Mobilizing Elders for Earth Community

1
Mobilizing Elders for Earth Community

• Gary Carlson, PhD
• Sage-ing Guild

2
Elders (65) Have

• Numbers 40 M, about to dramatically increase
  with Boomers
• ResourcesControl much of the wealth
• Political powerNumbers and high turnout
• TimeEspecially after retirement
• WisdomFrom long life experience
• DesireTo be involved and make a difference

3
Elders Are

• Respected members of indigenous cultures
• Somewhat lost in our western culture
• Living 30 years longer than in 1900
• Looking for a model of how to live in later years
  of life
• DisengagementOld model
• Conscious AgingNew model

4
Conscious Aging/Sage-ing

• Elders
• Embrace lifelong learning
• Focus on meaning of life, spiritual growth
• Value community
• Have transitioned from ego-driven (doing) to
  interconnected and outward-focused (being)

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Conscious Aging/Sage-ing (cont)

• Elders want to
• Discover their purpose
• Leave a legacy
• Mentor and participate in intergenerational
  exchange
• Have a strong service orientation

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Conscious Aging/Sage-ing (cont)

• Resources
• From Age-ing to Sage-ing, by Rabbi Zalman
  Schachter Shalomi and Ronald Miller
• What Are Old People For? By Dr. William Thomas
• www.sage-ingguild.org
• www.cannm.org

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My Experience in Albuquerque

• A Great Turning Study Group at U-U church
• About 30 people participating
• About 80 65 or over
• They are there primarily for information
• Q How can I/we mobilize them to act?

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Questions For Us To Ponder

• How can we elders mobilize ourselves to be
  leaders/creators of Earth Community?
• How can we organize local or regional Elders for
  Earth Community groups?
• How can we interact with other ages, other
  organizations to best support the goals of Earth
  Community?
• How can we motivate a significant share of 40M
  elders to get involved?