A POST from Janet Jacobson....

Here is what I would like people to respond to:

I am organizing a program that is co-sponsored by the Minnesota Association
for Continuing Adult Education and the Vital Aging Network. The title of the
program is "Civic Engagement and the Lifelong Learner." It takes place on
Thursday, April 24,from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Roseville Library.
Panelists include Jim Scheibel (former St. Paul mayor and former director of
AmeriCorps, VISTA), Kris Orluck (senior program planner for the Maple Grove
Parks and Rec Board), Mary Kowalski (a VAN member and co-founder of
Environmental Force - a VAN spin-off), and me.

Part of my responsibility is to talk about the connections between civic
engagement and lifelong learning. It occurred to me that many of the former
LIRN groups are great examples of connecting learning with civic engagement
(this could include volunteering, involvement in the political process,
National Issues Forums or Great Decisions discussions, etc.). Since I no
longer am in regular touch with you in the old network configuration, I would
appreciate hearing from you about ways you are encouraging your members to get
involved in your/their community. Why is civic engagement important to you and
your learning group? How does civic engagement enhance lifelong learning? How
do your goals as a lifelong learning group mesh with being involved in the
life of your community? Are there ways that your group provides
training/preparation for volunteering or other types of civic engagement?

If you have a few minutes to respond to this request, I would love to hear
from you! Thanks so much.