The University of North Carolina at Asheville
The North Carolina Center For Creative Retirement
Your Vision of 2012
Themes
That Emerged from the Six Small Discussion Groups
at the
Planning
Retreat, January 10, 2003
An all-day retreat, “Your Vision of 2012,” was
conducted on January 10 by the Planning Committee of the NCCCR (Marianna
and Bill Bailey, Luther Barnhardt, Ed Jenest, David Johnson, Jim Hegglund,
Beth Lazer, Ron Manheimer, and Paula Robbins). Members of all committees
were invited to attend, and approximately 60 did so. The morning was
devoted to a presentation of demographic information regarding the growth
of the over-60 population in the US and in Buncombe County by Ed and
David. Ron then provided an excellent overview of the trends in views of
aging and education for older adults over the past 30 years and gave some
suggestions of what we can expect in the future. After a summary by Beth
Lazer, Chair of the Center Steering Council, and lunch, the group broke up
into six small discussion groups, each led by a facilitator. The themes
that emerged in these groups and that were reported back to the closing
plenary session are outlined below. The evaluations completed at the end
of the day were mostly very positive.
As a follow-up to the Retreat, representatives from
each of the committees who attended the Retreat are asked to report what
they learned to their respective committees, particularly in regard to how
that information might affect the committee’s plans. The Planning
Committee would then like to receive feedback from the committees as to
their plans and how they have been influenced by the information they
received. We hope to maintain a dialog and continue to provide
information about trends, new ideas, and new technology that may be of
benefit to the committees charged with on-going direction of the Center.
I. Diversity. Desire for more diversity
among the Center’s membership: racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, but not many
suggestions for achieving it. We are too homogeneous and elitist. We may
have to move out to other groups and meet them on their turf; they may be
too uncomfortable to come to the campus.
II. Use of Reuter Center. Use the Reuter
Center as a locus for the growth of special interest groups. There will be
more opportunities for socializing. Continue planning with an eventual
possibility of expansion of the building to meet increasing growth of
membership. The Center needs to be open in the evening. We should
experiment with offering evening classes---perhaps advertised to people
still working full-time. Learning programs on many different time
schedules should be explored. Rent out the Reuter Center for a fee to
groups seeking a one-time meeting place. However, that should be limited
so that they will not interfere with members’ use of the Center.
III. Public Relations. More awareness of the
breadth and nature of NCCCR is needed among the membership: that we have
state funding, that we are integrally related to the University’s
governance, our national image, the number of programs that we offer.
Many people still see us as simply the courses offered by the College for
Seniors. Some CFS folks are worried that they will be swallowed up by the
NCCCR. We need to inform local businesses. How can we effectively use the
web site?
IV. Moving beyond Buncombe County. The idea
of reaching out for a broader geographical region, even nationally, is
enticing, but do we have the funds and volunteers to do so?
V. Intergenerational programs. Many
people were interested in developing more intergenerational programs.
VI. Use of Volunteers. Task groups focused on
a particular project should be developed along with the regular
committees. Any new or expanded programs will depend upon the work of
member volunteers. Develop a program to expand and train volunteers.
VII. Data Collection and Evaluation. We need
ongoing self-evaluation and collection of data about our membership and
enrollments. Better evaluation of programs is needed. The Center might be
involved with conducting research on aging and lifelong learning; this
might provide a source of revenue.
VIII. Terminology. Our name may now be
outdated. Is there another word besides “retirement”? Lifelong
Learning Center?
IX. Finances. How can we pay for additional
programs or expansion of existing ones? We need to find a way to be
self-sustaining. State funding is not guaranteed. What would
we do if we lost it? Maintain on-going fund-raising. There is a need for
more staff.
X. Welcoming newcomers. Should we begin
to attract pre-retirees? Baby boomers still working but planning ahead?
Provide opportunities to include the contributions of newcomers. By
focusing on the needs of the coming Baby Boomers, we should not forget our
own older population---in their 80s and 90s.
XI. Outreach to the local community. We need
more engagement with the greater Asheville community through volunteer
programs. Develop a service-learning program. Should we
develop collaborations with other community organizations? Religious
groups? Local government? However, we should not try to compete with
other successful programs. Should we offer classes off campus?
XII. Technology. How do we make better use of
electronic technologies such as digital projectors?
XIII. Curriculum. We should experiment with
developing a needs-based curriculum, not simply offering those courses
that member volunteers are willing to teach. This will require more
needs analysis to learn what members might want to learn.
XIV. Summary. We need to maintain quality
along with growth. Do not lose the strengths of our ongoing programs: CFS,
LAS, CREW, etc.
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