Advice For Volunteers:
Seniors as Volunteers
Organizations find senior volunteers appealing for a number of reasons:
American Association of Community Colleges
http://www.aacc.nche.edu
One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20036
bwilliams@aacc.nche.edu
A national voice for two-year associate degree granting institutions. Since 1920, AACC works with other higher education associations, government, Congress, and other national associations that represent the public and private sectors to promote higher education for people of all ages.
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
http://www.aahsa.org
901 E Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20004-2037
Represents not-for-profit nursing homes, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, senior housing, and community-based service organizations. Their mission is to provide older people the means to live with the greatest level of self-determination, dignity and independence. The creative use of technology is one of the principal tools AAHSA and its members use to achieve that goal.
American Society on Aging
http://www.asaging.org/
833 Market Street, Suite 511, San Francisco, CA 94103
Email: info@asa.asaging.org
Strives to enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals working with older adults and families. Our vision of technology as a tool for empowerment is reflected in technology training, articles, and web-enhanced learning.
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
http://www.aarp.org/indexes/community.html
601 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20049
member@aarp.org
AARP has information centers staffed by volunteers to provide a place for volunteers to find and work on projects, and a volunteer talent bank for members to share their knowledge and abilities with others. Their Web site has more information on these programs and on finding local chapters. AARP is the nation's oldest and largest organization of older Americans, with a membership of more than 33 million.
CyberSeniors
http://www.cyberseniors.org
One Monument Way, Portland, Maine 04101
info@cyberseniors.org
A nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting Seniors to the world at their fingertips. Its premise (reinforced by recently published scientific studies documenting how challenging mental exercise stimulates brain cell growth in seniors) is that use of the Internet can aid and equip seniors to retain and/or regain their independence, dignity, purpose, health, long-term mental and physical well-being, and sense of community -- both real and virtual. They are creating Computer Learning Centers, a significant number of which are within Senior housing facilities, and an original community web site.
Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement
http://www.easi.org/index2.html
8733 Old Dumfries Rd., Catlett, VA 22019
easi@easi.org
A national nonprofit coalition of environmental, aging and volunteer organizations established in 1991 as the result of a visionary agreement between the US Environmental Protection Agency and the American Association of Retired Persons. Works to build, promote and utilize the environmental ethic, expertise, and commitment of older persons to expand citizen involvement in protecting and caring for our environment for present and future generations.
Executive Service Corps (ESC)
http://www.escus.org/
An association of retired business men and women that volunteer their time to consult with nonprofit and public service agencies. They believe that the experience and skills acquired during their business careers can help these agencies solve management, governance and administrative problems. The ESO Web site has a list of chapters throughout the U.S.
Family Caregiver Alliance
http://www.caregiver.org/index.html
690 Market Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94104
Email: info@caregiver.org
Information on demand from a pioneer in caregiver services. Easy-to-access website offers free publications, news, advice, resources, interviews and an online support group for families and friends providing care. Specialized information on Alzheimer's, stroke, Parkinson's and other disorders.
Green Thumb
http://www.greenthumb.org/
2000 N 14th Street, Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22201
A national nonprofit organization. Believes that a person is never too old to work, learn, or start a new career. Green Thumb offers training, employment and other services to more than 40,000 mature and disadvantaged workers 45 states every year. Microsoft and Green Thumb have joined forces to address the information technology (IT) work force shortage by recruiting and training older individuals for IT careers. The effort is part of the Microsoft Skills 2000 initiative.
National Council on the Aging
http://www.ncoa.org/
409 Third Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
info@ncoa.org
An organization of 7,500 members who direct community-based resources for older people. NCOA encourages older people to take full advantage of the opportunities for advocacy, employment and self-expression that PC and Internet technology can offer.
National Retiree Volunteer Coalition
http://www.nrvc.org/
1660 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
voa@voa.org
A program of Volunteers of America, with a goal of "transforming the skills and expertise of retirees into community leadership and service."
OASIS
http://www.oasisnet.org/
7710 Carondelet Ave., St. Louis MO 63105
jbranham@oasisnet.org
A national organization designed to "enhance the quality of life for mature adults." Offers programs in the arts, humanities, wellness and volunteer service, and creates opportunities for older adults to continue their personal growth and provide meaningful service to the community.
Senate Special Committee on Aging
http://www.senate.gov/~aging/
G31 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-6400
Phone: (202) 224-5364, Fax: (202) 224-8660
mailbox@aging.senate.gov
Serves as a focal point for discussion on matters relating to older Americans. The Committee submits recommendations for legislation to the Senate and publishes materials on public policies which relate to the elderly. See Microsoft testimony before the Committee entitled, The Internet: Empowering Older Americans.
SeniorNet
http://www.seniornet.org/
121 Second Street, 7th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 495-4990, Fax: (415) 495-3999
gregory@seniornet.org
Has more than 140 Learning Centers in 35 states offering hands-on training in a peer based environment. The Microsoft Senior Initiative works with SeniorNet to Bridge 'Digital Divide' by increasing older americans' access to technology.
Seniors Community on MSN
http://communities.msn.com/seniors/
Member to member computer discussion group. Active seniors helping and teaching each other computer technologies.
Senior Corps - RSVP Program
http://www.cns.gov/senior/joining/finding_nssc.html
Part of the Corporation for National Service. RSVP matches the personal interests and skills of older Americans with opportunities to help solve community problems. RSVP volunteers choose how and where they want to serve - from a few to over 40 hours a week. RSVP volunteers provide hundreds of community services. They tutor children in reading and math, help to build houses, help get children immunized, model parenting skills to teen parents, participate in neighborhood watch programs, plan community gardens, deliver meals, offer disaster relief to victims of natural disasters, and help community organizations operate more efficiently.
Service Corps Of Retired Executives (SCORE)
http://www.score.org/
A resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is dedicated to aiding in the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE offers an email counseling at no cost (for U.S. citizens and resident aliens only); its huge searchable databank helps users find the SCORE member whose expertise best addresses their business needs. The expertise of members if highly varied and specialized -- you can get email counseling in everything from tropical agriculture to unemployment compensation to wholesale lighting equipment. The Web site also has a database for finding local SCORE affiliates.