Get Involved in 2012!
The Facts:
- CT has more than 472,000 residents over the age of 65 (US Census Bureau).
- CT is home to one million baby boomers (people born between 1946‐1964) or roughly one third of its population.
- From 2006 to 2030, CT’s older adult population is expected to increase by 64%.
(CT Commission on Aging)
Will Senior Centers continue to be relevant as the population ages? As the Boomers age? Not everyone thinks so. And, if Senior Centers do not evolve with the population, they may be right. We all know it is not as simple as replacing Bingo with Zumba. Over the next several years, our challenges and opportunities will include changing the image of our Centers, the culture within our Centers, the scope of programs, the delivery of programs, our funding, our hours, our facilities. Our communities are changing. The aging services system is changing with more emphasis on home and community based care and on evidence based programs. What is our role? Are we ready? What skills and resources do we need? Where will we get them? We can face these challenges alone as 150 individual Senior Centers in 169 Municipalities. Or, through our State Association, we can face them together.
Like our Centers, CASCP must evolve. As a volunteer organization, this is increasingly difficult. While we are still able to recruit officers for the Association, the time that individuals can contribute is limited. If we are to succeed, it is imperative that we review and evaluate our vision, our mission, our goals and our operations, establish strategic objectives and focus our efforts on those activities and issues that our membership wants and needs. To that end, we will be engaging in a strategic planning process.
We also need more people involved. Studies show that the main reason why people do not get involved is because they are not asked. Consider yourself asked! We want everyone to get involved on three levels.
Leadership
Participation
Membership
There are descriptions of opportunities to get involved HERE. Think about what you can do for CASCP, your colleagues and yourself.
And, in 2012, GET INVOLVED!!!!
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