We have officially transitioned the office of presidency to Roger Baldwin from Michigan State University. The Board is delighted and looking forward to working with Roger and this message is a ceremonial passing of the presidential torch. Note the plural possessive Presidents’ above.

We are studying the feedback we received at our November 2022 Virtual Meeting and the ideas that you generated to

secure AROHE's financial stability
support RO members
recruit AROHE members from HBCUs, Hispanic/Latino serving and small rural institutions, and community colleges
expand AROHE's reach to serve staff and faculty directly

These ideas will be carefully considered when the 2023-2024 Board of Directors meets in January to develop our strategy and plans for the next two years with Roger’s leadership.

As we transition to new AROHE officers, the AROHE Board wants to thank Bill for his commitment to AROHE and his effective leadership over the last two years. We are grateful he will continue to serve on the board to ease our leadership transition and maintain the momentum we have underway.

As we move ahead, our goal will be to strengthen AROHE’s ability to support higher education retirement organizations and retirees in general in their quest to make retirement an enjoyable and fulfilling phase of life. We hope you will help us to fulfill this mission through your continued membership, by participating in our programs, and by sharing your thoughts concerning how we can better serve our current members and potential new members.

Thank you for your input to our planning process and for your dedicated service to “Transform Retirement in Higher Education.”

Best wishes for a healthy, productive, and happy New Year,

Immediate Past President Bill & President Roger

AROHE News

AROHE Brief: Retirement Organizations' Engagement in Service/Philanthropy

Some type of service or philanthropy is a key part of the mission of many retirement organizations (ROs) in higher education and the AROHE Brief on this topic highlights several successful practices. In addition to their educational, social, and advocacy roles, many retirement organizations work to serve and support others in formal and informal ways. ROs aid their institutions in diverse ways depending on the retirees’ talents and the institution’s needs. Many ROs also aid their larger communities by sponsoring service projects, supporting fundraising initiatives, and linking retirees to volunteer opportunities offered by other non-profit organizations. Service and philanthropy can affirm the value of ROs and help to justify the resources their institutions invest in them. Service and philanthropy can also enhance the visibility of ROs when they receive positive publicity for their good works. The Brief addresses the following topic areas:

Introduction -- Examples of Retirement Organization Service & Philanthropy -- Service Philanthropy -- Raising Funds to Support Service and Philanthropy -- Tracking Retirees’ Service and Philanthropy -- Recognizing/Honoring Service and Philanthropy -- Examples, Resources, and Links

AROHE members can access the Brief at the AROHE Knowledge Center.

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AROHE Brief: Age-Friendly University Global Network

AROHE's Research and Education Committee has published a new AROHE Brief on the topic of the Age-Friendly University Global Network (AFUGN). Several AROHE member institutions have joined the network, which recognizes the needs of older adults, welcomes them to participate in the functions of the college/university, appreciates older persons as assets who can contribute to educational institutions and society at large, and works to address aging-related issues in all dimensions of the institution’s operations. This Brief provides an overview of the network and provides a link to Age-Friendly University principles as well as links to more detailed information.

AROHE members can access the Brief at the AROHE Knowledge Center.

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Retirement Organization News

Volunteering with SCORE in Retirement: A Second Act

By James J. Zuiches, retired faculty/administrator

Can a retired academic researcher/teacher/administrator have a second act in their community? I had taught sociology and was an administrator of research and outreach in community development. After I retired from North Carolina State University, I moved to Portland, OR, and looked for ways to contribute. A friend took me to a SCORE meeting.

Portland | SCORE is a volunteer partner of the Small Business Administration and provides mentoring for small businesses and non-profits. I was hesitant but I quickly learned that SCORE was an inviting, inclusive organization committed to training its volunteers in the ethics of mentoring, the technical skills of business development, and the human skills of coaching people who had a business idea but needed guidance on next steps.

After training and supervised mentoring sessions, I was confident I could provide solid advice to aspiring entrepreneurs. My experiences as a teacher and willingness to learn helped immensely.

For five years, I volunteered (3-4 hours/week) in the Portland Business Resource Center and responded to walk-ins. Often non-profit clients requested me. I mentored over sixty clients from new start-ups to established businesses, from non-profits just getting organized to others seeking funding for programs or facilities. Some businesses grew; others never got off the ground, as clients realized that their commitment was not there. I retired from SCORE as the Covid-19 Pandemic hit.

Volunteering provided a sense of purpose and connected me with the Portland business community. Yes, retired academics can contribute to their communities and have a great second act. Email Zuiches at zuichesjj@gmail.com to learn more.

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5 Surprising Benefits of Volunteering

The power of volunteering has been documented for the last 2,500+ years, however a slew of recent research is shedding even more light onto its surprising benefits. Science now proves what great leaders and philosophers have known for years:

Volunteering time makes you feel like you have more time.
Volunteering your skills helps you develop new skills.
Volunteering your body helps you have a healthier body.
Volunteering your experience helps build your experience.
Volunteering your love makes you feel more love.

To read further, go to 5 Surprising Benefits of Volunteering | Next Avenue.

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Trends

Want to Keep your New Year's Resolution?

Behavior Change Science May Offer Helpful Insights

If you’ve ever tried to start a new exercise routine or eat healthier, you may have found it was more challenging to keep up with than you anticipated. Over the years, scientists have identified tactics for adopting healthier behaviors, such as wearing a watch to track your steps or keeping healthier foods in the home. However, these interventions don’t seem to work for everyone. Even when an approach is effective, the underlying mechanisms — why and how it works — often aren’t clear. Understanding these mechanisms could be the key to achieving effective and long-term behavior change for many people.

Learn what NIA-funded researchers have discovered about starting a new healthy habit and making it stick.

New Year's Resolutions from the Wisest Americans

Karl Pillemer, Ph.D., reviewed the data gathered from more than 1,200 elders in the Legacy Project, who shared their lessons for living for future generations. Based on the surveys and interviews, here are resolutions in five areas of life that are worth a try. These suggestions from the oldest Americans may serve you better than the typical ones we make (and break) each year. Go to New Year's Resolutions From Older People -- Next Avenue.

The Top Five Health Aging Articles of 2022

As 2022 comes to a close, NIA invites you to explore some of the most popular health information topics from this past year:

You can visit NIA’s website to find a full range of health information articles.

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Resources

Diversify the Meaning of Aging:
Resource for Brochures, Newsletters, Programs

Visualize the value of aging

A lifetime of experiences shape who we are as we age. In partnership with the American Society of Aging, these curated collections showcase the aging experience across a broad range of settings, relationships, identities, abilities and lifestyles. Age is not just a number–the experiences that come with it are copious and rich. These curated images offer authentic portrayals of growing older. Access the information and images at https://www.shutterstock.com/explore/asa.

For Solo Agers, A Roadmap for a Secure Future

Planning for the long term can be unsettling, because aging is complicated and stacked with complexities and risks. But if you are a solo ager - someone without a spouse or children - enacting a plan will, over time, turn out to be one of the smartest things to do. Questions to ask yourself about topics such as health, social connections, housing, finances, and transportation help to see how prepared you are to age independently. For Solo Agers, A Roadmap for a Secure Future | Next Avenue

How Men Adapt to Being Solo Agers

A good deal of consideration is currently being given to solo aging. Themes abound for connecting to others and making personal wishes, including legal and financial directives, formal and concrete. While good advice, much of it tends to go in one eye and out the other as I, and many men of my generation, view such guidelines through a traditional male lens. To read further, go to How Men Adapt to Being Solo Agers | Next Avenue.

Look for the Helpers: Providing Support to Older Adults

Supporting everything from health care needs and personal care to home repairs and finances brings both challenges and rewards

People age 50 and above commonly provide health, personal, and other types of care and support to other older adults living with chronic conditions or disabilities. This support is often essential for aging in place and managing chronic conditions. In July 2022, the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging asked a national sample of U.S. adults aged 50–80 about their experiences helping an adult age 65 or older with health, personal, and other types of care needs.

Overall, the poll's findings signal the importance of preparing and providing support to people who serve as helpers for older adults as some may require additional support for themselves, especially in situations where care needs for the person they help are substantial. Recognizing and supporting these helpers may mitigate the challenges they face while promoting the positive aspects of this important role. Click here to learn more.

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Reflective Corner

May you walk through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.

Apache Prayer

I am going to run on to see what the end will be.

Maya Angelou

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In Memoriam - Eugene M. Bianchi

Eugene M. Bianchi died on Sunday, December 18 at his home in Athens, Georgia at the age of 92 after a long illness. Eugene was born in 1930 and joined the Society of Jesus in 1948. He completed his B.A. and M.A. (cum laude) from Gonzaga University, then his Licentiate in Sacred Theology (cum laude) from Catholic University of Louvain and was ordained a Jesuit. He earned a PhD from Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary in 1966.

Dr. Bianchi was appointed as an assistant professor of religion at Emory University in 1968 where he taught until his retirement as a professor emeritus of religion in 2000. His numerous articles and books focused on the areas of spirituality, issues of culture and religion, church reform, ecology, and the art of aging.

In 1998, prior to his retirement, Gene began conversations with John Bugge, a professor of English, about the possible development of a retirement organization for faculty. He felt that too often, with retirement from teaching and research, faculty just disappeared. They lost touch with their departments and with the university. By 2001, with a lot of behind the scenes work by Gene and John, the Emory University Emeritus College was officially launched with Eugene Bianchi as its founding Director. Although officially retired, Gene remained active, serving as the second president of AROHE (2004-2005) and publishing two works of fiction and three volumes of poetry, including a final volume entitled Interbeing in 2021. He is survived by his wife Margaret (Peggy) Herrman.

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Come Join Us in Transforming Retirement

Since 2002 AROHE has supported both institutions and individuals by transforming the experience of retirement – the preparation, the transition, and post-retirement programming – into a smooth and productive life-course change.

To renew, join or learn more, visit arohe.org or contact AROHE by emailing info@arohe.org or calling (213) 740-5037.

Tell Us Your Story

AROHE members are encouraged to submit stories that reflect activities, news and events from your retirement organization and campus that highlight the value retirees bring to their colleges and universities, including assisting active faculty and staff prepare for and transition well to next chapter lives. Articles are limited to 250 words. A relevant picture and web links are valued additions to any article.

The March issue of AROHE Matters will focus on retirement planning, transitions and next chapter lives. Share your story of helping active faculty and staff and retirees prepare for, navigate to and be supported in valued next chapter lives. Submit articles by Feb. 17 to Patrick Cullinane, editor, at pcullinane@berkeley.edu.

About AROHE

AROHE's mantra is "Transforming Retirement."

AROHE is a nonprofit association that champions transformative practices to support all stages of faculty and staff retirement, their mutually beneficial engagement, and continuing contributions to their academic institutions. By sharing research, innovative ideas, and successful practices, AROHE emphasizes the development and enhancement of campus-based retiree organizations and programs which support this continuing engagement in higher education.

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Thank You to our Sponsors

AROHE is grateful to these companies. Their generosity allows us to continue fulfilling our mission of transforming retirement in higher education.