By Kent Johnson
There's been a lot of buzz lately about so-called "phased retirements," where older workers choose to work less -- and on their own terms -- rather than retire completely. This can ease the financial burden of having to live entirely off your retirement savings or social security, while still allowing flexibility and time to do the things you really enjoy in life.
And this doesn't mean you have to settle for working part- time in a fast food restaurant or as a greeter in a department store. More and more companies are using phased retirements as a way of retaining their older employees, which they see as valuable assets (which of course they are). Older workers often have decades of critical knowledge and experience that they can pass on to their younger co-workers, which benefits everyone concerned.
Easing into retirement can lessen the shock of suddenly having no place to go in the morning, a situation that many newly-retired workers have difficulty adjusting to. This is especially a problem for workaholic types who've been logging 50 or 60 hour work weeks for most of their adult lives. And for people who have no hobbies, outside interests, or children, the hours of the day can seem to stretch on and on.
There are also financial considerations with retirement. With people living longer than ever, and the ever-increasing cost of living, it's becoming harder to retire with a comfortable standard of living (especially if you want to travel, upgrade your home, buy expensive furnishings, etc).
Which is where phased retirements come in. In one recent survey, over 60 percent of workers between 50 and 70 years old said that they'd like to work part-time before they fully retire. These older workers also want retirement benefits, health insurance, and other benefits -- although most realize that a smaller paycheck will be part of the deal as well.
Not all employers are willing or able to allow their older workers to ease into retirement. In fact, formal programs of this type are rare, so you'll probably have to approach your boss or human resource department and make some sort of informal arrangement. If there are other older workers at your company already in a flex program, then you ask them about their arrangement, and how it was established.
One reason that formal phased retirement programs are rare is the fact that the Federal Government hasn't enacted legislation in order to define just how such programs should be administered. There are health insurance issues with some companies, and pension rules that prohibit some employers from giving partial retirement payments to workers who wish to trim back their hours before full retirement age.
But with the overall population aging, and the baby boom generation approaching 60, look for more companies -- large and small -- to implement some sort of phased retirement program.
After all, if done correctly, it can turn out to be a win- win situation for everyone.
Kent Johnson - author, publisher, career coach. "Helping people realize their dreams one career at a time." Your Dream Career.com - your source for career tips and info ==> http://your-dream-career.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kent_Johnson
Saturday, May 10, 2008
The Workplace is going Grey
By Teena Rose
Article provided by SuccessfulResumes.com.
Leading executive resume writer to catapult your second career.
A popular perception in the workplace has always been that employers were all too eager to offer early retirement packages to encourage older workers to step aside because of their salary and benefit costs to the company. That perception may be on the way out, as the greying of the baby-boomer generation is poised to leave American companies short-handed.
Concern in the U.S. and abroad is quickly approaching a watershed moment as employers are staring a shortage of workers right in the face. In 2011, the Employment Policy Foundation expects there to be 4 million more jobs than workers. That number is expected to rise to 35 million unfilled jobs by the 2030.The outcome, experts say, will be more seniors remaining or returning to a job site that will include many more post-65 workers. The terms blue-collar and white-collar workers will be joined by a new adage. The silver-collar worker.
With 76 million people in the baby boomer generation (1946-64) and just 45 million Gen-Xers, the numbers define a clear gap that will need to be filled using various strategies, including extending the typical working life beyond 65 years as advocated for years.
The trend has become so pronounced, companies have formed partnerships with the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) to create a Featured Employers community, which highlights employers who are senior-friendly. Some of the companies include big names like Home Depot, Walgreen's, Verizon and MetLife. As demand increases, AARP expects the list of employers eager to hire older workers will grow substantially.
According to networking website ExecuNet, industries where seniors are seeing the biggest gains include health care, high tech, financial services, business services and defense/aerospace. And the three biggest industries where huge future gaps are expected, include retail sales, registered nurses and postsecondary teachers. Retaining or hiring older workers also gives employers the loyalty advantage. According to a recent study, workers age 55 to 64 have been in their jobs three times as long as their younger counterparts. The study, released late last year by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, revealed that 25-34 year-olds averaged 2.9 years at the same job, while 55-64 year-olds averaged 9.3 years. Since turnover is costly, and the glut of workers is expected to rise soon, the retirement-age worker may hold more advantages than the recent college graduate."We've definitely seen that older workers are more loyal," Astra Group consultant Sara Jung told Inc.com. "Younger workers are more likely to jump ship if they get a more attractive offer."Another trend focused on recently by Time magazine is the "bridge job."
Before going into full retirement mode, many workers over 55 are slowing instead of stopping their careers with part-time jobs of full-time jobs for typically less than a decade.
Not only will companies need older employees. Older employees will need the companies, and the income they provide.
"In the next five to 20 years, we're going to see a lot of people who think they're going to be ready for retirement, and all of a sudden they're going to work out the numbers, look at how much money they've saved and realize, 'I can't retire,' " Bouchey Financial Group CEO Steven Bouchey told the Albany Times Union in January. "I always say that everybody dreams about retiring on a hill overlooking a lake. Many people are going to be retiring in a trailer overlooking a swamp."
_____________________________________________________
Teena Rose, Book Author, Columnist,Resume Writer,Career Specialist, 1999 - Present. Provide resume writing and career services to an array of career professionals, ranking from new graduates and entry-level jobseekers to business owners and executives. Target advice and coaching services to give jobseekers a leg-up against "the competition."
Article provided by SuccessfulResumes.com.
Leading executive resume writer to catapult your second career.
A popular perception in the workplace has always been that employers were all too eager to offer early retirement packages to encourage older workers to step aside because of their salary and benefit costs to the company. That perception may be on the way out, as the greying of the baby-boomer generation is poised to leave American companies short-handed.
Concern in the U.S. and abroad is quickly approaching a watershed moment as employers are staring a shortage of workers right in the face. In 2011, the Employment Policy Foundation expects there to be 4 million more jobs than workers. That number is expected to rise to 35 million unfilled jobs by the 2030.The outcome, experts say, will be more seniors remaining or returning to a job site that will include many more post-65 workers. The terms blue-collar and white-collar workers will be joined by a new adage. The silver-collar worker.
With 76 million people in the baby boomer generation (1946-64) and just 45 million Gen-Xers, the numbers define a clear gap that will need to be filled using various strategies, including extending the typical working life beyond 65 years as advocated for years.
The trend has become so pronounced, companies have formed partnerships with the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) to create a Featured Employers community, which highlights employers who are senior-friendly. Some of the companies include big names like Home Depot, Walgreen's, Verizon and MetLife. As demand increases, AARP expects the list of employers eager to hire older workers will grow substantially.
According to networking website ExecuNet, industries where seniors are seeing the biggest gains include health care, high tech, financial services, business services and defense/aerospace. And the three biggest industries where huge future gaps are expected, include retail sales, registered nurses and postsecondary teachers. Retaining or hiring older workers also gives employers the loyalty advantage. According to a recent study, workers age 55 to 64 have been in their jobs three times as long as their younger counterparts. The study, released late last year by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, revealed that 25-34 year-olds averaged 2.9 years at the same job, while 55-64 year-olds averaged 9.3 years. Since turnover is costly, and the glut of workers is expected to rise soon, the retirement-age worker may hold more advantages than the recent college graduate."We've definitely seen that older workers are more loyal," Astra Group consultant Sara Jung told Inc.com. "Younger workers are more likely to jump ship if they get a more attractive offer."Another trend focused on recently by Time magazine is the "bridge job."
Before going into full retirement mode, many workers over 55 are slowing instead of stopping their careers with part-time jobs of full-time jobs for typically less than a decade.
Not only will companies need older employees. Older employees will need the companies, and the income they provide.
"In the next five to 20 years, we're going to see a lot of people who think they're going to be ready for retirement, and all of a sudden they're going to work out the numbers, look at how much money they've saved and realize, 'I can't retire,' " Bouchey Financial Group CEO Steven Bouchey told the Albany Times Union in January. "I always say that everybody dreams about retiring on a hill overlooking a lake. Many people are going to be retiring in a trailer overlooking a swamp."
_____________________________________________________
Teena Rose, Book Author, Columnist,Resume Writer,Career Specialist, 1999 - Present. Provide resume writing and career services to an array of career professionals, ranking from new graduates and entry-level jobseekers to business owners and executives. Target advice and coaching services to give jobseekers a leg-up against "the competition."
Friday, May 9, 2008
Boomers troll Net on sites of their own
Networking sites help people meet for fun, friendship, more
Associated Press
Rose Campbell was widowed after 26 years of marriage. John Souza's wife died after 44 years and five children together.
Both Campbell and Souza were looking for friendship and fun, not a second chance at love, when they bumped into each other online last October on a social network called Eons.
Soon they were chatting regularly. "There was a little flirtin' and a little serious conversation," said Souza, 70, who lives in Ocklawaha, Fla., across from the cemetery where his wife is buried.
The online encounters blossomed into a real-life meet about a month later. "It was a little awkward. I thought he didn't like me. He thought I didn't like him," said Campbell, 57, a retired schoolteacher and mother of two grown children in Ormond Beach, Fla.
"Then we just clicked," she said. Their wedding is planned for Sept. 6.
Eons is one of at least two dozen social networks aimed squarely at Baby Boomers, the population bubble born between 1946 and 1964 that has defied traditional perceptions of aging and retirement. Many boomers jumped into the Internet mashup to keep track of their kids on Facebook or MySpace, then moved on to their own networks in search of more common ground.
They're blogging about the virtues of oatmeal and the beauty of aging, posting video clips from their favorite old movies, and sharing ideas and support on grieving the death of a spouse, caring for a sick parent or sex after 50.
Besides Eons, other sites include BOOMj, BoomSpeak and BoomerGirl, along with Eldr, Secondprime and Growingbolder. "Being 50 and over we all grew up around the same things. The same TV shows, the same history. When I say Roy Rogers, they know who I'm talking about," said 61-year-old Didi Moe of Melbourne, Fla., who started Central Florida Singles, the discussion group on Eons where Campbell and Souza met.
The Boston-based Eons was founded by Internet pioneer Jeffrey C. Taylor in 2006, the year after he left his job-listings startup, Monster.
"People kind of laughed at me when I said I was launching a boomer Web site," said Taylor, 47.
Some of the boomer networking sites are loaded with staff content and expertise, or have a particular focus such as social change. Others, Eons included, are more user-driven, with hundreds of discussion groups, beginner widgets and age-specific applications like Eons' "LifePath," a way to plot a timeline of important personal events and future aspirations.
Associated Press
Rose Campbell was widowed after 26 years of marriage. John Souza's wife died after 44 years and five children together.
Both Campbell and Souza were looking for friendship and fun, not a second chance at love, when they bumped into each other online last October on a social network called Eons.
Soon they were chatting regularly. "There was a little flirtin' and a little serious conversation," said Souza, 70, who lives in Ocklawaha, Fla., across from the cemetery where his wife is buried.
The online encounters blossomed into a real-life meet about a month later. "It was a little awkward. I thought he didn't like me. He thought I didn't like him," said Campbell, 57, a retired schoolteacher and mother of two grown children in Ormond Beach, Fla.
"Then we just clicked," she said. Their wedding is planned for Sept. 6.
Eons is one of at least two dozen social networks aimed squarely at Baby Boomers, the population bubble born between 1946 and 1964 that has defied traditional perceptions of aging and retirement. Many boomers jumped into the Internet mashup to keep track of their kids on Facebook or MySpace, then moved on to their own networks in search of more common ground.
They're blogging about the virtues of oatmeal and the beauty of aging, posting video clips from their favorite old movies, and sharing ideas and support on grieving the death of a spouse, caring for a sick parent or sex after 50.
Besides Eons, other sites include BOOMj, BoomSpeak and BoomerGirl, along with Eldr, Secondprime and Growingbolder. "Being 50 and over we all grew up around the same things. The same TV shows, the same history. When I say Roy Rogers, they know who I'm talking about," said 61-year-old Didi Moe of Melbourne, Fla., who started Central Florida Singles, the discussion group on Eons where Campbell and Souza met.
The Boston-based Eons was founded by Internet pioneer Jeffrey C. Taylor in 2006, the year after he left his job-listings startup, Monster.
"People kind of laughed at me when I said I was launching a boomer Web site," said Taylor, 47.
Some of the boomer networking sites are loaded with staff content and expertise, or have a particular focus such as social change. Others, Eons included, are more user-driven, with hundreds of discussion groups, beginner widgets and age-specific applications like Eons' "LifePath," a way to plot a timeline of important personal events and future aspirations.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The book "Leisureville: Adventures in America's Retirement Utopias"
By Shay Harris FOX 35 NEWS
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) -- The book "Leisureville: Adventures in America's Retirement Utopias" is heating things up in The Villages a retirement community near Ocala. According to author Andrew Blechmans book The Villages is a place where seniors go to drop out of society and live under legal segregation.
Some people who live there, like Harry Cook, say they disagree with it because The Villages is their idea of utopia. Cook said he enjoys being able to kick up his heels, with nothing pressing to do.
"We just love it here,” said Cook. “Its the best place in the world.”Cook said he's lived in The Villages for eleven years now and he disagrees with Blechman's view of his retirement community. "I think everybody has their own opinion,” he said. “Not everybody should live here, not everybody wants to live here.”
Others though, like resident Henry Anderson, said they agree with the author because The Villages is not the as perfect as you think."It’s a good place,” Anderson said. “But there’s a lot of things that need to be corrected.”
Anderson said every night turns into a party and there's always something to do. While he does enjoy golfing on the green here with friends, Anderson says Blechman is on to something.
"I call this Cuba,” he said. “They own all the land they control everything there’s a lot of people who’ve been here a long, long time old timers, they living just barely living and the villages keep raising the prices, nickeling and diming.”
The book is on display inside The Villages Barnes and Nobles book store. And you better believe its getting lots of attention.According to management at the store the buzz is not only picking up but helping the book’s sales as well.
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) -- The book "Leisureville: Adventures in America's Retirement Utopias" is heating things up in The Villages a retirement community near Ocala. According to author Andrew Blechmans book The Villages is a place where seniors go to drop out of society and live under legal segregation.
Some people who live there, like Harry Cook, say they disagree with it because The Villages is their idea of utopia. Cook said he enjoys being able to kick up his heels, with nothing pressing to do.
"We just love it here,” said Cook. “Its the best place in the world.”Cook said he's lived in The Villages for eleven years now and he disagrees with Blechman's view of his retirement community. "I think everybody has their own opinion,” he said. “Not everybody should live here, not everybody wants to live here.”
Others though, like resident Henry Anderson, said they agree with the author because The Villages is not the as perfect as you think."It’s a good place,” Anderson said. “But there’s a lot of things that need to be corrected.”
Anderson said every night turns into a party and there's always something to do. While he does enjoy golfing on the green here with friends, Anderson says Blechman is on to something.
"I call this Cuba,” he said. “They own all the land they control everything there’s a lot of people who’ve been here a long, long time old timers, they living just barely living and the villages keep raising the prices, nickeling and diming.”
The book is on display inside The Villages Barnes and Nobles book store. And you better believe its getting lots of attention.According to management at the store the buzz is not only picking up but helping the book’s sales as well.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Tax Rebate checks
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush said tax rebates will start going out Monday, earlier than previously announced, and should help Americans cope with rising gasoline and food prices, as well as aid a slumping economy.
Democrats said they were glad the rebate checks were about to go out, but suggested that multinational oil companies were not among the businesses the stimulus package was originally designed to help.''Starting Monday, the effects of the stimulus will begin to reach millions of households across our country,'' Bush said Friday in remarks on the South Lawn of the White House.
Those first rebates will be directly deposited into people's bank accounts. The Internal Revenue Service had been saying direct deposits wouldn't start until next Friday. Bush said paper checks would begin going out on May 9, a week earlier than previously announced.
''The money is going to help Americans offset the high prices we're seeing at the gas pump, the grocery store, and also give our economy a boost to help us pull out of this economic slowdown,'' Bush said.
Bush's emphasis on fuel and food prices differed from other comments he's made since signing the economic stimulus legislation, intended to aid the economy by boosting overall consumer spending -- which accounts for roughly two-thirds of the nation's economic activity.
Bush has suggested the rebates could trigger a spending spree. ''When the money reaches the American people, we expect they will use it to boost consumer spending,'' he said last month.
By saying expressly that people could use these one-time checks to pay for such necessities as food and gas, Bush underscored the deepening challenges facing the economy.Democrats were quick to pick up on the change of focus.
''It's galling to think that taxpayers' stimulus checks will be lining the pockets of OPEC. The sad truth is that the average American family will spend almost their entire stimulus check on higher gas prices this year,'' said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., chairman of the Joint Economic Committee of Congress.
OPEC is the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.''Unless the administration gets OPEC to increase oil supply, American consumers are going to be in for a scorching summer of $4 gasoline with no relief in sight,'' Schumer said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., agreed that people ''need this rebate to cope with the rising cost of gas and groceries.'' She said that, while the rebates would help to get the economy moving, there was a need for a second stimulus package ''and we have begun some conversation with the administration and Republicans.
''As he had earlier in the week, Bush used the word ''slowdown'' to describe the state of the economy. He has denied that the nation is in a recession, although many economists say it is.
''It's obvious our economy is in a slowdown. But, fortunately, we recognized the signs early and took action,'' Bush said.The rebates -- up to $600 for an individual, $1,200 for a couple and an additional $300 for each dependent child -- are the centerpiece of the government's $168 billion stimulus package, enacted in February. Roughly 130 million households are expected to get them.Bush made the comments before boarding his helicopter at the start of a day trip to Connecticut.People must file a tax return for their 2007 income to be eligible for a rebate check.
The IRS now says all checks for those who filed tax returns on time are scheduled to be deposited or mailed by July 11.
The economy -- burdened by the collapse of home prices, a financial and credit crisis, and now rising energy and food prices -- grew at an anemic 0.6 percent in the final three months of last year and is believed to have gotten even weaker in the first three months of this year.
The government will report on the first quarter's performance next week.With the economy faltering, the nation's unemployment rate has climbed to 5.1 percent, the highest since September 2005, when it suffered from the devastating blows of the Gulf Coast hurricanes. Job losses in the first three months of this year neared the quarter-million mark.
Foreclosures have surged to record highs and financial companies have taken multibillion losses on mortgage investments that soured. The situation has sent a tremor through Wall Street and has sent the administration, Congress and presidential contenders looking for ways to provide relief.------
AP Economics Writer Jeannine Aversa contributed to this report.
-->
Democrats said they were glad the rebate checks were about to go out, but suggested that multinational oil companies were not among the businesses the stimulus package was originally designed to help.''Starting Monday, the effects of the stimulus will begin to reach millions of households across our country,'' Bush said Friday in remarks on the South Lawn of the White House.
Those first rebates will be directly deposited into people's bank accounts. The Internal Revenue Service had been saying direct deposits wouldn't start until next Friday. Bush said paper checks would begin going out on May 9, a week earlier than previously announced.
''The money is going to help Americans offset the high prices we're seeing at the gas pump, the grocery store, and also give our economy a boost to help us pull out of this economic slowdown,'' Bush said.
Bush's emphasis on fuel and food prices differed from other comments he's made since signing the economic stimulus legislation, intended to aid the economy by boosting overall consumer spending -- which accounts for roughly two-thirds of the nation's economic activity.
Bush has suggested the rebates could trigger a spending spree. ''When the money reaches the American people, we expect they will use it to boost consumer spending,'' he said last month.
By saying expressly that people could use these one-time checks to pay for such necessities as food and gas, Bush underscored the deepening challenges facing the economy.Democrats were quick to pick up on the change of focus.
''It's galling to think that taxpayers' stimulus checks will be lining the pockets of OPEC. The sad truth is that the average American family will spend almost their entire stimulus check on higher gas prices this year,'' said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., chairman of the Joint Economic Committee of Congress.
OPEC is the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.''Unless the administration gets OPEC to increase oil supply, American consumers are going to be in for a scorching summer of $4 gasoline with no relief in sight,'' Schumer said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., agreed that people ''need this rebate to cope with the rising cost of gas and groceries.'' She said that, while the rebates would help to get the economy moving, there was a need for a second stimulus package ''and we have begun some conversation with the administration and Republicans.
''As he had earlier in the week, Bush used the word ''slowdown'' to describe the state of the economy. He has denied that the nation is in a recession, although many economists say it is.
''It's obvious our economy is in a slowdown. But, fortunately, we recognized the signs early and took action,'' Bush said.The rebates -- up to $600 for an individual, $1,200 for a couple and an additional $300 for each dependent child -- are the centerpiece of the government's $168 billion stimulus package, enacted in February. Roughly 130 million households are expected to get them.Bush made the comments before boarding his helicopter at the start of a day trip to Connecticut.People must file a tax return for their 2007 income to be eligible for a rebate check.
The IRS now says all checks for those who filed tax returns on time are scheduled to be deposited or mailed by July 11.
The economy -- burdened by the collapse of home prices, a financial and credit crisis, and now rising energy and food prices -- grew at an anemic 0.6 percent in the final three months of last year and is believed to have gotten even weaker in the first three months of this year.
The government will report on the first quarter's performance next week.With the economy faltering, the nation's unemployment rate has climbed to 5.1 percent, the highest since September 2005, when it suffered from the devastating blows of the Gulf Coast hurricanes. Job losses in the first three months of this year neared the quarter-million mark.
Foreclosures have surged to record highs and financial companies have taken multibillion losses on mortgage investments that soured. The situation has sent a tremor through Wall Street and has sent the administration, Congress and presidential contenders looking for ways to provide relief.------
AP Economics Writer Jeannine Aversa contributed to this report.
-->
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Central Florida Community College gets Grant for +50 Students
New 'Plus 50 Initiative' By Community Colleges Reaches Out to Baby Boomers
15 Colleges Receive Grants to Develop Innovative Programs for Students
Over 50
WASHINGTON, April 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As 78 million baby
boomers approach retirement, their attention is turning to staying active
and re-focusing their careers -- and they're about to get some help from
America's community colleges, thanks to a new "Plus 50 Initiative."
Ten community colleges will launch new "demonstration" programs for
students over the age of 50, with the help of seed grants from the American
Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and The Atlantic Philanthropies.
They'll be aided with mentoring support from five "mentor" colleges that
already have established programs for baby boomers.
Organizers say the project is designed to help with one of the largest
generational shifts affecting our nation, as baby boomers approach
retirement and consider how to keep their lives active, healthy and engaged
in careers and projects that matter to them.
"The baby boomer generation wants to stay active in retirement and
holds a wealth of knowledge and experience that society cannot afford to
see leave the talent pool," said George R. Boggs, AACC President and CEO.
"By retooling educational programs and adjusting for the needs of plus 50
students, community colleges can empower baby boomers to continue give back
by leading the vibrant and fulfilling lives they desire."
The three-year program is sponsored by the AACC and is funded by a $3.2
million dollar grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies. The 10 demonstration
colleges receiving grants are:
Chaffey Community College, located in Cucamonga, Calif., will start a
new program for baby boomer volunteers to mentor and tutor under-prepared
students and help them be successful in college.
Clover Park Technical College, located in Lakewood, Wash., will offer
an environmental science program alongside a volunteer on-site project for
baby boomers exploring sustainability. The program will apply classroom
lessons while restoring wetlands, forests and an oak savannah.
Joliet Junior College, located in Joliet, Ill., will offer workforce
skills certificate programs to students over the age of 50 for new careers
in high-growth jobs in healthcare and education.
Luzerne County Community College, located in Nanticoke, Pa., will
provide courses and services that encourage new job skills development, as
well as entrepreneurship for plus 50 students wanting to start a new
business venture.
Northern Virginia Community College, located near Washington, D.C.,
will expand educational offerings targeting baby boomers and reach out to
senior facilities with programs on retirement, personal finance,
entrepreneurship, technology literacy and good health.
Richland College, which is part of the Dallas County Community College
District, and is located in Dallas, Texas, will assess learning needs for
baby boomers, develop life-enhancing curricula for plus 50 students seeking
to re-define their lives and offer opportunities to retrain experienced
workers.
Santa Fe Community College, located in Gainesville, Fla., will address
the critical nursing educator shortage by training baby boomer nurses to
become instructors for nursing education programs, enabling them to pass
their knowledge onto to others and serve a valuable mentoring role for
younger nurses.
St. Louis Community College, located in St. Louis, Mo., will establish
and pilot workshops on four campuses that will help plus 50 students who
see retirement looming ahead of them, but are unsure about how to make this
next phase of their lives all they hope it can be. Travel study tours, art
classes and many other topics, offered in a format for non-degree seeking
students, will enable baby boomers to re-connect with interests they may
have set aside decades before while raising children and working.
Wake Technical Community College, located in Raleigh, N.C., will
centralize coursework and activities offered by three separate divisions
under one organizational umbrella and offer afternoon college classes at
convenient times that cater to plus 50 students.
Western Dakota Technical Institute, located in Rapid City, S. D., will
develop and pilot a national training model for baby boomers who want to
become seasonal rangers and interpretive guides at national parks.
Colleges receiving grants to serve as mentors for the program are:
Cape Cod Community College, located in West Barnstable, Mass., has
conducted focus groups and extensive surveys with baby boomers to identify
courses and volunteer opportunities. They plan to expand their current
programs and develop a talent bank that matches plus 50 students with civic
and service opportunities.
Central Florida Community College, located in Ocala, Fla., will develop
course offerings that will lead to new employment opportunities for plus 50
students, including online business classes, individual and corporate tax
preparation courses, training in less physically demanding medical fields
such as medical transcription, and intergenerational computer courses.
Century College, located in White Bear Lake, Minn., will help baby
boomers retiring from professional and supervisory positions apply their
leadership skills as community volunteers. They will also help plus 50
professionals who've been downsized out of their current jobs with skill
development courses in healthcare and technology that enable them to
re-enter the workforce.
Clark College, located in Vancouver, Wash., will redesign its small
business development curriculum to offer second careers through business
ownership at a wine and cooking school for wine hobbyists and food
enthusiasts. In addition, a joint program with the Area Agency on Aging
will train in-home caregivers.
The Community College of Spokane, located in Spokane Wash., will help
plus 50 workers upgrade or gain new skills and receive re-training to fill
regional job vacancies. The college will also expand course delivery to
rural areas using distance learning, so that plus 50 students located
farther from campus can participate.
For 88 years, the AACC has been the leading advocate for the nation's
community colleges, which currently number more than 1,125 and serve more
than 12 million students annually. Its membership comprises 95 percent of
all public two-year colleges - the largest, most accessible, most diverse
sector of U.S. higher education. As institutions committed to access,
community service and lifelong learning, community colleges have
long-focused on the needs of adults who are already in the workforce, many
of whom are seeking new skills and knowledge for changes in their lives and
careers.
To learn more about successful efforts by AACC member colleges to
respond to students aged 50 and above, please contact Norma Kent at
nkent@aacc.nche.edu, or at 202-728-0200. To learn more about the AACC and
The Atlantic Philanthropies, visit http://www.aacc.nche.edu/ and
http://www.atlanticphilanthropies.org/.
15 Colleges Receive Grants to Develop Innovative Programs for Students
Over 50
WASHINGTON, April 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As 78 million baby
boomers approach retirement, their attention is turning to staying active
and re-focusing their careers -- and they're about to get some help from
America's community colleges, thanks to a new "Plus 50 Initiative."
Ten community colleges will launch new "demonstration" programs for
students over the age of 50, with the help of seed grants from the American
Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and The Atlantic Philanthropies.
They'll be aided with mentoring support from five "mentor" colleges that
already have established programs for baby boomers.
Organizers say the project is designed to help with one of the largest
generational shifts affecting our nation, as baby boomers approach
retirement and consider how to keep their lives active, healthy and engaged
in careers and projects that matter to them.
"The baby boomer generation wants to stay active in retirement and
holds a wealth of knowledge and experience that society cannot afford to
see leave the talent pool," said George R. Boggs, AACC President and CEO.
"By retooling educational programs and adjusting for the needs of plus 50
students, community colleges can empower baby boomers to continue give back
by leading the vibrant and fulfilling lives they desire."
The three-year program is sponsored by the AACC and is funded by a $3.2
million dollar grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies. The 10 demonstration
colleges receiving grants are:
Chaffey Community College, located in Cucamonga, Calif., will start a
new program for baby boomer volunteers to mentor and tutor under-prepared
students and help them be successful in college.
Clover Park Technical College, located in Lakewood, Wash., will offer
an environmental science program alongside a volunteer on-site project for
baby boomers exploring sustainability. The program will apply classroom
lessons while restoring wetlands, forests and an oak savannah.
Joliet Junior College, located in Joliet, Ill., will offer workforce
skills certificate programs to students over the age of 50 for new careers
in high-growth jobs in healthcare and education.
Luzerne County Community College, located in Nanticoke, Pa., will
provide courses and services that encourage new job skills development, as
well as entrepreneurship for plus 50 students wanting to start a new
business venture.
Northern Virginia Community College, located near Washington, D.C.,
will expand educational offerings targeting baby boomers and reach out to
senior facilities with programs on retirement, personal finance,
entrepreneurship, technology literacy and good health.
Richland College, which is part of the Dallas County Community College
District, and is located in Dallas, Texas, will assess learning needs for
baby boomers, develop life-enhancing curricula for plus 50 students seeking
to re-define their lives and offer opportunities to retrain experienced
workers.
Santa Fe Community College, located in Gainesville, Fla., will address
the critical nursing educator shortage by training baby boomer nurses to
become instructors for nursing education programs, enabling them to pass
their knowledge onto to others and serve a valuable mentoring role for
younger nurses.
St. Louis Community College, located in St. Louis, Mo., will establish
and pilot workshops on four campuses that will help plus 50 students who
see retirement looming ahead of them, but are unsure about how to make this
next phase of their lives all they hope it can be. Travel study tours, art
classes and many other topics, offered in a format for non-degree seeking
students, will enable baby boomers to re-connect with interests they may
have set aside decades before while raising children and working.
Wake Technical Community College, located in Raleigh, N.C., will
centralize coursework and activities offered by three separate divisions
under one organizational umbrella and offer afternoon college classes at
convenient times that cater to plus 50 students.
Western Dakota Technical Institute, located in Rapid City, S. D., will
develop and pilot a national training model for baby boomers who want to
become seasonal rangers and interpretive guides at national parks.
Colleges receiving grants to serve as mentors for the program are:
Cape Cod Community College, located in West Barnstable, Mass., has
conducted focus groups and extensive surveys with baby boomers to identify
courses and volunteer opportunities. They plan to expand their current
programs and develop a talent bank that matches plus 50 students with civic
and service opportunities.
Central Florida Community College, located in Ocala, Fla., will develop
course offerings that will lead to new employment opportunities for plus 50
students, including online business classes, individual and corporate tax
preparation courses, training in less physically demanding medical fields
such as medical transcription, and intergenerational computer courses.
Century College, located in White Bear Lake, Minn., will help baby
boomers retiring from professional and supervisory positions apply their
leadership skills as community volunteers. They will also help plus 50
professionals who've been downsized out of their current jobs with skill
development courses in healthcare and technology that enable them to
re-enter the workforce.
Clark College, located in Vancouver, Wash., will redesign its small
business development curriculum to offer second careers through business
ownership at a wine and cooking school for wine hobbyists and food
enthusiasts. In addition, a joint program with the Area Agency on Aging
will train in-home caregivers.
The Community College of Spokane, located in Spokane Wash., will help
plus 50 workers upgrade or gain new skills and receive re-training to fill
regional job vacancies. The college will also expand course delivery to
rural areas using distance learning, so that plus 50 students located
farther from campus can participate.
For 88 years, the AACC has been the leading advocate for the nation's
community colleges, which currently number more than 1,125 and serve more
than 12 million students annually. Its membership comprises 95 percent of
all public two-year colleges - the largest, most accessible, most diverse
sector of U.S. higher education. As institutions committed to access,
community service and lifelong learning, community colleges have
long-focused on the needs of adults who are already in the workforce, many
of whom are seeking new skills and knowledge for changes in their lives and
careers.
To learn more about successful efforts by AACC member colleges to
respond to students aged 50 and above, please contact Norma Kent at
nkent@aacc.nche.edu, or at 202-728-0200. To learn more about the AACC and
The Atlantic Philanthropies, visit http://www.aacc.nche.edu/ and
http://www.atlanticphilanthropies.org/.
Friday, April 11, 2008
The Villages Micropolitan Statistical Area ranks as fastest growing in the nation
By DAVID R. CORDER, DAILY SUN
THE VILLAGES — It doesn’t surprise Ron and Terri Benigno that recently released census estimates ranked The Villages last year as the nation’s fastest-growing nonmetropolitan community.
This historic achievement gave Ron and Terri, Village of Mulberry Grove residents who moved to The Villages about five years ago from Las Vegas, an opportunity to compare their experiences here with their visits to Pahrump, Nev., the third fastest-growing nonmetropolitan community.
“In The Villages, it’s about golf and people,” Terri said in explaining the difference between the 14 years the couple resided in Nevada’s southernmost region. “Everybody is so friendly here in The Villages. No matter where you go, people say hello to you. Now that we have all these stores here, I cannot imagine anybody moving away.”
The micropolitan statistical report the Census Bureau released earlier this month added a new perspective to population estimates the federal agency released about three weeks ago, which ranked Sumter County as the nation’s 11th fastest-growing county in 2007. It is the first time The Villages earned the No. 1 ranking since its designation in 2003 as a micropolitan statistical area.
“It is the fastest-growing micropolitan statistical area from 2006 to 2007,” confirmed Greg Harper, a Census Bureau demographer.
Quality versus quantity
In its definitions, the federal agency classifies a micropolitan area as one or more counties with an urban core of at least 10,000 people but less than 50,000.
That compares with a metropolitan statistical area — one or more counties with an urban core of at least 50,000 people. The Orlando-Kissimmee MSA, for instance, covers Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties.
The micropolitan classification is even more revealing, considering The Villages area includes only Sumter’s population. It does not count any of The Villages residents who live in Lake or Marion counties.
While the numbers impressed him, Sumter County Commission Chairman Dick Hoffman viewed The Villages Micropolitan Statistical Area’s population increases in much the same way as Terri and Ron.
Each considered the population gains in The Villages Micropolitan Statistical Area more in terms of quality of life than numbers.
“I have noticed we continue to attract a very experienced group of new residents who have a wide variety of backgrounds,” Hoffman said. “They’re adding a benefit to the entire county.
“These residents get involved in volunteer work even outside The Villages,” Hoffman offered as an example. “It’s real positive for our county. We have an outstanding group of residents, and they’re making the community even better.”
Still, it’s nice to have bragging rights, Hoffman acknowledged.
“I’m glad we’re among the top, but being No. 1 is even better,” he added.
Economic benefits
The value of such population estimates is considerable, said Rick Thrasher, executive director of the Sumter County Economic Development Council.
“Yes, it has real value in a number of areas, specifically with economic development,” Thrasher said.
This is particularly true, Thrasher added in agreement with Hoffman, when considering the nature of the residents in The Villages — a 55-plus age demographic known for its active and vibrant lifestyle.
“That means there are a significant number of highly talented and experienced retired people who are likely quite interested in part-time, productive employment,” Thrasher said.
Such a demographic gives Thrasher another tool in his business-recruitment effort, which ultimately benefits residents in terms of new products, services and employment opportunities.
“I also can tell you without any hesitancy whatsoever the work-force measurements have become one of the very prime measurement factors for companies starting, expanding or relocating into the area,” Thrasher said.
Having worked in Salt Lake City, Utah, Thrasher also possessed enough insight to make comparisons between The Villages MSA and the mostly western U.S. communities that populate the top 10 list of fastest-growing micropolitan areas. He was familiar with the two Utah communities that ranked in the top 10.
“Utah has two things,” Thrasher said. “No 1, it has one of the highest birth rates in the country. That’s largely generated by long winters. The other thing is they have one of the highest education attainment rates in the country.”
In comparison, Thrasher said, The Villages MSA possesses more in common with St. Marys, Ga., which ranked No. 10 on the top 10 list.
“Understand (The Villages MSA), is a lifestyle destination,” Thrasher said. “So is St. Mary’s. Some places out west are career destinations.”
What is happening in The Villages MSA in terms of population growth is similar to what is occurring in Florida and elsewhere, said Sean M. Snaith, Ph.D., and director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida.
“First, we’ve got a wave of population moving in at retirement age, the baby boomers,” said Snaith, referring to the U.S. population segment of about 80 million residents born between 1946 and 1964. “That’s going to continue to drive population growth in general.”
David R. Corder is a reporter with the Daily Sun. He can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9066, or at david.corder@thevillagesmedia.com.
THE VILLAGES — It doesn’t surprise Ron and Terri Benigno that recently released census estimates ranked The Villages last year as the nation’s fastest-growing nonmetropolitan community.
This historic achievement gave Ron and Terri, Village of Mulberry Grove residents who moved to The Villages about five years ago from Las Vegas, an opportunity to compare their experiences here with their visits to Pahrump, Nev., the third fastest-growing nonmetropolitan community.
“In The Villages, it’s about golf and people,” Terri said in explaining the difference between the 14 years the couple resided in Nevada’s southernmost region. “Everybody is so friendly here in The Villages. No matter where you go, people say hello to you. Now that we have all these stores here, I cannot imagine anybody moving away.”
The micropolitan statistical report the Census Bureau released earlier this month added a new perspective to population estimates the federal agency released about three weeks ago, which ranked Sumter County as the nation’s 11th fastest-growing county in 2007. It is the first time The Villages earned the No. 1 ranking since its designation in 2003 as a micropolitan statistical area.
“It is the fastest-growing micropolitan statistical area from 2006 to 2007,” confirmed Greg Harper, a Census Bureau demographer.
Quality versus quantity
In its definitions, the federal agency classifies a micropolitan area as one or more counties with an urban core of at least 10,000 people but less than 50,000.
That compares with a metropolitan statistical area — one or more counties with an urban core of at least 50,000 people. The Orlando-Kissimmee MSA, for instance, covers Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties.
The micropolitan classification is even more revealing, considering The Villages area includes only Sumter’s population. It does not count any of The Villages residents who live in Lake or Marion counties.
While the numbers impressed him, Sumter County Commission Chairman Dick Hoffman viewed The Villages Micropolitan Statistical Area’s population increases in much the same way as Terri and Ron.
Each considered the population gains in The Villages Micropolitan Statistical Area more in terms of quality of life than numbers.
“I have noticed we continue to attract a very experienced group of new residents who have a wide variety of backgrounds,” Hoffman said. “They’re adding a benefit to the entire county.
“These residents get involved in volunteer work even outside The Villages,” Hoffman offered as an example. “It’s real positive for our county. We have an outstanding group of residents, and they’re making the community even better.”
Still, it’s nice to have bragging rights, Hoffman acknowledged.
“I’m glad we’re among the top, but being No. 1 is even better,” he added.
Economic benefits
The value of such population estimates is considerable, said Rick Thrasher, executive director of the Sumter County Economic Development Council.
“Yes, it has real value in a number of areas, specifically with economic development,” Thrasher said.
This is particularly true, Thrasher added in agreement with Hoffman, when considering the nature of the residents in The Villages — a 55-plus age demographic known for its active and vibrant lifestyle.
“That means there are a significant number of highly talented and experienced retired people who are likely quite interested in part-time, productive employment,” Thrasher said.
Such a demographic gives Thrasher another tool in his business-recruitment effort, which ultimately benefits residents in terms of new products, services and employment opportunities.
“I also can tell you without any hesitancy whatsoever the work-force measurements have become one of the very prime measurement factors for companies starting, expanding or relocating into the area,” Thrasher said.
Having worked in Salt Lake City, Utah, Thrasher also possessed enough insight to make comparisons between The Villages MSA and the mostly western U.S. communities that populate the top 10 list of fastest-growing micropolitan areas. He was familiar with the two Utah communities that ranked in the top 10.
“Utah has two things,” Thrasher said. “No 1, it has one of the highest birth rates in the country. That’s largely generated by long winters. The other thing is they have one of the highest education attainment rates in the country.”
In comparison, Thrasher said, The Villages MSA possesses more in common with St. Marys, Ga., which ranked No. 10 on the top 10 list.
“Understand (The Villages MSA), is a lifestyle destination,” Thrasher said. “So is St. Mary’s. Some places out west are career destinations.”
What is happening in The Villages MSA in terms of population growth is similar to what is occurring in Florida and elsewhere, said Sean M. Snaith, Ph.D., and director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida.
“First, we’ve got a wave of population moving in at retirement age, the baby boomers,” said Snaith, referring to the U.S. population segment of about 80 million residents born between 1946 and 1964. “That’s going to continue to drive population growth in general.”
David R. Corder is a reporter with the Daily Sun. He can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9066, or at david.corder@thevillagesmedia.com.
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