Newsletter of the Vital Aging Network--
celebrating more than 20 years of service and education!
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In this edition
- What is the Vital Aging Network?
- Plan to attend our October Ageism workshop sponsored with the Minnesota Leadership Council
- Aging with Gusto Coordinator named
- Wellness 50+ news and events
- Resources from our partner agencies
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What is the Vital Aging Network? | |
It’s time to say no to ageism! | |
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We’re excited to announce our Combating Ageism Workshop on October 25 from 9:30-11:30 on Zoom.
We are partnering with the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging to deliver this important workshop.
Ageism is a pervasive, negative force in our lives. It affects not only our view of aging, but also has real impacts on our health, well-being and longevity.
We hope you will join facilitators Donna Comer and Sally Brown for this important online workshop. They will guide you through activities that explore the roots and effects of ageism and create opportunities for you to discover ways to combat it.
Go to https://www.mnlcoa.org/combating-ageism to learn more and to register for the workshop!
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Why is VAN so involved in combating aging?
In the Vital Aging Network’s mission, we promote self-determination, civic engagement, and personal growth for people as they age. Our programs create opportunities to learn and connect with others so we live our lives in ways that are satisfying and meaningful to us.
Our Aging with Gusto program hosts community discussions to explore our thoughts, feelings and perspectives about aging. We have lively conversations that strive to build a more nuanced, positive and complete view of aging and offset and unlearn some of the negativity associated with being old by addressing ageism.
Workshop facilitator Sally Brown says, "Learning about ageism when I was younger helped me resist the negative messages about aging, and now I am proud and happy to be 76 years old and to embrace and enjoy this stage of life. I know that my experience with the Gray Panthers when I was in my thirties and forties was really transformative for me and my thinking about aging. Being around activist elders who were combating ageism, promoting social justice, and being amazing role models was a really powerful experience for me. I know it changed the way I viewed aging and being old. I hope our work in Aging with Gusto and the Vital Aging Network will do some of that for you".
VAN works to "offset and unlearn some of the negativity associated with being old by addressing ageism."
Join us on Tuesday, October 25!
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News from Aging with Gusto | |
VAN names Aging with Gusto Coordinator | |
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The Vital Aging Network has named Janet Cunningham as its Aging with Gusto Coordinator
Janet has worked coordinating activities centered on senior lifestyle, activity and adult enrichment for over 30 years. She has experience in senior housing and is active in several organizations including Oakdale Wellness 50+ and Twin Cites Wellness 50+ where she has planned events for Twin Cities First Tuesday like walking, bicycling and kayaking. Sh also serves as a Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for the City of Oakdale. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from Hiram University.
In her new role, Janet will
- Promote Aging with Gusto in collaboration with the Aging with Gusto Task Force members
- Conduct outreach, recruit and engage organizations to sponsor AWG
- Respond to requests from interested organizations, including providing information about AWG program
- Ensure the delivery of Aging with Gusto sessions by communicating with the host organization, communicating with facilitators, confirming dates and time, and scheduling facilitators
- Document AWG activities
- Communicate and keep current with Aging with Gusto Task Force plans and projects.
Join us in welcoming Janet!
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What is Wellness 50+ all about?
Cottage Grove - Forest Lake - Oakdale - Stillwater - Woodbury
Phillips Neighborhood
Wellness 50+ has active teams in Washington County (Cottage Grove, Forest Lake, Oakdale, Stillwater and Woodbury). It also has a team in the Minneapolis Phillips neighborhood. Its purpose is to promote health and wellness in those communities. Wellness 50+ teams plan and facilitate activities that include walking groups, healthy cooking classes, book clubs, recipe sharing and more.
Click here to learn more about Wellness 50+ goals and strategies.
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Wellness 50+ community-wide events
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Wellness 50+ hosts a series of community-wide events in addition to events organized and led by our four community groups (Oakdale, Cottage Grove, Stillwater, and Phillips neighborhood).
All of our community-wide events are listed regularly in this newsletter AND are posted on the Wellness 50+ website calendar. Use this link ( https://vital-aging-network.org/wellness-50) to see the calendar and to add upcoming events to your personal calendar.
Registration for community-wide events is via our Meetup group "Wellness 50+ Twin Cities". Join the group (Wellness 50+ Twin Cities Meetup Group). You will receive email notifications when an event is ready for registration.
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Upcoming Events
Kayak and biking events have ended for the year. 1st Tuesday in the Parks events will continue throughout the winter.
We are currently planning for the 2023 events. If you have suggestions on events you would like to see next year, please email Wellness50mn@gmail.com.
--1st Tuesday in the Parks November 1 Night Hike at Lake Elmo Park Reserve 6 pm
We will hike the lighted Nordic trails before the snow falls and the trails are used only for cross country skiing. We will hike the 1.1 mile Prairie Loop Trail with options to add miles on the Brown's Pond and Hills trails. Register through Meetup (Nov 1st Night Hike at Lake Elmo Park).
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Activities we've enjoyed recently | |
--3rd Monday Kayaking the Mississippi River Sept 19
Our last kayak event of 2022 was one of our best. We paddled a channel of the Mississippi putting in at Lions Levee Park in St. Paul Park. While we started with some fog and cooler temps, the fog lifted and we paddled in nice weather. Many bald eagles were spotted along with egrets, herons and turtles. The dew from the fog made the spider webs works of art along the paddle. Thanks to Wahoo Adventures for leading us in a great season of kayak events.
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--4th Monday Biking the Cannon Valley Trail Sept 26
We had a nice twenty-mile ride on the flat scenic Cannon Valley Trail from Welch to Cannon Falls. We rode along the Cannon River, saw Cannon Falls and stopped for a short walk on a trail by the river. Some bikers enjoyed an optional lunch in Hastings.
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--1st Tuesday in the Parks Hiking at St. Croix Bluffs Park Oct 4
A group hiked the wooded trails of St. Croix Bluffs Park We had another gorgeous morning. We saw fall colors, mainly yellows, and there were no complaints about the temperature. The hike was followed by an optional lunch.
(If you plan to visit this park, please note that the boat launch and river trails are currently closed for reconstruction.)
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Oakdale Wellness 50+ events
Age Friendly City update: Oakdale Wellness 50+ is helping the city to become more Age Friendly. Recently, the group completed a city-wide survey and conducted a community listening session in order to find out what efforts Oakdale residents would like the city to undertake. Two hundred people made suggestions which are now being studied and compiled by the Age Friendly task force. For more information, email oakdalewellness50new@gmail.com.
Card Making by Lolita, a paper artist, will be held at the Oakdale Discovery Center, (4444 Hadley) Thursday, October 20, 6-8 pm. Reserve a spot by calling 651-747-3860.
A two-part series on dementia will be held on Saturdays, October 29, and November 5, at the Oakdale Discovery Center (4444 Hadley Ave.) at 11 am. Reserve your spot by calling 651-747-3860.
The Oakdale Wellness team is sponsoring a Red Cross blood drive on Friday, October 21, from 9 am-3 pm at the Oakdale Discovery Center. Sign up to give blood at redcrossblood.org.
The Wellness Movie Club will discuss Little Miss Sunshine on October 26, at 1 pm at the Oakdale Library.
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Resources from other agencies
Ramsey County-St. Paul Public Heath provides information about a variety of services and opportunities to benefit older adults. If you would like regular information, add your name to the e-mail list by contacting Julia Wolfe at julia.wolfe@ramseycounty.us .
For example, recent posts included:
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announcements of webcasts and Zoom presentations about supporting the nutrition, health and wellbeing of grandfamilies; diabetes education; and ensuring access to SSI assistance
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details about places to find free, fresh food; open houses focused on burglary prevention
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local sessions about vision loss, Medicare changes, and dealing with depression.
Here's an informational flyer from Ramsey County Public Heallth about healthy food resources. (Click on the flyer image to see a larger version. You can also get this information at ramseycounty.us/FoodResources)
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"Try to understand men. If you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and almost always leads to love."
— John Steinbeck, journal entry, 1938 (from inspiringquotes.com)
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