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Over five years ago, Dick Mooers, the first Chair of SOAR, wrote up a
list of how he envisioned SOAR would develop. His list was found in an
old file folder; it was ‘dusted off” and sent to Dick for
comment. His response upon re-reading it was: “The list appears
to have stood up fairly well. When I made public remarks to SOAR audiences
as Chair, I stressed that SOAR is a membership organization, and not just
a bunch of classes. This theme shows prominently in the list. I would
still like to convince more members to take on teaching classes and to
participate in governance and other forms of organizational management.
In the aggregate, we are a pretty amazing bunch of people, but many are
shy about standing up as a presenter or becoming a director or member
of a committee.” Here is Dick’s list:
I look forward to a time when SOAR…
• Is well known in the North Country
• Is part of what it means to be a senior in this region
• Has more volunteers than we know what to do with
• Has meaningful work for those who would volunteer
• Has many members eager to take on the work of running the program
• Offers interactive social programs
• Offers programs in all four seasons
• Has presenters who are all from the membership
• When all members will have been a presenter or co-presenter
at least once
• Has special interest groups in art, music, literature, science,
travel, and current affairs
• Presents travel/learn programs
• Has professional and volunteer staffing on a continuing basis
• Has a large core group of actively involved volunteers
• Has our own office and small group space
• Has our own classroom and equipment
• Has the means to compensate SUNY for all the resources we use
• Has some members who have seen fit to leave a financial legacy
to the college
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE:
Our Big Dream for SOAR
As we grow in numbers it becomes very apparent that we need more classroom
space of various sizes and functions. Our sponsor, SUNY Potsdam, wants
to apply for grants which will improve and expand SUNY’s mission
to provide service to the public. SOAR is part of the “public”
and so we want to do what we can to help Deborah Elek, Director of SUNY
Potsdam’s new Regional Research and Community Education Center,
in her the strategic planning and grant writing efforts.
Deborah has asked for volunteers from SOAR to state briefly how membership
in SOAR positively impacts your life. Also please elaborate a little
on what types of activities you have participated in through SOAR and
what you have learned. (Tell us if we can quote you and whether you
prefer your quote to be anonymous.)
Send your testimonial to the SOAR office, as we want to know this information
too. There is a form for volunteering this information on the “Volunteer
Form” insert. It will be copied, then hand delivered to Deborah
(whose office is right down the hall from the SOAR office). Our big
dream? That Deborah will be successful in her new job and that one way
we may have a place to call our own!
Taken from the spring 2007 newsletter of the SOAR program at SUNY
Potsdam in New York.
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