2000 Year in Review

Those of you who did not take advantage of this opportunity to have lunch and listen to Dr. Gambone missed an excellent speech. He began by talking about his elderly friend who at the age of 86 was inspired by a 12 year old boy’s article in the newspaper to go out and personally start a movement to celebrate Intergenerational Week in May. Since no one told him how difficult this would be, he simply started writing people like the Pope, presidents of countries and even Mother Teresa attempting to get this started. At the time of his death last year at the age of 95 this week was part of celebrations all over the U.S. including Brainerd, parts of Canada and was even spreading to Europe. Dr. Gambone’s theory which he expounded on at length said simply that anyone attempting to get anything constructive done whether it was in a social group, business or the government must incorporate representatives of all five generations. This will dramatically increase levels of production as well as change the outlook of participants forever. He cited himself as an excellent example. He described the five generations. Those born from 1901 to 1931 he called the Civic GI Generation. Tom Brokau calls them the greatest generation because they after the world wars and the depression they went on to build great things like roads, start the global structure and come up with great ideas like the GI Bill. The group from 1932-1944 he called the Mediating Generation. Many service clubs and much of the social infrastructure was developed by this group and they continue to be great mediators and include people such as Colin Powell. The Boomer Generation (1945-1963) includes one out of every three people living in the USA today. They are the first generation fas 829-7761 Allen Hall to experience unending prosperity and they created the notion of “meaning in work”. Dr. Gambone says that every part of America has changed because of the size of this group but that popular media has portrayed them incorrectly. Seventy five to eighty per cent of them grew up in economically poor conditions (blue collar, small family farm, small business). Media has focused on the other 20-25 % . Most of the baby boomers retain two very important values, that explain their willingness to volunteer--the value of belonging and that of giving back. The next group from 1964-1982 is called the Diversity Generation. This is the first group exposed to many cultures and they have become adept at working out diversity as the live it. The current Millennium Generation is optimistic, internet oriented and used to taking in scads of information. They should be listened to because they use that information in attempts to help and they are very involved in causes.

He concluded his speech with some simple techniques to improve intergenerational relationships. First of all use the word whenever possible. Act for future generations, the most vulnerable of all. Make intergenerational fas 829-7761 Mike Boen activities focus of attempts to deal with problems especially the aging problem we are facing with the boomer generation. Be passionate about the idea and be involved for the long haul--think of it as planting an “oak tree” which you will probably not live to see produce its “acorns”. He also issued his challenge--make a meaningful contact from each of the other four generations each week for a month and try to talk about something important with them. That simple strategy will change your life according to Dr. Gambone.