In May, the Academy for Learning in Retirement in Saratoga Springs, New York held a member town meeting, Celebrating our Past – Creating a Vision for the Future. The town meeting was attended by 70 members of ALR who engaged in discussions to address the things they like about ALR and to share ideas on how to improve the things about ALR they feel need consideration for change.

The Assistant Vice President for Human Resources and the Affirmative Action Officer of Empire State College helped ALR plan the town meeting. They are both trained facilitators who generously volunteered their expertise along with 15 ALR volunteers who served as group leaders and recorders.

Following the town meeting the ALR executive director, executive council chair and vice chair along with members of the Development and Long Range Planning Committee met to prepare a proposal for action on the results of the meeting. It is the intent of the ALR executive council to act on the top priorities identified for change or improvement by the members at the town meetings. These priorities are:

• The registration process
• Orientation
• Use of “retirement” in the ALR name
• Visibility of ALR in the community
• Attracting study group leaders
• Securing space
• Increasing social activities
• Diversity

A full report of the actions to be taken by the executive council with timelines and responsibilities will be distributed to ALR members by the end of June. Several of the priorities will be addressed in the next six months. It is hoped that all ALR members will come forward to help work out the details of change and to then implement them in the spirit of the town meeting.