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March 2021

*President's Message  *Conference Update   *New AROHE Brief
*Idea Exchange webinars   *Dominican designated an
"Age-Friendly University"

*Roger Baldwin, President-Elect
*Susan Kress, Secretary

*Choosing a Nursing Home 
*Positive Mood Suggests
Better Brain Function

*Join Us
*Tell Us Your Story
*About AROHE

Not yet through the first quarter of 2021, I am already thinking about the fourth quarter when AROHE will convene its first virtual conference with the theme, "Re-Imagining Retirement: Let Us Boldly Go." (see related article below).

I am encouraged by the words of British author, G. K. Chesterton. “An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.” [All Things Considered, “On Running After One’s Hat,” 1908, p. 36]

Really though, all I need to do is reflect on AROHE’s accomplishments during last year. The pandemic was certainly more than an inconvenience. And yet as Interim Executive Director Sue Barnes reports in her Annual Recap of AROHE Activities and Accomplishments, 2020 was “Bill & Trudy’s (and Sue’s) Excellent Adventure!”

AROHE, like so many other organizations, experienced financial setbacks and cancelled conferences and went virtually all virtual. Even so, led by Sue Barnes, Interim Executive Director, Board members and Committees, and member organizations, AROHE

• Facilitated seven well-attended “Idea Exchange” webinars,
• Published nine new AROHE Briefs and six issues of the AROHE Matters e-newsletter,
• Completed our website redesign, and
• Retained 98% of our organizational members and recruited 27 organizations as trial members.

These are exciting times, no less adventurous than the days when we explored new lands, or than today when we seek new worlds.

Please consider supporting our 2021 adventure to Re-imagine AROHE and to Re-imagine Retirement. Visit the AROHE website to get involved or contribute.

Let us boldly go, together!

Bill Verdini,
AROHE President

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Join AROHE as we venture into virtual realms to explore the opportunities for collegial relationships, intellectual engagement, and productive endeavor that Retirement Organizations (ROs) present—both to their members and to the colleges and universities they serve. And help us discover more ways that ROs, AROHE, and academic retirees can do more to re-create retirement as a time of purpose and passion.

The conference planning committee and subcommittees have begun making plans, so watch for more details as they are finalized. Planning committee co-chairs and subcommittee chairs are:

• Sue Barnes, UCLA, co-chair
• Joyce Tenney, University of Baltimore, Maryland County, co-chair
• Abby Baker, Arizona State University, tech support chair
• Ayesha Dixon, UCLA, social/networking events chair
• Fanchon (Fancy) Funk, Florida State University, awards/recognition co-chair
• Hoke Hill, Clemson University, awards/recognition co-chair
• Caroline Kane, UC Berkeley, sponsorships chair
• Jessica Kauphusman, Winona State University, communications chair
• Susan Kress, Skidmore College, program co-chair
• Gretchen Schulz, Emory University, program co-chair

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AROHE Briefs - Ideas to Improve Retirement Organizations

AROHE is delighted to issue a new AROHE Brief,* entitled “Programming for Engagement During the 2020-2021 Pandemic.” This Brief highlights several AROHE members’ successful practices for conducting virtual events as well as a wide variety of programs to encourage community engagement, foster wellness, and promote resilience. View this Brief and others at the AROHE Knowledge Center.

A total of 13 Briefs on a variety of topics are available to AROHE members at the online Knowledge Center. Not a member of AROHE? Join today as a free trial member through June 30, 2021 to access the Briefs, recorded webinars, and other member resources.

*AROHE Briefs, developed by the research and education committee, are succinct surveys of topics of particular interest to retiree organizations and retirees that includes links to examples offered by particular campus organizations as well as general references.

Idea Exchange Webinars 

Idea Exchange Webinar: Member Spotlight

Thursday, March 18, 9 - 10:15 a.m. Pacific Time

Retirement organizations have continued to adapt and innovate as they respond to the challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic. During this webinar, the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Retirees Association and the Perimeter College at Georgia State University Retiree Association will share some of the successful programs and practices that have helped them to thrive, not just survive, during this challenging time. Following their presentations, participants will be divided into smaller groups for informal discussion. Click here to register.

Idea Exchange: Member Meet-Up Recap

Thursday, February 25

During this informal gathering, AROHE members gathered in virtual small group discussion sections to share successful practices and brainstormed solutions to common issues among retirement organizations. Discussion topics included reaching potential members, obtaining financial support from the college/university, recruiting board members and volunteers, providing service to the college/university, and more. This session was not recorded, but breakout room notes are available to AROHE members, click here to view the breakout room notes.

Dominican is designated an "Age-Friendly University" 

When Dominican University of California last month was designated an age-friendly university by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, it joined a network of more than 70 institutions around the world that have committed to becoming more age-friendly in their programs and policies.

Dominican is one of a handful of universities in California to have the designation, which heightens its credibility in its own local communities, said Dr. Ruth Ramsey, dean of Dominican’s School of Health and Natural Sciences. The other universities are: California State University, Long Beach; California State University, San Bernardino; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Southern California; Palo Alto University; and Stockton University.

“I think it creates opportunities for our faculty to partner with other schools and to apply for grant funds to be part of initiatives that will advance this whole age-friendly perspective,” said Ramsey. “We’ve been doing this work for at least the last 20 years.” To read further, go to Dominican University of California recognized for age-friendly programs (northbaybusinessjournal.com).

To learn more about the Gerontological Society of America’s Age Friendly University (AFU) initiative and to access the AFU newsletter “Age Inclusivity in Higher Education,” contact ageinclusive@geron.org.

Retirement Organization News

Clemson University Emeritus College Advisory Board

Clemson University Emeritus College Reenergizes its
Community Outreach Program

The Clemson University Emeritus College recently reset and expanded the responsibilities of its Community Outreach Committee. Our Strategic Plan has a general goal to “serve the broader community”. The Committee was asked to consider how to continue, strengthen, and extend the engagement of the College and its faculty and to match the needs of the community. 

The first step was to develop a roster of interested faculty and topics. We used a Qualtric Survey to poll our colleagues to determine the degree of interest in participating in the Bureau. We were very pleased to learn that many of our fellow emeriti were interested in continuing to share their knowledge and interests with the larger community.

The second step will be the development of an easily sharable document identifying speakers and their interests. This “catalog” will link requests from organizations with potential speakers. Presentations could be offered as in-person or virtual gatherings. 

Desirable outcomes include: 1) Providing a mechanism through which Clemson Emeriti can deploy their individual scholarly interests and knowledge to enhance the community; 2) Demonstrating the vital and creative minds of Clemson Emeriti and their contributions to the community; 3) Encouraging connections with our community non-profit organizations; 4) Strengthening the synergy in pursuit of the University’s role in the community.

For more information, contact Lucy Pryde Eubanks, Department of Chemistry (Emerita), Clemson University at elucy@clemson.edu.

The Fulfillment Factor: University of Washington Retirement Association

Retiring from the University of Washington (UW) doesn’t end the story for faculty and staff. They are driven to serve their communities on a local or global scale.

Whether finding new inspiration after their full-time University careers are over, or expanding their previous service and work, UW retirees are making incredible contributions to our communities on local, national and global scales.

UW Magazine featured an article about the ongoing, critical community engagement of four UW retirees. At least two have been honored with the UW-UWRA award as distinguished retirees in community service. Click here to view the article.

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AROHE Board Member Profiles

Roger Baldwin, President-Elect

Michigan State University (MSU), East Lansing, MI

Roger is a professor emeritus of higher education at MSU. His research focused on academic career development, including the challenges and opportunities of retirement. He is the president of the MSU Retirees Association. In addition to being president-elect, he chairs the Research and Education Committee. Roger seeks to support AROHE’s mission to enlarge the vision of the retirement years and increase pathways for continued engagement and service post retirement.

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Susan Kress, Secretary

Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY

Susan retired in 2013 as vice president for academic affairs and professor of English at Skidmore College. She is an active member of Skidmore’s Retiree Planning Group. She has served AROHE since 2013. In addition to being secretary, Susan serves on the Research and Education Committee. Susan sees AROHE as uniquely qualified to lead the way in transforming retirement in higher education and is dedicated to making AROHE’s resources more visible.

Resources

"Retirement by Design," A Guided Workbook for Creating a Happy and Purposeful Future

Harnessing the powerful business principles of design thinking can turn ordinary retirement planning into "a revolutionary and healthy way to look at and plan for life's next great adventure." (New York Times bestselling author, Chip Conley).

There is no one right time or way to retire. Retirement is a major life transition; but if you spend the time designing a future filled with promise and possibilities, the prospect can be utterly exciting and revitalizing.

In "Retirement by Design," professional mentor and coach Ida Abbott shows you how the innovative business principles behind design thinking can be applied to plan a rich, fulfilling, and more meaningful retirement.

Retirement by Design | Ida Abbott Consulting LLC

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Best Blogs & Websites for Positive Aging and Retirement 2020

A list of sites (compiled at the end of 2020) as the best on the web that share information and personal insights about positive aging and retirement. Besides offering current and interesting news on an ongoing basis, most offer glimpses into the life of those living these experiences. While these are certainly not all the sites you can find on these topics, they are noteworthy, informative and often fun to read.

Best blogs — SMART Living 365

Sexuality in Later Life

Many people want and need to be close to others as they age. For some, this includes the desire to continue an active, satisfying sex life. With aging, that may mean adapting sexual activity to accommodate physical, health, and other changes. Some illnesses, disabilities, medicines, and surgeries can affect your ability to have and enjoy sex. Learn more about sexuality in later life on the National Institute on Aging website.

Reading List on Successful Aging

Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging and the new retirement. Dennis has readership of over 1.6 million as a syndicated journalist in 11 news organizations and was named one of Next Avenue’s 2016 Influencers in Aging.

Retirement and the New Life Stage Reading List – Top Five

1. "Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest" by Dan Buettner
2. "Don’t Retire, Rewire" by Jerry Sedlar and Rick Miner
3. "Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimaging Life" by Louise Aronson
4. "Essential Planning for Solo Agers" by Sara Zeff Geber
5. "How to Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting the Generations" by Marc Freedman

To see the entire list, go to Helen Dennis’s Reading List on Successful Aging | Emeriti Center | USC.

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New Colorado Greeting Card Line Celebrates Aging

Make it to your 30th birthday and chances are good you’ll receive a card adorned with black balloons telling you it’s all downhill from there.

Which couldn’t be further from the truth, says the Denver anti-ageism group Changing the Narrative. The campaign is particularly frustrated with the racks of greeting cards perpetuating the notion that the older you get, the worse off you are: deafness, forgetfulness, crabbiness. Ageism isn’t funny, though, says the campaign. It’s harmful. Click here to learn more.

Older Americans Month 2021: Communities of Strength

ACL is pleased to announce that the theme of Older Americans Month (OAM) 2021 is Communities of Strength. Older adults have built resilience and strength over their lives through successes, failures, joys, and difficulties. Their stories and contributions help to support and inspire others.

In May, ACL will celebrate the strength of older adults and the Aging Network, with special emphasis on the power of connection and engagement in building strong communities.

Click here for resources to help you observe OAM 2021.

Trends

Tips for choosing a nursing home

When choosing a nursing home, consider what is most important to you. Knowing what you want and need will help you select from available services. These services typically include nursing care, 24-hour supervision, meals, and assistance with everyday activities. Find tips from the National Institute on Aging to help you choose a nursing home on NIA’s website.

Positive mood in older adults suggests better brain function

Previous research has led to findings that support links between a positive mental outlook and physical health benefits such as lower blood pressure, less heart disease, and healthier blood sugar levels. In a recent study of mood changes in older adults, scientists also have discovered that healthy brain function may result in maintaining a positive outlook. Click here to learn more.

Come Join Us in Transforming Retirement

Since 2001 AROHE has supported both institutions and individuals by transforming the experience of retirement – the preparation, the actual transition, and post-retirement programming – into a smooth and productive life-course change.

To renew, join or learn more, visit arohe.org or contact AROHE by emailing info@arohe.org or calling (213) 740-5037.

Tell Us Your Story

Share News, Activities, and Events of Your Retirement Organization

Please send us a note about the activities, events, and news of your retirement organization for inclusion in AROHE Matters. Send your information to our newsletter editor at pcullinane@berkeley.edu by April 19 for the May 2021 newsletter.

About AROHE

AROHE's mantra is "Transforming Retirement."

AROHE is a nonprofit association that champions transformative practices to support all stages of faculty and staff retirement, their mutually beneficial engagement, and continuing contributions to their academic institutions. By sharing research, innovative ideas, and successful practices, AROHE emphasizes the development and enhancement of campus-based retiree organizations and programs which support this continuing engagement in higher education.

Copyright © 2020 AROHE. All rights reserved.
Contact email: info@arohe.org
Contact phone: (213) 740-5037