Silver City's

Conscious Aging Network (CAN)

Silver City CAN objective is to provide activities in which elders may explore spiritual and developmental aspects of aging while creating a reciprocal relationship with their community where their experience and wisdom are utilized as a valued resource.

Vision / Organization

The Conscious Aging Network of Silver City (CAN-SC) began in October of 2006 after this author had read Reb Zalman's book From Age-ing to Sage-ing, and attended an intensive Path of the Sage workshop presented by Gary and Carlotta Carlson in Albuquerque. The week after the workshop I wrote a two part Senior Living column for our Silver City Daily Press newspaper, titled "Path of the Sage" and "Path of the Sage-Part II" (using Gary's very appropriate phrase). The articles were very well received and we convened a core group of fifteen interested seniors who had responded to the article. That group became our Elder Council (read Board) and we began hammering out a vision statement and org chart.  

The Elder Council decided on a community service focus so we identified five initiatives of both interest and need for our elders and community. These initiatives are:
     . Untold Stories / Story Telling
     . Los Sabios School based mentorship program
     . Western Institute of Lifelong Learning
     . Senior Housing Issues
     . Elder Circle Discussion Group

In November we hosted an Open House, with tables, materials and a sign up list. We viewed the video featuring Zeb and Ram Das, had brief presentations by reps from each activity and then adjourned to visit tables hosting each activity. Over sixty people signed up that evening. The five initiatives are into their third month of meetings and community service.

The Elder Circle Discussion Group which meets monthly (usually the first Monday)  is attended by an average of 15 members, and is co-facilitated by Father Herman (of the Greek Orthodox faith) and Dr Paul Stuetzer, DOM and Zen Buddhist priest who established  the Silver City Zen Center some fifteen years ago.  The group has meet three months now, and received a great jump start with the Los Alamos CAN's topic list with commentary that spans twelve years. The list provided a wealth of topics to select from. 

Monthly, the Elder Council-Board meets to determine needs and opportunities. Board members are limited to the charter 15, plus one representative from each activity.

CAN-Silver City has three additional initiatives we plan to introduce at our next open house, planned for April-May.  They are:

     . Elder Advisory Councils to our local city and county governments.
           (sponsored by our first elected woman county commissioner, Mary Ann Sedillo)
     . Economics of Aging (sound familiar? this initiative came from the CAN-NM retreat)
     . Path of the Sage Work Shop Group

          (to develop educational programs patterned after Gary and Carlotta's  Path of the Sage program)

Frank Kenney, Director, Grant County Senior Services