Purposeful Living

June 2009
E-newsletter #6

New ASA Web Seminars

Web seminars recorded during the National Forum on Civic Engagement at the 2009 Aging in America conference.

We welcome you to view four web seminars featuring sessions and speakers from the 2009 National Forum on Civic Engagement.
Marc Freedman & Nancy Morrow-Howell

Each web seminar provides models and ideas to more deeply engage older adults in their communities. They are available for viewing at any time. Click on the links below to view now or save this e-mail for later viewing.The presentations are underwritten by a grant from
The Atlantic Philanthropies.

Civic Engagement and Volunteerism in Communities of Color with Jennie Chin Hansen, President, AARP Board of Directors
Click here to learn more and go directly to the presentation
How Communities Can Promote 50+ Civic Engagement moderated by Nancy Henkin, Executive Director, Center for Intergenerational Learning
Click here to learn more and go directly to the presentation
Civic Enterprise with Laura Robbins, Programme Executive, The Atlantic Philanthropies, and Jim Hinterlong Associate Professor, College of Social Work, Florida State University
Click here to learn more and go directly to the presentation
New Models for Increasing Organizational Capacity moderated by Sabrina Reilly, Director, RespectAbility
Click here to learn more and go directly to the presentation

ASA has increased its focus on civic engagement among older adults and would appreciate your feedback. Please follow this link to answer a brief 5-minute survey about civic engagement and the American Society on Aging’s (ASA) civic engagement program. The information we learn from you will help us evaluate our program and provide guidance as we plan our future programming.

Please complete the survey before Thursday, July 2nd.

To learn more about ASA web seminars, visit www.asaging.org/webseminars.

With Jill Friedman Fixler and Beth Steinhorn

Boomer Volunteer Engagement –
A Strategy for Building Organizational Capacity

At a time when many nonprofits are feeling the economic pinch and setting aside dreams of organizational growth, Jill Friedman Fixler, author of Boomer Volunteer Engagement: Collaborate Today, Thrive Tomorrow, challengesnonprofits to think beyond traditional models of volunteer management.

“We live in unprecedented times,” says Fixler, a national consultant on volunteer engagement. “Nonprofits are facing increased demand for services despite decreased budgets, and meanwhile more than 78 million Baby Boomer have work experience, talent, and a desire to leave a social legacy.” Combined with the renewed call to civic engagement, this convergence is a previously unparalleled opportunity for organizational capacity-building. Fixler continues, “We have the chance to access the abundant resources of the Boomer generation – but we must seize the moment right now.”

Fixler guides organizations to shift from a traditional, staff-driven model of volunteer management to a collaborative model of skills-based volunteer engagement. Working with nonprofits of all kinds, Fixler promotes looking within organizations for all the resources they need to survive and thrive. “We encourage all nonprofits to consider what would be possible if they asked every volunteer, donor, client, and participant, ‘What skills do you have that you would gladly share with our organization if we could make it possible for you to do so – and if it aligns with our strategic goals?’”

When nonprofits shift to a skills-based approach, they can negotiate powerful agreements with volunteers who already share a passion for their mission and are happy to contribute their talents in marketing, graphics, teaching, program delivery, finance, evaluation, fund development, and more.

Jill Friedman Fixler, Principle of JFFixler & Associates, is a national consultant on volunteer engagement and author of Boomer Volunteer Engagement: Collaborate Today, Thrive Tomorrow.
Beth Steinhorn, Associate of JFFixler & Associates, was editor of Boomer Volunteer Engagement: Collaborate Today, Thrive Tomorrow.

Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009
The passage of the Serve America Act of 2009 has brought with it increased opportunities for older adults to be civically engaged. This link will provide you with detailed summary, highlights, and the bill language for the Act.
Generations United Public Policy Agenda for the 111th Congress
One of the key legislative priorities is to promote intergenerational civic engagement and multigenerational activities.
Commentary: The Emergence and Application of Active Aging in Europe
This policy analysis illustrates the contrast between the primarily European discourse on active aging, which emphasizes health, participation, and well-being, and the U.S. discourse that prioritizes productivity. Are we promoting civic engagement in older adults to ensure productivity from our older adults?

Older People's “Voices”—On Paper: Obstacles to Influence in Welfare States—A Case Study of Sweden
Using data from structured interviews with 100 representatives of Swedish municipalities and drawing on Hirschman's (1970) theory on exit and voice, the article analyzes obstacles to older service users' influence in Sweden and develops explanations for these obstacles in terms of social contexts. Can we learn from this study how to break down barriers to empower older adults to advocate for themselves in a welfare state?

If you are on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn, you can receive updates on what is happening at ASA, learn about upcoming events and connect with colleagues in the field of aging. Simply click the links below to join the ASA group at your favorite social networking site!

VolunteerMatch Learning Center hosts free webinars
ASA to Launch New Learning Communities as member benefit!
Click here for a preview
Click here to learn more
New ASA LGBT Aging Resources Clearinghouse
ASA’s LGBT Aging Resources Clearinghouse gathers vital information and contacts into a single, searchable, easy-to-use site and puts them at the fingertips of LGBT elders and their friends, families and caregivers free of charge

Having a higher purpose in life reduces risk of death among older adults
Possessing a greater purpose in life is associated with lower mortality rates among older adults according to a new study by researchers at Rush University Medical Centre.
A boom in 'encore careers'
Three-quarters of boomers surveyed by Merrill Lynch plan to continue working, typically to "retire" at 64 and start a second career, often one that not only pays the bills but also gives back.

Let us know about your Civic Engagement activities!

Purposeful Living is a quick look at what’s happening in the ASA Civic Engagement program and other civic engagement, research and news.

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