Can you Spare an Hour? January 2012 - Challenges & Opportunities December - Are you Prepared for Emergencies? October - Chocolate for Memory September- Looking Back and Looking Forward Lessons and Legacies, March 2011 Independent Living February 2011 Witness to my Life December 2010 Elections, benefits and open enrollment November 2010 Strategic Planning September 2010 Hiring Home Care December 2009 Annual Giving by Sharon Naeole November 2009 Flu Pandemic 2009 October 2009 Healthy Memory, Healthy Mind September 2009 A Personal Perspective on Caregiving July/August 2009 Wei Ji: Crisis, Danger and Opportunity April 2009 Write your own obituary March 2009 Hope and Vision in Challenging Times Medicare Changes 2008: Take A Look! December 2008 Scams, Frauds and Rip-offs November 2008 Engaged Retirement: Beyond Financial Planning October 2008 September 2008 Caregiver Dilemmas Finding Rhythm and Purpose July/August 2008 V + OA = ER (Volunteering + Older Americans=Engaged Retirement)May 2008 Have You Had the Talk Yet? March 2008 Get Moving with FitRhythms™! February 2008 What Are Social Services? November 2007 Plan for the Future September 2007 The Up-side of Aging Summer 2007 National Conference on Aging: Let's ReThink Aging April 2007 Season of Giving December 2006 April Hill McElroy October 2006 Civic Engagement September 2006 White House Conference on Aging May 2006 Are You Prepared? October 2005 Watch Your Language September 2005 The End of the Journey May 2005 New Dietary Guidelines February 2005 Civic Engagement with GrandPals October 2004 The Challenge of Giving Care May 2004 Seniors On The Move April 2004 Random Acts of Kindness December 2003 Civic Engagement November 2003 |