Ellen Goodman 'Lets Herself Go' Into Her Encore Career

by Terry Nagel

On the first day of 2010, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Ellen Goodman launched her encore career in her final column for The Washington Post by declaring, “I’m letting myself go.”

She put a positive spin on the phase, explaining, “After all, where will you go when you let yourself go? To let this question fill the free space between deadlines in my life has been quite liberating. It suggests the freedom that can fuel this journey.” Click Continue Reading to view the full article.

Inside the Baby Boomer Generation

From http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahradio/jchatzky/jchatzky_20071107

According to Money magazine, it's been 50 years since the baby boom hit its peak, with 4.3 million babies born in 1957. The magazine recently polled 3,000 baby boomers to find out how this unique generation perceives its past, present and future. Diane Harris, assistant managing editor of Money magazine, shares with Jean some of the survey's most interesting findings: ...Click Continue Reading to view the full article.

Career Success After 50

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahradio/jchatzky/jchatzky_20070409 

Sara Davidson was a college student in the 1960s, and she spent much of her adult life as a newspaper writer, author and TV producer. In her late 50s, Sara became a single woman and an empty nester. At the same time, she says her career came to a halt and she struggled to find meaningful work. Jean talks with Sara about her book LEAP! What Will We Do with the Rest of Our Lives?, a personal story of baby boomers battling ageism and finding fulfillment after their 50s. Click Continue Reading to view the full article.

10 Ways to Jump-Start Your Encore Career

Want to find an encore career in 2010 but don’t know how to get started? Here are 10 tips to help you find paid, purposeful work.

1. Download our new Get Started Guide. Acclaimed by The Wall Street Journal and others, it answers 12 frequently asked questions about finding encore careers that provide pay, personal fulfillment and social impact.

2. Watch a video or listen to a podcast by Marci Alboher, our in-house encore careers expert.

3. Read Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life by Marc Freedman, founder and CEO of Civic Ventures. Click Continue Reading to view the full article.

Keys to the City

What: Keys to the City: The Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Kansas City, Missouri, 1895-1957 exhibit
When: Now - February 28, 2010
Where: Central Library
Click Continue Reading for information on the history of the exhibit.

Boomers grow Facebook ranks

By Paul Briand 

Have you noticed who's on Facebook these days? It's not just your younger children and their friends.

It's you, Baby Boomer, and your friends ... and in growing numbers.
In fact, according to online measurements, older people are the fastest growing segment of Facebook users. And my sense is that they aren't there to spy on their children; they are there to socialize and, increasingly, they are there to do some professional networking. Click Continue Reading to view the full article.

The Orval Hixon Gallery

What: David Shields, author of The Magic Mirror: Photography & American Silent Cinema, discusses the the work of the legendary local photographer Orval Hixon.

When: Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Reception: 6 PM

Program: 6:30 PM

Where: Central Library; 14 West 10th ST. Kansas City, MO

RSVP now!

Click Continue Reading for infomation on Orval Hixon.

Kansas City Restaurant Week. 100 restaurants. 10 delicious days. 1 great cause. Eat well & give back.

Mark your calendar—from January 22-31, 2010, Kansas City will hold its first metro-wide restaurant week event. One hundred of the best and finest Kansas City metro area restaurants will offer multiple-course lunches and/or dinners at the deliciously low prices of $15 for lunch and $30 for dinner (beverages, taxes and gratuity are not included).

10% of the price of each multi-course meal purchased will go to Harvesters to help fight hunger in the Kansas City community. Click Continue Reading for more information.

Support Lacking for Midlife Career Switchers

By Terry Nagel 

After practicing law for many years, Dan Ladd, 59, of Lincoln, Massachusetts, craved a career that offered “a little more sense of adventure,” but his journey to his current job as a veterinary technician was bumpier than he’d bargained for. Click Continue Reading to view the full article.

Museum Docent/Tour Guide

The Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City is seeking a Museum Docent/Tour Guide.  

The responsibilities of this position include:

• Giving guided highlights tours to adults, seniors, children and school groups
• Assisting in maintaining the security and safety of museum patrons and collections.

The museum is located at 5235 Oak Street Kansas City, MO 64112.

Please contact Laura S. Taylor 816-333-9328 or taylorls@umkc.edu if interested.

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Assistant Manager of Business Operations and Volunteers

The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial seeks an experienced and talented person to join its team as an Assistant Manager of Business Operations and Volunteers.

The Assistant Manager of Business Operations and Volunteers is responsible for:

• Managing the Museum's volunteer program which includes approximately 150 volunteers
• Being part of the team that manages the Museum Store, Ticketing and Tower operation.  

The ideal candidate will have experience in both areas.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and five or more years experience in volunteer and retail/ticketing management.
• Experience providing superior guest service to the public.
• Excellent organizational and computer skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability and desire to work as part of a team.

Please email a cover letter and resume to Amy Dahlstrom, Executive Assistant to the President & CEO at adahlstrom@theworldwar.org.

816-784-1909 Phone (Day)

Coming of Age: Kansas City, Lead Volunteer

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity as a leader in a new, innovative initiative? This may be just the position for you--- Does this describe you?

• Great organizational skills
• Love meeting new people
• Enjoy being part of a dynamic team
• Self starter - see the task and take care of it

Time Commitment:

• This position is part-time with flexible hours and you would have a role in determining the schedule.
• You would work directly with the Director of Coming of Age: Kansas City as this initiative offers several programs across the metro area.

As the lead volunteer you would be a key member of the Coming of Age: Kansas City team and would work with partners throughout the community. Click Continue Reading for more information.

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Disaster Services (DSHR) Team Member

DSHR volunteers are people who are willing to assist disaster clients nationwide, travelling on short notice to affected areas. In times of major disaster, the Red Cross provides services including client casework, mobile and fixed feeding, shelter management and bulk distribution of supplies.

Headquarters volunteers may work with Information Technology services, liaison with local governments and agencies, manage in-kind donations or provide staff support services.

Housing and working conditions are often subject to hardships based on the weather conditions created by the disaster.

One hug from a client can often be the greatest reward for the hardest job you'll never get paid for!

Wyandotte County Chapter (American Red Cross)

1600 Washington Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66102 

Click HERE to find out how to become a part of this opportunity.  

Part-time Accounting Assistant

Lawmakers agree to scale back tax on health insurance plans

By DAVID LIGHTMAN AND MARGARET

The White House, congressional leaders and union officials on Thursday announced a tentative agreement in their health care negotiations, to pare back a proposed excise tax on high-end insurance policies for middle-class workers.

The compromise could break a deadlock in the health care debate - if enough lawmakers agree to it. Many details were unresolved, however - everything from how much the pared back tax would cost, to how a government health care exchange that collective bargaining units and employers might buy into over time would be structured.

Lawmakers hoped to finish negotiating an overhaul plan this weekend. Click Continue Reading to view the full article.