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One of the wonderful things that happened to us as the result of our interview in the Seniority column of the New York Times, was an introduction to how some large corporations are supporting retirees interested in volunteer work. We were contacted by Gwen Evans, president of the board of Prudential ROCS (Retirees Offering Community Service), to discuss the possibility of being the keynote speakers at their forthcoming annual meeting. When we got together with Gwen and members of the board, it was very much a meeting of minds. Of course, we agreed to speak.
Prudential ROCS-NJ was formed in 1966 with the support of Prudential Community Initiatives (CORP), a division within Human Resources, and the National Retiree Volunteer Coalition (see 2young2retire.com links). It grew from the recognition that many retirees want to continue using and developing their skills, and that an organization could introduce them to opportunities in the voluntary sector they might not otherwise know about. Launched with an advisory board of 20 men and women - former Prudential executives, lawyers, sales representatives, sales and home office managers, or administrators -- Prudential ROCS is now a thriving, non-profit that helps make those connections. ROCS-NJ is independent of Prudential and other retiree organizations, but enjoys the support of Prudential in a number of ways, including office and meeting space. There is a ROCS group for Prudential retirees in Minnesota, and a new group forming in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. ROCS -NJ volunteers can choose projects that can be "done-in-a-day" or make longer time commitments to programs such as Reading for Life, an annual "read in" that brings volunteers together with children from several Newark schools; a enrichment program at the Quitman Street Community School in Newark; reading for the visually impaired with Electronic Information and Education Service; E-Mail Buddies, a mentoring program; the New Jersey Symphony and New Jersey Performing Arts Center; the Food Bank; other projects in cooperation with the National Executive Service Corps.
If you work for or have retired from a large corporation, we encourage you to check with the human resources department for similar community service programs. If it doesn't exist, this could be your opportunity to start one. Among other things, we think Prudential ROCS is an excellent example of good corporate citizenship. A warm welcome to our newest subscribers!
Marika Stone Book Site I've been practicing yoga on a daily basis for the past seven years, and have taken additional time to just sit or lie on my back with the purpose of meditating. While the Kripalu yoga I do is referred to as "meditation in motion" by many, I find that I'm on about a nursery school level with the meditation part. In his wonderfully clear book, Wherever You Go, There You Are (Hyperion, 1994), Jon Kabat-Zinn gives me the tools to take meditation to the next level, which for my new-idea-per-minute-crammed brain could be 2nd grade. Although Wherever You Go, There You Are is filled with practical tips, this is not strictly speaking a "how to" book. Each chapter is a short essay on mindfulness meditation, tapping Kabat-Zinn's deep, personal experience of meditation, his work with hundreds of people, and quotes from Thoreau, Kabir, Lao-Tzu, and the Dalai Lama, among others. At the end of most of the sections, there is an invitation to "Try" e.g. "To use ordinary repetitive occasions...to practice mindfulness. Going to the front door, answering the telephone..." You don't have to read it from cover to cover, either. Wherever you open it, there you are. Phrases from the jacket notes express my appreciation for this book better than I can. "Mindfulness is considered the heart of Buddhist meditation but its essence is universal and a deep practical benefit to all. In essence, mindfulness is about wakefulness. Our minds are such that we are often more asleep than awake to the unique beauty and possibilities of each present moment as it unfolds." "Jon Kabat-Zinn maps out a simple path for cultivating mindfulness in one's own life. It speaks both to those coming to meditation for the first time and to longtime practitioners, anyone who cares deeply about reclaiming the richness of his or her moments." In one of my favorite chapters, "You Can't Stop the Waves But You Can Learn to Surf"', he offers, "It is a commonly held view that meditation is a way to shut off the pressures of the world or of your own mind, but this is not an accurate impression. Meditation is neither shutting things out or off. It is seeing things clearly, and deliberately positioning yourself differently in relationship to them." If you feel tossed around by the waves and tides of external influences, I recommend this book to begin living life from the inside out. Serenely,
Howard Stone Media Watch
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* We aren't just blowing our horn -- well, we are, but there's more to it -- about our new content partnership with the Wall Street Journal's Careers website. Every second Friday of the month, one of our True Stories will be available all day and through the weekend. Go to http://careers.wsj.com. After that, it will be available from the archives: http://careers.wsj.com then click on "Succeeding At Work" and click again on "Retirement Issues.". Our first story was about Dr. Ashley Carter of Drew University's Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti (RISE). Material from 2young2retire appears with a variety of other stories about seniors, all worth checking out. * Marika's story was picked up by WiseHearts: Weaving Small Wisdoms Through The Fabric Life (http://pages.ivillage.com/misc/wisehearts/WSW.htm). Many thanks toTeri McPherson of Ontario, Canada, creator of the site. * www.seniorwomen.com is the brain child of Tam Gray, a senior Time Magazine editor, so the high quality of information should come as no surprise. Updated frequently. We also heard from soon-to-be True Story profilee, Caryl Frawley of www.neatwomeninc.com that her site is going "high tech" in June. * Many of gerontologist Richard P. Johnson's ideas are in sync with the 2young2retire philosophy. He is the creator of the Retirement Success Profile, a life planning tool, available for a fee at www.retirementoptions.com/new. A Roman Catholic, Dr. Johnson is also the moving force behind www.senioradultministry.com, a site that focuses on the unique spiritual development needs of seniors and the role they play in their congregations. * In Britain, "OAP" denotes Old Age Pensioner. But, according to MediaAge (www.mediaage.net), it could as easily stand for "Old, Ardent, and Passionate". The newservice which covers senior trends, reports that "pensioners spend a lot more time making love than do their teenage descendants...with an average of more than two hours a week devoted to amorous activities" for the 65 and older group. The report was based on data gathered in a poll of more than 1,000 people in every age group across Britain by a market analysis firm. Mailto:editor@MediaAge.net Potpourri
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* A visitor writes: Having stumbled upon your website while job-hunting online, I can only say that I was delighted to find it, very inspired by your story, and encouraged that there are many others who like myself feel much too young to retire. At 59 I am no longer interested in pursuing traditional means of making a living - in a cubicle, etc. - but wish to explore and exploit my talents and develop new ones in this exciting next chapter of my life. I hope that your newsletter and your website will further inspire me to find my true career - one that I can develop and expand for the next 20 or more years. Thanks. * We also heard from Ann Mariah (formerly Elizabeth) Stewart, one of our True Story people: I'm back from a two-month assignment with the U.S. Navy. I've caught up on your latest developments and am delighted to see how your site is succeeding. I thought the moment I saw it that it was the best one. I was especially interested in your article on writing as that is my specialty. Would you like to hear more about how I could network some of your readers into my writer's workshops? Contact her at: eliz4959@yahoo.com * Thinking about moving and want to scout a new location? Or are you drawn to the opportunity to live free (almost) in some interesting places? If so, be sure to take a look at the True Story of Gary and Thea Dunn, publishers of The Caretakers Gazette. Go to: www.caretaker.org and start packing. * If the idea of exchanging homes with like-minded folks has appeal, check out http://www.digsville.com created by fellow New Jerseyan and yogi, Helen Bergstein. She wrote: The demographic profile of a typical home swap is teacher/professor, baby boomers (older) with children and seniors. * We would love to hear from those of you who attended the AARP conference in Orlando in mid-May. What did you like/dislike/would do differently? * Hand-lettered sign on the back of a construction truck on Route 80: "Lifestyles of the poor and unknown." * Please revisit www.2young2retire.com for our latest True Story additions: Cathy and Larry Sklar, lawyers turned innkeepers; Fred Finn, lawyer to community board member; Merle Smith, phone installer to public relations coordinator; Gary and Thea Dunn, corporate escapees to publishers. Best regards,
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