Senator Martin Golden, Republican representing the 22nd District (Brooklyn), is out to catch the wave, the Experience Wave of the “Greatest Generation” and the Baby Boomers, for the workforce of New York sate. This spring Sen. Golden introduced a package of bills and policy initiatives designed to address the needs of older Americans in the working population and the community (see sidebar).  His office announced the passage of one of these bills: S3058, an act to establish The Mature Worker Task Force. The task force is charged with planning and identifying priorities, policy alternatives and issues to make it possible for mature New Yorkers to remain in the workforce longer if they choose to or need to. The work of the task force will also assist businesses to respond to the needs of this group.

The 19-member task force will be led by the New York Office for the Aging and the Labor Department. It will represent both the private and public sector communities. The first year task will be:

• to address legal provisions that may limit opportunities for mature workers;
• to identify best practices in hiring, retaining and retraining mature workers;
• to serve as a clearing house for information; and
• to assess the effectiveness and cost of programs.

Conclusions will be presented to Gov. Spitzer by June 30, 2008.

The passage of this legislation puts New York state at the forefront of a national movement called the Experience Wave, aimed at advancing federal and state policies to make it easier for mid-life and older adults to stay engaged in work and community. The Experience Wave is a project supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies and former Pennsylvania Senator Harris Wofford, who is currently the spokesman of Experience Wave. The Experience Wave movement is heavily engaged in a national dialogue about the value of older workers’ experience to the public, private and non-profit sectors of our nation.

Here in Saratoga Springs, a group of similar-minded private citizens have come together to form Vital Aging Saratoga and to create a vision and vocabulary to promote its mission. Vital Aging Saratoga is in its development stage. However, Hope Melton, a member of the group says, “Vital Aging Saratoga sees older adults as a vast, untapped social resource to address the community’s most pressing environmental, educational, economic and social problems. It will, in collaboration with key community partners, build on existing resources to create a vital aging infrastructure that promotes self-determination, civic engagement, lifelong learning and personal enrichment for older adults.” You can look forward to hearing more from this group as they plan a series of forums, guest speaker appearances and discussion groups in the fall.

Civic Ventures, a national think-tank, views older Americans as the only growing natural resource. One that is healthier, more experienced and vigorous than ever, people not willing to just put their feet up, but eager to maintain a sense of purpose and to stay involved in the workplace and the community. 

The number of Americans over 55 will grow to 108 million in 2030. This translates into enormous dividends and challenges for our state and our nation.  Both the private and the public business sectors will be challenged to come up with solutions that address a large number of retirements and, at the same time, a large number of older workers continuing as members of the workforce.

As these efforts begin to take shape and move forward, you can ride the crest of this wave and make a difference in your life.  Check out the Web sites cited in the sidebar, watch for news on the local group, Vital Aging Saratoga, and write to your legislators to elicit their support for the remaining package of legislation proposed by Sen. Golden and his counterpart in the New York state Assembly.

In an upcoming column we will feature Saratogians who are already catching the face and riding the Experience Wave in the workforce and community life. Surf’s up, hang ten!