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From The Times Record, April 24, 2007

'People Plus eliminates age requirement'

BY SIGURD A. KNUDSEN

BRUNSWICK
   
   In last Friday's edition of The Times Record, the  Ongoing Activities"
page featured a wonderful photograph of a participant in one of the art
classes offered at People Plus. The caption, however, contained erroneous
information; People Plus no longer establishes a specific age requirement
for participation in its activities.

   When the board of trustees voted unanimously to change the center's
name to  People Plus" in 2004, the board also changed its mission statement
and its policy regarding eligibility for membership and participation in
center events and activities, as follows:

    People Plus supports an engaged, healthy, and independent life for
older adults, while joining with others to build community for all ages."

   Its membership policy became:

    Membership in People Plus is open to older adults   and those who love
them."

   The change in wording meant that  older adults" may self-define without
meeting an arbitrary age requirement, and that membership should also be
open to individuals who have an interest in the well-being and the worth of
older people. The board of trustees recognized that we cannot offer
services to older adults without promoting opportunities for older adults
to interact with other generations.

   People Plus can and should be a resource for people as they age, or as
they deal with loved ones who are becoming  older adults."

   In its efforts to promote the concept of a Community for All Ages,
People Plus seeks to collaborate with others to create a community:

     That honors and values its oldest residents, while recognizing and
affirming the promise of its youth.

     That provides abundant opportunities for people of all ages to work
with each other, to share their knowledge and insights, to teach and learn
new skills, and to develop bonds that nurture and sustain the human spirit.

     That seeks to eliminate age-based stereotyping; and that offers
programs for people of all ages, rather than compartmentalizing funds and
programs and people by age.

   Our Intergenerational Art Group, involving participants from at least
three generations, is but one example of what can be achieved when age
barriers come crashing down. High school students and older adults have
learned about each other, have collaborated on art projects and have
discovered the commonalities that humans share   while having fun.

   Their art will be unveiled at a reception at the Frontier Café this
Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The art pieces are wonderful   but what
will not be as visible, but is perhaps more profound than the creation of
art, are the lessons learned from each other that happened in their
gatherings.

   SIGURD A. KNUDSEN is the executive director of People Plus in
Brunswick.