This Weekend, Emerson Lynn, Editor of The St. Albans Messenger had an interesting Editorial -- Now I personally don't agree with everything he says, but he does make some very good points:
The need to bridge retirees with community
[/size]
There is good news and bad news. The good news is that statistically women can expect to live 13 years longer than their mother or maternal grandmother. Men can expect to live 11 years longer than their father or paternal grandfather.
That's also the bad news. The two maladies most common to old age are dementia and depression, according to the experts. An extended life makes one more vulnerable to both.
Dementia we understand. But what about depression as part of retirement? If someone retires and has a long, work-free life ahead of them, isn't that the recipe for sheer bliss?
No, according to the experts.
People need to be connected and have a sense of self-worth. Being a ski bum, playing cards, or hitting the local golf course isn't enough. As relaxing as it may sound, a sedentary life style usually results in a sedentary mind and social milieu. As the baby boomer generation reaches these retirement years, the challenges are expected to multiply exponentially.
Those who study such societal trends argue that what jars most early retirees is the lack of respect as they evolve from the workplace to the home. At work, respect was a natural byproduct of one's effort, or what was produced or the perceived responsibility. Retirement, for many offers no substitution.
This is true in our own communities. Consider this as an appropriate exercise: Think of those who were actively engaged in their businesses/jobs a decade or two ago. What are they doing today? How highly are they valued? Do we keep them in our public consciousness? Are they members of local boards or volunteer organizations?
Do we even ask them? .
It’s only recently been an issue - recently being defined as within the last several decades. Before then the life span difference between retirement and death wasn't that significant. Even the young had heard of the recently deceased and their contributions or reputations. Today, someone can spend more years in retirement than in the workplace. When they die, few really remember who they were or what they did.
This is one of the reasons we write occasional tributes - just to keep the memories alive. Bob Bliss, of St. Albans, is one example.
It occurs to us, however, that the baby boomer generation is going one way and our communities are going another - like two ships passing in the night." Communities are allowing their most important allies to slip away unsolicited. The baby boomers are complicit in the missed opportunities by allowing their talents to go unnoticed.
There are exceptions. Obviously. Warren Hamm is one. He volunteers for most everything. Pete Rath is another. So is Don Minor, Betty Finn, Joan Wilson, Jerry Morong, Jim Coots, Pixley Hill and a host of others.
This isn't about them. It's about the 95 percent we can't name but who have many of the same needs - to be involved, to continue to make a difference, to establiish the social networks essential to one's sense of contentment [It's also a statistical fact that those who are active in social circles are healthier than those who are not.]
But this also isn't just about volunteerism. It doesn't work for any group to simply say, hey we've got a couple of open spots on the board, wanna join?
Retirees haven't lost their skills. They haven't lost their sense of importance. They understand fully what is worthy of effort, and what isn't.
What's missing is the sales job that could serve as the bridge between those looking for something of value to accomplish, and to belong to, and the multitude of community projects/challenges that remain unmet.
That's easier said than done. It would require a different mindset and a rewriting of existing job descriptions.
One example: Would it help if the local chamber of commerce took on part of that task? There are a number of challenges facing the city and its downtown, could the chamber act as the agent that "sells" the need?
Could a group of retirees be assembled to act as a facilitator?
The list of "what-ifs" is endless. The point, however, is that we have a growing number of retirees in our midst who want to be involved in their communities in a productive, meaningful way. They are smart. They are motivated. They have sufficient energy for whatever tasks that would apply. We have 14 communities in Franklin County, and each of them have unmet needs. We need to find ways to bring them together.
. . by Emerson Lynn[/b]
