Inspiring Opportunities is a weekly email from Coming of Age for people 50+ who are making a difference in the world, in their communities and in their lives.




What's New
Have We Got an Opportunity for You!
This Week


 
Pennsylvania Women Take It Off for Charity
Twelve women in their 70s and 80s recently posed nearly nude for a calendar to raise money for a historical society. "One of the advantages of being old is that you can do anything you want and get away with it," said Miss September, Lois Phillips, who is 80.

Here's the story about it and here's the web page where they are selling the calendar. If this all sounds a bit familiar, you may be thinking of the 2003 film Calendar Girls or perhaps the 1997 film The Full Monty.


Britain Considers Mandatory National Service
According to the Guardian the British government is considering a mandatory communiity service requirement for all young people, as a way of building social cohesion.


An Inspiring Story of a Different Kind
While we're on the subject of Britain, here's an inspiring Cinderella story that has taken Britain and the Internet by storm. It's about a cell phone salesman from Wales who . . . well you really have to see the video yourself. If this video moves or inspires you, please share your reactions.


Nominate a Point of Light!
Every day the Points of Light Foundation recognizes someone as the nation's Volunteer of the Day. Do you know anyone who deserves the prestigious honor? If you nominate them by June 20 and they are selected, they will be honored at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Philadelphia this summer.

And while you're at it, why not also nominate them -- or even yourself -- for the Bank of America local hero program, which not only honors volunteers, but also donates $5000 to an organization of the winner's choice.


Antioch College is Closing
The famous little school known for social activism (not to mention its much ridiculed sexual harassment policy, its much criticized commencement speech by death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal and its unusual policy of not giving students letter grades) is closing its doors. Here's a farewell from Anastasia Goodstein at the Huffington Post, followed by comments from fellow alums.


An Innovative Approach to Fighting Poverty
Family-to-Family creates a bridge between suburban communities with enough to share and some of our country's most impoverished areas. Families with means sponsor families living in abject poverty. There isn't a chapter in our area, but there are instructions on the site about how you can start a chapter here.


Greeniors?
We just discovered Green Seniors, a website "that links people together, tells stories of the good work that groups and individuals are doing, and hopefully will create a better future for the generations that follow us."

Speaking of Green Seniors, here's a video interview of 99 year old Homer Foster, who goes out every week to do water sampling for the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps.

And speaking of the Environment Corps, Dr. Edward Chun, a resident of Germantown, has been selected as a recipient of the MetLife Foundation 2007 Older Volunteers Enrich America Awards for his work with the Center in the Park Senior Environment Corps.


Ten Reasons Boomers Should Write Their Memoirs
Jerry Waxler, a Quakertown-based memoirist himself, has written ten reasons that Boomers should write their memoirs. He also attended our recent Boomervision!^® Town Meeting with AARP CEO Bill Novelli and wrote up his impressions of the event.


Living Outside the Box, Way Outside
If you're looking for an inspiring book about what can be accomplished after 50, we suggest Alec Wilkinson's The Happiest Man in the World, about Poppa Neutrino, a person of questionable sanity who, among other things, sailed a raft built from garbage across the Atlantic Ocean. Here's a captivating trailer from the new independent film about Neutrino.


As if you didn't know . . .
The Inquirer had a story this week about a two new reports that tell us Baby Boomers are going to have to work longer than their parents or their grandparents did.

On that note, you may want to take a look at Coming of Age founding partner AARP's list of job search web sites for 50+ or the Work in Retirement section of the Coming of Age website.


 

If you know of a volunteer opportunity in the Greater Philadelphia area that you would like featured here, email details to havewegot@comingofage.org. You can find more opportunities at:




This Week's VISTA Opportunity
Youth Ventures in Concord New Hampshire is looking for a VISTA who will develop partnerships intended to empower thousands of youth to be social entrepreneurs. Benefits, a living allowance, and a chance to make a real difference are provided. Learn More


Tidy-Up Tuesdays
The New Kensington Community Development Corporation is sponsoring “Tidy-Up Tuesdays” – every Tuesday at 5pm. Volunteers sweep and bag trash and clean up Pop’s Playground in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood. Everyone is invited!

Enjoy Teaching?
The Sisters of Saint Joseph Welcome Center on East Allegheny Avenue in Philadelphia seeks volunteers to help make a difference in the lives of those who have trouble reading and writing in English. Contact Sister Marian for more information at (215) 634-1696.

Enjoy History?
Taking care of a 53-acre historic fort is a lot of work and the folks at Fort Mifflin could use some help. If you want to lend a hand painting, mowing or even leading the occasional tour, call (215) 685-4165 to talk with Lee Patrick Anderson.

Enjoy Fish?
The New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences needs volunteers to assist biologists in the care and feeding of their fish and invertebrate collection. Volunteers are asked to donate 16 hours per month. Call Jack Carr at (856) 361-1017.


  We list events and opportunities here we think will interest people 50+ who want to make a difference. If you know of such events, please send us information. If you attended an event you learned about here, please send us a review.




Common Ground Music Festival
3pm to 8pm in East Bradford, Chester County
Here's an Inquirer article about this musical event with a political bent.

The Delaware River City Corp Bridesburg Walk
10am on Orthodox Street and the Delaware River
Walk the proposed route of the North Delaware Greenway Trail.

Easter Seals: Walk with Me
9am at the Art Museum
Participants are partnered with an Easter Seals Honorary Ambassador, a child or adult with a disability who has benefited from Easter Seals services.



Green Building and the Ladder of Awareness
6pm at the White Dog Cafe in University City
Sandy Wiggins, the current Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council, leads a table talk on "How the Building Industry is Changing Society."

"Elder Care Made Easy" Tour Stop
6:30pm YMCA of Central Philadelphia
Doctor Marion (Marion Somers, Ph.D.), author of "Elder Care Made Easier: Doctor Marion's 10 Steps to Help You Care for an Aging Loved One," gives elder care advice.



Juneteenth, National Freedom Day Celebration
12 to 4pm and at the African American Museum and throughout the day at the National Constitution Center
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Both the museum and the center have a variety of programs planned.



HIV/AIDS Prevention and Outreach Summit
8:30am to 5pm at the PA Convention Center
Through open discussion and interactive sessions, this summit will improve prevention skills and create more integrated prevention efforts in Philadelphia.

Conversation about Women’s Health and Aging
10am at the Philadelphia Senior Center
An interactive, lively and informative program includes topics such as depression, heart disease, diabetes and other special concerns of women as they age.

Urban Sustainability Forum
6pm at the Academy of Natural Science in Center City
This is the monthly meeting of a coalition of groups working to make Philadelphia the greenest, most livable city in America.



Our Transportation Future
5pm in Center City
Plan Philly anticipates a large audience of key leaders and decision makers at this program discussing transportation funding for the region.

Dennis Ross on Statecraft
7pm at Central Library
America’s longest-serving Middle East envoy, Dennis Ross, will discuss his new book Statecraft: And How to Restore America's Standing in the World.

Women Living in Community: From Dreaming to Doing
July 28th & 29th
A conference in North Carolina focusing on how we can live together with mutual support, offering friendship, shared resources and continued engagement with others.

SPONSOR:




VISTA is looking for experienced, energetic individuals who want to make a full-time, year-long commitment to fight poverty. If you’re retiring soon, already there or want to take a year off for a year of service, VISTA may be for you. Living allowances and other benefits are provided. More About VISTA

See this week's featured VISTA opportunity under "Have We Got an Opportunity For You."




Of Interest on WHYY
Coming of Age founding partner WHYY has some programs coming up that may interest you:

Bill Moyers Journal
Friday, 6/15, 9:30pm
What big corporate buyouts on Wall Street mean for America’s workers.

Frontline
Tuesday, 6/19, 9pm
How strategic and tactical mistakes brought Iraq to virtual civil war.

more WHYY programs