February 2005

Press advisory: White House Conference on Aging Forum

Who: The 2005 White House Conference on Aging and The Gerontological Society of America. Local sponsors include The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, Civic Ventures, and the Phoenix Public Library. Support is provided by The Atlantic Philanthropies.

What: A public forum and official 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) event to gather information on the involvement of older Americans in civic life. Four distinguished panels, including local and national leaders, will present their findings and discuss how to effectively engage the vast supply of talent represented by willing and able older adults to improve the quality of life in communities across America. The Forum is part of The Gerontological Society of America's Civic Engagement in an Older America project and designed to help shape the policy recommendations of the WHCoA, which will take place in late 2005.

When: Friday, February 25, 2005
9:00 a.m. � 12:30 p.m. (Registration and continental breakfast at 8:00 a.m.)

Where: Pulliam Auditorium, Burton Barr Central Library
1221 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona

Moderators:
  • Robert Blancato, Member, 2005 White House Conference on Aging Policy Committee
  • Marc Freedman, Founder and President, Civic Ventures
  • Greg O'Neill, Director, National Academy on an Aging Society, The Gerontological Society of America

    Witnesses include: Melanie Starns, Arizona Governor's Advisor on Aging; Carol Kratz, Program Officer, The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust; Bernie Ronan, Center for Civic Participation, Maricopa Community Colleges; Ellen Hargis, President & CEO, Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona; Jim Murphy, The Neighbors Care (NC) Program; James (Jim) Harris, Member, Tucson Experience Corps; Barbara Thelander, Mesa Community College, Brenda Brown, Chandler Public Library, William J. Pokorny, Scottsdale Community College, and Judy Tapscott, City of Tempe (all with the Next Chapters initiative); Diantha Dow Schull, President, Americans for Libraries Council; GladysAnn Wells, Director, Arizona State Libraries; and Pam Smith, Executive Director, San Diego Department of Aging & Independence Services.

    For more information:
    Brian Lindberg at GSA 202-789-3606 or [email protected]
    Greg O'Neill at GSA 202-842-1275 or [email protected]
    Carol Kratz at The Virgina G. Piper Charitable Trust 480-556-7123 or [email protected]
    Richard Adler at Civic Ventures 415-222-7481 or [email protected]