If anything, the boomer generation is a generation of experience. What better way to achieve the greatest return on this then to apply it to volunteerism.

The Corporation for National & Community Service (NCS) reports that boomers volunteer today at higher rates than past generations did at roughly the same age. And, remaining in the workforce increases the likelihood that a boomer will continue to volunteer because working people have broad networks that make them prone to being asked.

But how boomers approach volunteering is different from past generations. According to the NCS report, "in 1989 and 2003-05, volunteers ages 41 to 59 were most likely to volunteer with religious organizations. In 1989, the second most popular type of volunteer organization for the Silent and Greatest Generations was civic, political, business, and international. In 2003-05, the second most popular type of volunteer organization for boomers was educational and youth service organizations."

"Boomers are motivated by higher-skilled, higher- ordered volunteer activities," said David Eisner, chief executive of the Corporation for National & Community Service. Therefore, boomers may be inclined to focus on capacity-building and administrative opportunities with nonprofits.

Nonprofits, for the most part, should take more time to screen, match, train, communicate and reward the volunteers to keep them involved. This will require changes in the recruiting and utilization efforts of most nonprofits today in order to keep this "generation of experience" involved in volunteer activities that will be critical in solving the social problems facing our nation for the long term.

"VSP's direct-to-consumer eyecare plan represents a major step in increasing consumers' access to comprehensive coverage," said Rob Lynch, VSP president and CEO. "Eyecare has an important role to play in preventative healthcare and this plan will assist consumers with making eye health an important part of their total health focus."

I recently read an article by someone who just celebrated his 55th birthday and now refers to himself as "middle-aged". I guess he's planning to live to be 110 years old. Having just turned 51 myself, I'm personally not thinking "middle-aged" because I just can't see myself at 102 years old.

Instead, I'd like to think I'm just coming over the crest of the first thrilling hill at the beginning of a roller coaster. You know the one! Its the one that takes your breath away and leaves you scared out of your wits until you find yourself laughing because you don't know whether you're terrified or having fun.

Once over that first hill, you aren't being propelled around the track, its all kinetic energy that drives the coaster from there on out. Having spent my life building potential energy, its time to convert it to kinetic energy to drive the rest of my ride. Like a roller coaster, all of the kinetic energy you need for the ride is present once the coaster descends the first hill. Yes, that's where I am; running on kinetic energy for as long as the thrill ride lasts! :)LLR