Issue Highlights
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Retirement Organization News
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AROHE has journeyed far and accomplished much in the last nineteen years. We could not have traveled this far without our leadership, the dedication and good work of our Board and staff, and commitment and dedication of our members, contributors, and volunteers.
With the challenges of 2020 and 2021, we will need your help more than ever. We are planning our first virtual conference in October, but these are “strange new worlds where AROHE has not gone before.” We need your help to ensure that AROHE will be here for all of us and, more importantly, for those yet to come. |
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I recall a speech many years ago in which the speaker likened an organization to a hand composed of digits, all very different. Alone each digit is not very useful, but together they are capable of remarkable accomplishments.
Our Board, our volunteers and our member organizations are the fingers of AROHE. Working together AROHE can be the place where retirees and their higher education institutions stop for information and direction, fuel and refreshment, and encouragement and community as they travel the highway of retirement!
Here is one example. This year AROHE Membership Committee members Emma Ward and Kaye Jeter provided the committee with a proposal outlining the creation of a consortium for retirees from Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs). Joan Merdinger, membership committee co-chair, with significant help from Co-Chair Diane Lee and Board Member Roger Baldwin, fine-tuned the proposal and submitted it for National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Healthy Longevity Catalyst Awards. Should AROHE be awarded a grant, Sue Barnes, our interim executive director, will serve as the principal investigator.
This project proposes to transform the way retirement organizations are conceptualized in higher education by creating a virtual consortium, sponsored by a non-profit organization that services college and university retirement organizations and that facilitates the intellectual, social, and service engagement of retirees with one another and with their institutions. With a special focus on retired faculty from higher education institutions highly regarded for educating and developing minority students in all fields, including health and medicine, we propose to utilize the talents and assess the needs of these retired faculty, while addressing the topic of healthy longevity, specifically with targeted minority populations.
Please consider supporting our 2021 adventure to Re-imagine AROHE and to Re-imagine Retirement. Visit https://www.arohe.org/Donation-Form/ to contribute.
Thank you for all you do.
Let us boldly go and together re-imagine retirement!
Bill Verdini
AROHE President
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Virtual Conference Updates |
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AROHE invites you to boldly “Re-imagine Retirement” this year in our first virtual conference. The three-day event, October 12-14, will feature keynote presentations from two internationally known experts on valuing elderhood, resisting ageism, and reimagining retirement.
Acclaimed Keynoters
Keynote speakers include Louise Aronson, MD, an acclaimed geriatrician and author of the bestselling Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, and Reimagining Life., and Jean Accius, PhD, senior vice president for global thought leadership at AARP.
The conference also will focus on the post-pandemic future of our retirement organizations, highlighting innovative ways to sustain and enhance social and intellectual engagement as well as offer services to our local and global communities.
Conference emphasis on re-imagining retirement coincides with The World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of 2021-2030 as “The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.” In emphasizing healthy "ageing," the WHO recognizes that “the pandemic has highlighted existing gaps in policies, systems, and services,” and is urging action to combat the toxic effects of “ageism.”
AROHE and its member organizations are especially well positioned to be thought leaders in this exhilarating enterprise. This year’s virtual conference offers the opportunity to join in this exciting virtual journey.
Easy Conference Access
The virtual event platform promises easy access to conference content, social events, and networking. Sessions will reflect on the impact of the pandemic on our lives and our organizations and retirees explore what we have learned that might help us in our ongoing efforts to re-imagine elderhood and retirement.
Updates, information, and registration information will be posted on the AROHE Virtual Conference website.
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Virtual Conference Keynote Speakers
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Dr. Louise Aronson
Dr. Louise Aronson is a nationally known geriatrician, educator and author. A graduate of Harvard University, she is now professor medicine at the University of California San Francisco. Her most recent book, Elderhood. Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, and Reimagining Life, is a New York Times bestseller and a Pulitzer Prize finalist. Dr. Aronson has received numerous honors including the Carolina Homecare Physician of the Year award, the Gold Professorship in Humanish in Medicine, and the American Geriatrics Society Clinician-Teacher of the Year award. At UCFS, she has served as director of the Pathways to Discovery program, the Northern California Geriatrics Education Center, the Optimizing Aging Project, and chief of Geriatrics Education. She has published widely in professional and popular publications and is a frequent contributor to national media.
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Dr. Jean Accius
Dr. Jean Accius is a senior vice president of global thought leadership for the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). He is a nationally recognized thought leader and media expert ln aging, health, and long-term care policy. In his role at AARP, he provides strategic leadership and technical expertise driving solutions to change systems and improving lives for the aging population internationally. In 2018, he was named a Gerontological Society of America Fellow, and one of Black Enterprise magazine’s 2018 Modern Men of Distinction. In 2019, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences prestigious “Sharecare Award. He has held board and advisory positions in such organizations as Justice in Aging, and the American Society on Aging, and Generations, the journal of the American Society on Aging. Dr. Accius holds a Ph.D. from American University,
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Please join us as we launch into cyberspace for
AROHE’S first ever virtual conference.
Our mission? To reflect on the impact of the pandemic on all of our lives and organizations and explore how lessons we have learned might help us in our ongoing efforts to re-create retirement (and elderhood itself) as a time of purpose and passion.
We will be particularly interested in proposals that acknowledge the effects the pandemic has had—on our retirement organizations (ROs) and on the institutions with which our ROs are allied, and on the wider world, as well. We’re looking for presentations that will address the possibilities for productive change in the post-pandemic future – change that may see us “acting locally,” to strengthen the work of our individual organizations and of AROHE itself, but “thinking globally,” as to how we might act to support the “yes to ageing, no to ageism” movement now underway.
As you develop proposals, please bear in mind that concurrent sessions will be scheduled for 60 minutes only – and that we wish to ensure significant interaction among those presenting and attendees. We welcome proposals for sessions in a variety of formats, such as single presentations, panels of two or possibly three, workshops, and roundtables. But don’t be deterred from proposing something in the 10 to 20-minute range involving you alone, for we will consider including your presentation in a session with others complementary to it.
Additional information about plans for the October conference, more specific suggestions for topics for presentations, and submission forms can be found on the AROHE virtual Conference Call for Proposals web page.
PROPOSALS ARE DUE BY JUNE 1, 2021. |
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Inaugural AROHE HERO Awards |
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AROHE invites nominations and applications for its inaugural Higher Education Retirement Organizations (HERO) Awards for AROHE members. These awards are designed to recognize the outstanding efforts of retirement organizations in higher education who are transforming retirement practices and influencing creative life of the mind activities on a wider scale.
The HERO Awards include Innovation Awards, a Distinguished Leadership Award and a Distinguished Service Award. Applications close July 19, 2021. Selection criteria, eligibility, awardee benefits and other details regarding each award along with the on-line nomination/application form detailing application submission requirements can be found on the AROHE HERO Awards web page.
Recipients will be recognized on October 12 at the AROHE Virtual Conference. Questions regarding these awards may be directed to Hoke Hill, Awards Committee co-chair, at hhill@clemson.edu.
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Idea Exchange Webinar Recap |
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Idea Exchange Webinar Recap: Member Spotlight
AROHE’s most recent Idea Exchange webinar featured two member organizations, the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Retirees Association and the Perimeter College at Georgia State University Retiree Association. Both organizations shared excellent examples of programs and practices that have kept their members engaged during the Coronavirus pandemic. Their schedules of activities are particularly impressive given the fact that neither organization receives a great deal of financial support from their college/university. Following their presentations, participants were divided into smaller groups to brainstorm ideas. AROHE members can visit AROHE’s Past Webinars web page to view the recording and notes from the breakout discussions.
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Retirement Organization News
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Emeriti
Panel: Life After Retirement
Informing
New Retirees at Clemson University
The Clemson University Emeritus College is the academic home to
over 800 retired faculty. While Clemson University faculty retiring with the
title of emeritus or emerita automatically become members of the Emeritus College,
others with eligible credentials may and do apply. However, we have
found that many of our retirees do not know what the College can provide for
them or how they may contribute to our activities. Over the past several years,
the College has enhanced publicity to all faculty about the benefits provided
by the College and the importance of the College as their continued link to
Clemson University.
For 2019 faculty retirees, the College hosted an in-person retiree
coffee question and answer session in the early spring. A panel of five
emeritus faculty members were present to answer any questions regarding life
after retirement, how to stay engaged with the university and much more! During
the unprecedented times of the past year, this “coffee” was held virtually and
very well attended. The coffees also informed potential retirees of the
necessary steps to finalizing their retirement by contacting not only the
Emeritus College but human resources as well. The coffee provides a means of
talking about even small changes that occur; for example, if you have computer
problems you would not contact your former college, the Emeritus College IT
resource person is available to help you.
The Clemson Emeritus College offers a variety of programming, a
weekly email newsletter of events, an annual event to honor new retirees, and
administrative office and meeting space to name a few areas that are attractive
to new retirees. The Emeritus College website provides links to the services
and programs and serves as a communication tool as well. For further
information, please explore this link: https://www.clemson.edu/emerituscollege/.
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Retiree Opportunities for Continued Engagement Florida State University (FSU) Association for Retired Faculty (ARF) |
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VIRES, ARTES and MORES are the Latin words for strength, skill and character found within the FSU Seal. Since I retired in 2003, I have become aware of some of the “service” contributions many of my fellow FSU Retirees continue to make even in retirement. They may continue to serve as educators, donate financially, volunteer when and where needed, spend time with individuals in need of companionship, etc. The services retirees provide after retirement are too numerous to list. The following are a few I am aware of: |
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- A retiree from the College of Social Science, teaches classes on genealogy, writes newsletters, and serves on numerous committees, all while continuing to support his former FSU department.
- A former psychology professor is a talented artist in woodworking in numerous forms. He donates many beautiful pieces for charitable causes, while continuing his support of an endowment to sponsor an annual scientific lecture and personally providing funds to endow annual awards to loyal staff members and outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in the department.
- A former dean keeps busy with all manner of committee work and as a volunteer lecturer, while utilizing her medical knowledge to advise on many issues involving care for aging adults.
- Several former department administrators serve as docents for the presidents’ house and other university venues.
- A number of former administrative staff continue to serve on university committees and boards.
Even though ARF has not been able to meet recently due to pandemic restrictions, many of our current members are continuing the FSU mission to serve. We are hopeful that the newest associates who have joined the FSU retiree ranks will join us in the near future, not only in our virtual ARF programs, but our “real life” activities.
“Vires, Artes and Mores” will continue to remain as a reminder of the value FSU retirees bring to their community in retirement. Carolyn Shackelford FSU ARF President 2020-21, cshack@centurylink.net
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All-Star Conference Panel Ponders Aging’s Future
For most of humankind’s existence, the average life expectancy was around 18 years. It’s only in the past century that advances in public health, medicine, and social services have enabled many of us to reach very old age. And we’re still at the beginning of a longevity revolution.
But when it comes to living longer, the United States is only somewhere in the middle compared with the rest of the world, according to the World Health Organization. Although we spend almost twice as much on health care as any other nation, 33 other countries boast longer life expectancies. That’s why we need to consider health span as well as lifespan, rethink how our medical systems care for aging adults and address the need for well-paid, well-trained caregivers, according to an expert panel at the opening keynote of the American Society on Aging’s annual conference, which was held virtually this year due to the pandemic.
Matching health span to life span is one of the main challenges that lie ahead for the population of aging Baby Boomers. Addressing age and health inequality must also be a priority. Among the wealthiest and most entitled Americans, a 50-year-old has an average 15-year longer life expectancy than someone across town who is poorer and struggling with many social determinants of health. Keynote speaker Ken Dychwald noted, “This is unacceptable.”
To read further, go to All-star conference panel ponders aging’s future | Association of Health Care Journalists (healthjournalism.org).
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Why Older People Managed to Stay Happier Through the Pandemic
For all its challenges to mental health, this year of the plague also put psychological science to the test, and in particular one of its most consoling truths: that age and emotional well-being tend to increase together, as a rule, even as mental acuity and physical health taper off.
The finding itself is solid. Compared with young adults, people aged 50 and over score consistently higher, or more positively, on a wide variety of daily emotions. They tend to experience more positive emotions in a given day and fewer negative ones, independent of income or education, in national samples (work remains to be done in impoverished, rural and immigrant communities).
But that happiness gap always has begged for a clear explanation. Do people somehow develop better coping skills as they age?
To learn more, go to Why Older People Managed to Stay Happier Through the Pandemic - The New York Times (nytimes.com).
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NIA is pleased to announce Alzheimers.gov, a new website designed to educate and support people whose lives are touched by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The website serves as the federal government portal for dementia information and resources.
Alzheimers.gov is designed for you. Explore the website to find:
- Information about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
- Tips and resources for caregivers and people living with dementia
- Updates on what the federal government is doing to address Alzheimer’s and related dementias
- Clinical trials and studies you can join to help advance ways to treat and prevent dementia
- Resources for health care providers, community and public health workers, and researchers
Explore the new Alzheimers.gov website today.
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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. |
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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 June 21 for the July 2021 newsletter. |
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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 |
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