ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s Honorary Life Members (HLMs) are a group of about 150 ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø members who satisfy the criteria for HLM status. That is, they have been members of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø for at least 25 years, have reached at least their 65th birthday, and they have relinquished full time employment. These criteria are established in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s bylaws. Late-Career and Post-Career individuals are ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø members or former members who are approaching or have reached retirement age, and who are interested in maintaining their ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø connection and involvement, but who do not qualify for HLM status.
Unfortunately, most ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø members—HLMs or not—lose their ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø connection once they retire or otherwise stop working full-time. While some HLMs stay involved professionally by continuing to participate in local chapters, teach occasional courses, or work as consultants, there has been no ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø-wide effort to involve HLMs or other older members. Until very recently, there has been nothing at a conference that involves or even recognizes them—no conference role, no conference activity.
One goal of this group is to broaden the involvement of other ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s seniors. The Senior Connections Affinity Group will allow our older members to stay involved with ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, through continuing interaction with their former professional peers and acquaintances. The primary form of interaction will consist of virtual gatherings two or three times a year. These meetings could include a short presentation on an ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø-relevant issue or experience. In addition, or instead if that is the preference of the group, the meetings could focus primarily on social interaction on any of a wide range of topics, e.g., members’ current locations, any ongoing volunteer or paid work, family activities, or other topics. Or we could discuss our favorite ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø conference sites, or reflect on our experiences such as conducting research before personal computers, the internet, and cell phones.
For more information, or to join Senior Connections, please email Karen Goldenberg at KLG18717@yahoo.com.