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.

Please encourage people you know to subscribe by sending them to this page.



What's New
Have We Got a Volunteer Opportunity for You!
Inspiring Stories
This Week

 
50+ Volunteers Go Virtual
Did you know you can help others from the comfort of your own home? It's called Virtual Volunteering. Coming of Age partner AARP profiles five 50+ virtual volunteers in this article and provides a virtual volunteering resource guide.

The Silent Generation was the most generous, but Boomers had the most fun
So say the results of a new survey about people's perceptions of generational differences.

A 107 Year Old Blogger
If you thought keeping a blog, or web log, was for the young, take a look at Olive's Blog, or as she calls it, her 'Blob.' And if that isn't surprising enough, how about this story about a retirement home where residents are going crazy over a video game.

Do you know someone making a difference in their community?
If so, here are two awards you should know about: AARP is accepting nominations for the Andrus Award for Community Service and Suzanne Roberts is looking for "Super Seniors."

Boomer Humor: "Road Guide to Aging Gracefully"
"If I ran the AARP, I'd put out a special Boomer edition of their magazine called Modern Immaturity."

  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 also find one-time volunteer opportunities below under “This Week.”

Blog for Change
If you enjoy expressing yourself and have an interest in raising awareness about social issues and civic engagement, Coming of Age can help you start a blog and even help you promote it. For more information send an email to Sam Cohen, Inspiring Opportunities Editor.

Fight for the Rights of the Elderly
CARIE, the Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, is looking for a volunteer ombudsman to visit nursing homes, receive complaints from residents and give presentations.
Read More or contact Carol Rosenblum at (215) 545-5724.

Friendly and Enjoy Working with People?
The National Constitution Center needs hosts for four hours a week to greet visitors, give directions, answer questions and staff various museum checkpoints.
Read more or contact Karen Kennedy Fink at (215) 409-6700

Love Gardens?
Longwood Gardens needs volunteers to do everything from being assistant gardeners to serving as visitor service representatives.
Read about the various opportunities or contact Dave Thompson at (610) 388-1000 ext 522.

 

Step Up!
Need inspiration? Watch this You Tube Video filmed atop Philadelphia's -- and perhaps the world's? -- most inspiring steps.

2007 Impact Award Honorees
AARP honors inspirational go-getters who are changing our world.

Local Church 'Cafés' Offering Shelter and Hope to Homeless "'Our goal was very simple,' he said. 'Let's keep some folks from freezing to death.'" Read the article in The Inquirer.

  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.



What Torture has Taught Me
5:30pm in University City
William F. Schulz shares what he learned about human cruelty as president of Amnesty International.

Philadelphia CoHousing Meeting
6:30pm in Roxborough
Contact Lynne Iser for more information (215) 843 4933
Live in the community you always dreamed of.

Is America Ready to Elect a Woman President?
6:30pm at the Constitution Center
And is America ready for a First . . . Gentleman?

Grant Writing for Beginners
7pm in Mt. Airy
Show them the money.

Philadelphia Parks Alliance for a Mayoral Forum
7:30pm in Center City
Quick, there are only a few spaces left . . . and the forum includes free admission to the Flower Show!



Architecture for Humanity Meetup
7pm in Philadelphia
"I call architecture frozen music" -- Goethe

Greening Your Home
6:30 pm at the Schuylkill Center, Roxborough
Save money and help the environment.

Human Experiments and National Security
4pm at the University of Pennsylvania
Presented by the world renowned Penn Center for Bioethics.



The Philadelphia Environment Meetup
5:30pm in Northern Liberties
They're going out for green drinks.

Cedar Park Revitalization Presentation
6pm in West Philly
Learn how to revitalize a park near you.

Philly for Change Meeting
7pm in Philadelphia
Philly for Change is a local affiliate of Democracy for America.

Environmental/Documentary Film Enthusiasts Meetup
8pm in Doylestown
Need a new hobby? Documentary film making has never been so easy or accessible as it is today.

William Way Community Center Volunteer Orientation
7:30pm in Center City
Join a core of 250 active volunteers working on LGBT issues.



Learn How Cities Construct Community Gardens
Noon at the Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore
“When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden.” -- Minnie Aumonier

Volunteer orientation at MANNA
5:30pm in Center City
1,000 volunteers bring over 40,000 meals each month to individuals and families at risk. Why not become the 1001st?

Ambassador Richard Holbrooke on Negotiating in an Age of Extremism and Terror
6pm in Radnor
Holbrooke offers an experienced perspective on dealing with the continuing threats of extremism and terror.

Sierra Club Bucks County Meeting
7pm in Doylestown
Attend a mini-seminar on global warming.



Learn to Run for a Local Political Party Committee Seat
10:30am in Haddonfield, NJ
It may not be as difficult as you think.


Don't Forget: Daylight savings begins early this year. Change your clocks on Sunday, March 11th.

MORE ON THE SPRING 2007 BOOMERVISION!^® SERIES
Sex therapist Michele Angello, who works with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people…



will join the panel for the March 27 Boomervision!^® session, The New Sexual Revolution -- Love and Sex in the Time of the Boomers.
Learn More.




SPONSOR:


This Week's VISTA Opportunity
Help community members become self-sufficient by developing new projects and strengthen existing programs at the Cardinal Bevilacqua Community Center in Philadelphia. More About this Opportunity


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







Creativity and Aging
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Dr. Gene Cohen, one of the world’s leading experts on how creativity can enrich and expand our lives as we age. A MetLife Forum, presented by the Arts and Business Council of Greater Philadelphia with additional support from Coming of Age, Wednesday, March 14 at 5 pm at the College of Physicians. Learn More