CEO Corner: August 2024

Seniors in Service staff gathers for a group photo in Tampa Bay, representing the organization’s leadership and community impact.

Retirement doesn’t have to mean stepping back — it can be a chance to step into something meaningful. After connecting with leaders across the country, this reflection explores what could happen if more older adults chose to “re-wire” for service. From classrooms to senior companionship to community support, the opportunity is clear: when retirees use their time and talents to serve, they don’t just fill gaps — they help transform entire communities.

A Message From Robin Ingles

At the end of July, our Seniors in Service team spent four days in Baltimore at the AmeriCorps Seniors Annual Convening. We met professionals from all over the country who are as passionate as we are about engaging older adults as volunteers, because they see the powerful transformation that can happen when seniors use their talents to serve others.

The best new catch phrase I heard at the conference was, “Not retiring, instead re-wiring.” And I thought, WHAT IF… What if an entire workforce of older adults decided to “re-wire” for service when they stopped working? How would that change our community?

I know the answer. We could solve tomorrow’s problems today. We could put Classroom Grandparents in every Preschool through 3rd-grade classroom to ensure all children can read by 3rd grade. Every lonely senior who needs support wouldn’t have to fear living alone because they would have a Senior Companion to watch out for their well-being. Middle-schoolers who are just starting to figure out life would benefit from having mentors with lived experience to guide them through this pivotal time. Organizations that feed families, serve veterans, and help the homeless would all have the volunteer support they need to make a difference.

And best of all, we would have an entire senior population that is aging with purpose and reaping the benefits of staying physically and mentally active.

This isn’t a pipe dream. This could be our reality in the Tampa Bay area. We could create a culture where the next step after retiring is finding a meaningful opportunity to serve that brings you joy. As you read this newsletter, you’ll hear stories of people who did just that—found joy in serving others.

All you retirees out there, I’m looking at you. That’s right. This is your moment. See all of our volunteer opportunities to get started.